Clarks Originals opens its debut European brand store

British shoe manufacturer and retailer Clarks has opened the doors of it's first European Clarks Originals brand store in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The store is located on the Huidenstraat in the shopping district known as 'the 9 streets', famous for its boutiques and cozy cafés.

"In addition to the Clarks originals collection, the Clarks sport's wears collection is also available in the new store," explained Martijn Schmidt, account manager for Clarks originals in Western Europe during the store's official opening on Friday evening, which took place during Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Clarks

Originals opens its first mono brand store in Amsterdam

The new store interior was designed by Frank Agterberg, alongside with architect Rodriguez and graphic designer Hester Brandsma. The end result is set to reflect the design basis as the Clarks originals items follow and incorporates materials such as white steel and mitred plywood combined with crystal clear designs mixed with a hint of graphics. The color palette used in the store links back to the tones used in the Clarks originals logo, as well as the Union Jack.

Although retail space in the store is limited, the mono brand store offer the full range of the Clarks originals line. On the top floor of the store is a multi-media display unit set to feature the brands newest collaborations, such as Patternity. When a shoe is lifted off the display case, a touchscreen pad underneath comes to life and offers customers interactive content and product information.

The mono band store in Amsterdam is set to be the first of many Clarks originals store, as Micheal Pao, group director and senior vice president of Clarks originals and sport, revealed to newspaper Schoenvisie during the store opening: "This is the perfect location for Clarks originals and sport. Over the next coming months, we aim to establish stores in other European cities such as Antwerp, Paris and Copenhagen."

The store in Amsterdam will be run by FourtoSix, a Dutch distribution company, who is also the distributor of Clarks originals for retailers in the Benelux region. The mono brand store is also rumored to be one of the first stores to offer the limited edition Wallabee Doom shoe, the result of a designer collaboration between Clarks originals and artist Doom.

Photos by: Nick Bookelaar