Srinagar, Apr 1: Clarks, a globally renowned shoe brand sweeping foreign markets for past two centuries, has formally walked down to Kashmir, with Catwalk Shoes, a footwear store at Residency Road here, bagging its sole distributorship.
 Managing Director, Catwalk Shoes (Wholesale Division), Farhan Kitab said: “We recently signed an MOU in this regard with the company.” “The footwear variety for men, women and children is available at our shop,” he said.
 Clarks, United Kingdom’s leading brand, has been hottie with the upper segment customers since 19th century.
 “It all began in 1825 in the Somerset village of Street when Cyrus Clark started tanning sheepskin rugs. He was joined by his brother James who introduced sheepskin slippers in 1830,” reads the company website.
 “Production soon flourished, helped by the purchase in 1856 of recently invented Singer sewing machines. An early marketing success was William Clark’s introduction of the ‘Hygienic line’, a range which followed the natural shape and line of the foot and established Clarks reputation for producing foot friendly shoes,” it adds.
 “Today, 186 years on, Clarks is now the number 1 shoe retailer in the UK,” market pundits said.
 The shoes are famed for their manufacturing technology like its Active Air, which offers the “ultimate in underfoot cushioning – harnessing the elements and using them to work with, instead of against, feet.”
 “This technology,” observers said “believed to be first introduced in 1982, brings durable soles, cushioned foot beds, shock absorption and innovation.”
 “Constantly updated technology means the best performance possible has harnessed everything from gel pockets to air manipulation, and incorporated square, octagonal, and perforated footbeds,” explains Farhan, adding the demand for the shoes was picking up.
 His opinion was endorsed by a medico who walked in to buy the product for him and his family.
 “Earlier we would buy these shoes from New Delhi or abroad, but now the same is available in the City,” said a medico, adding that the best thing he liked about the brand was its all-weather leather.
 Besides Clarks, Farhan recently also bagged distributorship for Carlton London “making our shop the pride outlet for leading brands like Lee Cooper, Provogue and ID.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST