Clarks Shoemakers Gallery: A Legacy Unveiled

The Shoemakers Gallery in Road, Somerset, celebrates Clarks' 200-year shoemaking heritage. Nissen Richards Workshop designed the immersive exhibit, showcasing the brand's journey and global influence.

London-based Nissen Richards Workshop was assigned to develop the irreversible exhibit, visuals design, store and wayfinding. The studio likewise served as interpretation expert, forming the web content and message for the gallery in close collaboration with the curatorial team. Their strategy weaves the process of shoemaking directly into the tactile and visual language of the room.

Design & Interpretation by Nissen Richards

Echo Callaghan, Analysis Specialist at Nissen Richards Studio, added: “In this event there was no shortage of extraordinary stories to tell … It felt especially important that the analysis approach talked to individuals who worked at the manufacturing facility in Road, representing their experience and including their voices.”

Shoemakers Gallery is currently open to the general public, providing an immersive journey with the past, existing and future of Clarks, and commemorating the people, designs and social history that have specified the company over 2 centuries.

London-based Nissen Richards Workshop was appointed to design the irreversible exhibit, graphic design, shop and wayfinding. The studio also offered as analysis professional, shaping the web content and text for the museum in close partnership with the curatorial team. Rosie Martin, Supervisor of Shoemakers Gallery, commented: “Our group thoroughly appreciated functioning with Nissen Richards Studio, from the early days of recognizing the tales, themes, and things, to making the galleries and managing the museum fitout. The feedback from our initial visitors is incredibly satisfying and we look forward to sharing Shoemakers Gallery with the globe.”

A 200-Year Legacy

To mark 200 years because its starting, Clarks has unveiled the Shoemakers Gallery in Road, Somerset, where business started. The brand-new long-term event uses a detailed consider the British brand name’s rich shoemaking heritage, from its Quaker roots to its global cultural influence.

The Shoemakers Museum is a major brand-new site visitor destination, appointed by the Alfred Gillett Trust. Located in Road, home to Clarks’ headquarters and electrical outlet location Clarks Village, the gallery aims to provide the tale and preserve of the Clark family members and their contribution to both the city and the international footwear sector.

This website uses cookies to ensure that we can offer you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is saved in your internet browser and executes functions such as recognising you when you return to our internet site and aiding our team to recognize which sections of the website you discover most fascinating and valuable.

The gallery’s building style, led by Purcell Architects, incorporates sustainable products and includes The Grange, a Grade II listed manor home, in addition to sheds and gardens. The outcome is a museum deeply tied to put and purpose.

Pippa Nissen, Director of Nissen Richards Workshop, commented: “We desired the craft of the tale to live within the styles with the actual procedure of shoemaking itself woven right into every selection. In the colours, the materials, the types and the smallest information, you can feel the hand of the maker … The footwear ended up being greater than things; they came to be portals to the people that made them, and to the local tales of Street itself.”

Interactive Shoemaking Experience

Site visitors start their trip through a double-height Arrival space before relocating via 3 themed galleries: Welcome to Road, Making Gallery and Buying and Selling. The exhibit checks out Clarks’ development from its 1825 starting by Cyrus and James Clark to the production of renowned footwear such as the Desert Boot and Wallabee, put on by numbers across subcultures, from Ivy Organization trainees to hip jump musicians.

Rosie Martin, Supervisor of Shoemakers Museum, commented: “Our team thoroughly took pleasure in collaborating with Nissen Richards Studio, from the early days of determining the items, stories, and styles, to creating the galleries and supervising the museum fitout. We are especially pleased with the branding which flawlessly mirrors our individuality and style. The comments from our initial visitors is very pleasing and we expect sharing Shoemakers Museum with the world.”

The Making Gallery recreates the atmosphere of a factory with interactive exhibitions and genuine sounds, while the Acquiring and Marketing section functions recreated Clarks stores from the 1950s and 1980s. Famous marketing displays and AV content chart the brand’s business development and cultural resonance.