Alexander Newman
Designer
In their own words
Bringing together more than 1,200 images, it ranges from Clark family portraits and Quaker history to ephemera, and of course, the shoes themselves.
I developed the book’s grid and typographic style in collaboration with designer David Carroll, then laid out the book myself, focusing on clean design that allows the imagery to breathe.
The challenge was to acknowledge the passage of time while keeping the book cohesive, so it reads as a single visual journey rather than a series of disconnected eras.
His own interest grew from observing how Clarks 'has been embraced across musical genres and subcultures'.
When choosing typefaces for a book, I try to connect them to the subject matter in some way, so I used Zurich for the quotes and chapter headings – a font that Tony used frequently in his work for Greensleeves.
Photography from reggae and dancehall hasn’t been celebrated in the same way as that from rock, jazz, or other genres, so it felt important to shine a light on this imagery and give it the attention it deserves.
Articles & interviews3
- Britpop to Breaking Bad: This book proves just how culturally iconic the Clarks brand is
The article profiles Alexander Newman’s new book 'From Somerset to the World: Clarks A Visual History 1825–2025', published by One Love Books. The publication traces the cultural and visual evolution of Clarks shoes, from their Quaker roots to their global influence across subcultures and media. Designed with David Carroll, the book combines archival imagery, historical typography, and clean layout to create a cohesive visual narrative.
- How Clarks went from classroom conformity to cultural icon
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores how Clarks evolved from a symbol of school conformity into a global cultural icon. It highlights the new book 'From Somerset to the World: Clarks A Visual History 1825–2025' by Alexander Newman and One Love Books, which documents the brand’s 200-year journey through design, music, and subculture. The piece celebrates Clarks’ enduring authenticity and its unexpected adoption by creative communities worldwide.
- Exploring Greensleeves Records Through Its First 100 Vinyl Covers