Clarks focuses an athleisure growth with new product launches and category expansion

Clarks, the globally renowned British footwear brand, is accelerating its expansion into performance walking footwear, broadening its athleisure portfolio following strong growth across its Pace and Solevana ranges.

After the introduction of its first dedicated performance walking shoe in 2025, Clarks is now focussed on continued growth in the category through increased product depth, wider price accessibility and product innovation – in both direct to consumer and wholesale channels in key markets.

The newest addition to the range is Pace Rise (£99), a trainer which represents Clarks’ most advanced performance walking design to date. The style incorporates the brand’s proprietary Infinity Energy Capsules™ and dual-layer C360 Foam™ cushioning technology, engineered specifically to support walking gait cycles through energy return, stability and impact reduction.

Alongside Pace Rise, this spring Clarks will also launch:

• Pace Move (£79) powered by the Clarks Pace comfort technology; the C360 Foam™ and Infinity Energy Capsules™, bringing performance walking benefits at a more accessible price point.
• Solevana (£55+) Curated specifically for ultimate comfort and foot recovery. In 2025 Solevana was Clarks’ best-selling trainer, thanks to its built-in PillowSoft™ footbeds and Solevana Foam™, delivering Clarks’ most elevated cushioning yet.

The launches reflect Clarks’ ambition to grow across comfort-led active categories while maintaining mass accessibility through strategic merchandising, focused marketing and varied price-points.

Darren Day, Chief Marketing Officer at Clarks, said: “Our athleisure growth strategy is built on ensuring broad reach across price points and channels, without ever compromising on quality and wherever people prefer to shop, we make it simple for them to choose our comfort-led products.”

Market data continues to highlight the potential in the walking category. Over half of UK consumers now walk for fitness weekly, while global research shows the majority still wear running footwear rather than walking-specific designs – creating opportunity for specialist product innovation.

Clarks reports that both Pace and Solevana have exceeded internal sales expectations, with Solevana in particular outperforming volume targets, which it says is down to its merchandising strategy, value driven price positioning and broad comfort appeal.

Dawn Porto, Global Chief Product Officer at Clarks, added: “We continue to invest heavily in proprietary technology development to ensure Clarks remains competitive not only in our classic categories of women’s, men’s and kids, but also in emerging performance-led segments.”

Clarks confirmed it has further athleisure and performance launches planned throughout 2026 as they continue to focus on growth within these categories.

Clarks Pace Walk, Pace Rise, Pace Move and Solevana women’s and men’s are available now in Clarks stores, online at clarks.com, and through selected wholesale partners.