Clarks and HALO partner for landmine awareness

Clarks and The HALO Trust (HALO) have joined forces in a highly innovative project to celebrate 65 years of the Desert Boot, whilst raising funds to support HALO’s work to clear landmines and other debris of war in post-conflict zones around the world.

The project, Clarks: Rebooted, saw 14 leading British and UK-based artists and designers commissioned to design a Limited Edition Desert Boot and an inspirational artwork. The artists, including Marc Quinn and Bob and Roberta Smith, have drawn on HALO’s work and Clark’s heritage in their Desert Boot designs. Two hundred and fifty (250) pairs of each Desert Boot design are available to purchase at www.clarksrebooted.com. 5% of the proceeds from each pair sold will be donated to benefit HALO. The designs and artwork have featured in a touring exhibition, which has visited Shanghai, Milan and New York. The tour will culminate in London with a gala style charity auction this autumn (and online via Paddle8).

Conflict and violence around the world have displaced a record 38 million people inside their own countries, a new report[1] describes this as the worst in a generation. Once fighting stops, people often cannot safely return home because of the threat of the deadly debris of war, from landmines, grenades, cluster munitions to stockpiles of weapons and ammunition. In Sri Lanka, HALO’s mine clearance is helping to facilitate the return of 300,000 people who were displaced during the civil war. Pararasasingham, a villager from Nagarkovil in Sri Lanka said:

“Our village was on the front line for years. Now, after mine clearance, we have a village again”.

Amanda Pullinger, Chairman of the Board from The HALO Trust says:

“The HALO Trust recently marked a quarter of a century of pioneering work clearing landmines from war‐torn countries. The association with Clarks will help to fund training, equipment and resources to get more landmines out of the ground more quickly so that some of the world’s most vulnerable people can plant their crops, rebuild their homes and raise their families in safety."

Melissa Potter, Clarks CEO comments:

“We are proud to be working with such a prestigious charity as The HALO Trust, to help us celebrate the Desert Boot’s 65th anniversary. We wanted to work with a British charity that matched the brand’s values and there was a natural fit with HALO as the Desert Boot began life in a conflict zone of the Second World War. Clarks has a long standing history of giving back to charitable causes and we look forward to our relationship with The HALO Trust evolving as this exciting collaboration unfolds.”

Steve Costner, Deputy Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement at the US Department of State remarks:

“The US State Department is HALO’s largest donor and the largest contributor to mine action worldwide. We are proud of our contribution but governments alone cannot solve this problem. The private sector also plays an important role in reaching our common goal where landmines and explosive remnants of war do not threaten civilians. We therefore welcome this innovative partnership between HALO and Clarks, which will help to relieve the suffering and poverty of those affected by armed conflict.”

The HALO Trust is a company limited by guaranteed registered in England and Wales (company number 02228587) and a registered charity (charity numbers 1001813 and SC037870), with registered office 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL. A fee has been paid by Clarks to The HALO Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary for the use of The HALO Trust’s logo.

www.clarksrebooted.com #clarksrebooted

The full roster of artists and designers:

Adam Ball

Adam Dant

Alexandra Llewellyn

Amy Stephens

Bob and Roberta Smith

Frank Bowling

Gordon Cheung

Kacper Hamilton

Lee Broom

Marc Quinn

Rene Gonzalez

Richard Caldicott

Thomas J. Price

TOOGOOD

HALO UK 2015 Limited is a company limited by shares, registered in England No. 9395204 Registered office: 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL. Trading income from the partnership with Clarks is donated by HALO UK 2015 Limited to The HALO Trust.