ONE of Britain's most traditional shoe brands has become a massive hit in Jamaica - thanks to a reggae RAPPER.

Clarks shoes are now must-have items on the Caribbean island with prices soaring, shops selling out and thieves targeting them.

Local music star Vybz Kartel released a single called Clarks earlier this year, with the cover carrying pictures of his favourite styles - Wallabees, Desert Boots and Desert Treks. 

The rap features the catchy chorus line: "Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks".

And it even has lyrics about the QUEEN wearing them.

He has since released follow-up singles titled Clarks Again and Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have).

Clarks - a 185-year-old family-run company from Street, Somerset - were set to shut their main factory in 1996 with the loss of 400 jobs when sales almost dried up. 

But they enjoyed a huge boom the following year when Oasis superstars Liam and Noel Gallagher started a trend for their Desert Boots.

Thousands of indie fans followed in their footsteps and stars including The Beastie Boys, Patsy Kensit, The Spice Girls, Paul Weller and Jarvis c**ker also sported the shoes.

Kartel, 34 - real name Adijah Palmer - said Clarks are deeply ingrained in Jamaican culture and he himself owns more than 50 pairs.

He said: "Clarks is as much a part of the Jamaican culture as ackee and saltfish and roast breadfruit, I swear to you.

"Policemen wear it, gangsters wear it. Big men wear it to their work. Schoolchildren wear it to school.

"I personally have more than 50 pair of Clarks. I have more than there are states in America."

Michael Borge, marketing director for Clarks in North America, confirmed the company has seen increased demand in Jamaica in recent months.

The popularity of Clarks is also rising in Britain as Kartel's song is regularly played on black music station BBC 1Xtra by DJ Robbo Ranx.

Source: The Sun