Humble beginnings
Few skaters are operating on Lucien Clarke’s level right now, and not just in terms of trick selection. He’s one of the rare ones who’s taken everything that makes skateboarding feel raw and unfiltered and projected it into places it was never supposed to reach. Southbank to Supreme to Louis Vuitton. That’s not just a career, it’s a cultural shift.
Lucien was born in Jamaica and spent time in New York before moving to London as a teenager. Like a lot of kids, it all started from the sidelines. He saw skaters at Hyde Park’s Albert Memorial and was instantly hooked. His stepdad bought him his first board; from then on, skating became part of his identity.
The Southbank and Swiss Cottage scenes were where he cut his teeth. Coming up at a time when British street skating was gritty, fast, and unforgiving, Lucien developed a style that mirrored the environment: loose, spontaneous, but precise when needed. He made skating through London’s crusty pavements look effortless, something all UK skaters know isn’t easy.
Before Palace became a thing, Lucien was already building a name for himself. Early footage in underground UK videos like Hello Coco and No Place Like Home set the tone, with later appearances in Dudes Dudes Dudes and This Time Tomorrow showing just how much his skating had evolved. He was backed by brands like DVS, Cliché, and Unabomber, and supported by legendary London shops like Slam City Skates and Cide. He also rode for Science Skateboards for a time, and with each new part, you could see the polish and confidence dial in tighter, without losing the rawness that made his skating so captivating in the first place.
Palace Skateboards and a career in skateboarding
When Palace emerged from the Palace Wayward Boys Choir crew, Lucien was already deep in that circle. He’d been skating with the likes of Chewy Cannon and Rory Milanes for years. Palace didn’t just give Lucien a board sponsor; it gave him a platform that matched his energy. When Palasonic dropped, it was no surprise that Lucien closed the video. Smooth lines, gritty spots, and that unmistakable London swagger. His skating had matured, but it hadn’t lost any of its edge.
In 2020, he changed the game entirely. Under the direction of Virgil Abloh, Lucien became the first skateboarder to design and release a pro model skate shoe for Louis Vuitton. This wasn’t just a branded collab or a fashion sneaker with a skate-style shape. It was a functional performance shoe designed by a skater, meant to be skated, released under one of the most recognisable luxury labels on the planet. Seeing his name on an LV insole meant more than just industry clout – it was about visibility, representation, and rewriting what it means to be a skateboarder in the cultural spotlight.
DC Shoes, a creative platform
Lucien kept the momentum going when he signed with DC Shoes in 2022, not just as a rider, but as a creative director. That move said a lot, as it was more than a contract; it was a seat at the table. With DCV’87, his own creative platform under the DC banner, Lucien combines photography, design, and skateboarding into one fully formed vision. They’ve hosted exhibitions from Hong Kong to LA, with the GOING PLACES project capturing the same kind of global energy Lucien brings to everything he touches.
What makes Lucien Clarke so consistently respected isn’t just the reach of his projects or the calibre of the brands he works with. It’s that he hasn’t compromised. Not once. Whether it’s a Palace edit, a Louis Vuitton runway, or a switch backside flip through a quiet West London street at midnight, the approach is always the same. Calm, confident, completely on his own terms. He’s not chasing trends – he’s defining them. And skateboarding’s never looked so good doing it.
The DC Lucien
The DC Lucien is Lucien’s first signature shoe with DC. It delivers exactly what you’d expect. It’s clean, refined, and made to be skated properly. The silhouette leans more towards a classic trainer than a bulky skate shoe, with just the right structure and shape to keep things sharp. It’s understated in the best way, with a design that feels wearable on and off the board.
The upper combines premium leather with mesh panels, giving you durability where it matters and breathability where you need it. The collar and tongue come padded for comfort, but not so much that it ruins the profile. There’s a moulded rubber toe cap up front too, adding a bit of extra protection without overdoing it. Inside, it features a faux-leather sockliner with an EVA heel cup that keeps your foot locked in and supported.
Beneath all that, a lightweight TPU foam midsole gives it a responsive, cushioned feel underfoot. It’s comfortable for long sessions but still lets you feel the board properly. The outsole uses DC’s classic pill tread pattern, which grips well and wears in naturally, offering a reliable feel straight out of the box.
Branding is minimal, with just a jewel logo on the tongue and clean panel work throughout. Colour options range from low-key to bold, with all black and brown-tan if you want something subtle, and green flash or hot pink if you’re after a bit more attention. Either way, it’s a versatile design that works across different styles and setups.
The Lucien feels like a proper skater’s shoe. Nothing overbuilt or gimmicky – just solid materials, thoughtful details, and a look that reflects Lucien’s own approach to skating. If you’re into footwear that works just as well in the streets as it does on them, this one’s well worth checking out.