Lucien Clarke is proper skate royalty and a real diamond geezer. In a scene full of interesting characters, barely anyone is operating on the same level the way Lucien does; his impact goes way past trick selection. This is a skater who’s managed to take raw, unfiltered London skateboarding and broadcast it into places you wouldn’t have dreamed of seeing it: Southbank, Supreme, Palace and then the mad leap to Louis Vuitton. That’s not just a successful career, that’s a shift in what’s possible for any skater growing up in the UK or anywhere else.

From Jamaica to the World: Where Lucien’s Journey Began

Lucien Clarke was born in Jamaica and spent his early years in New York before his family landed in London when he was a teenager. Like loads of us, it all started with some pure chance, seeing local heads sessioning at Hyde Park’s Albert Memorial. Next day his stepdad sorted him his first board, and just like that, he was hooked. Skating became his thing straight away, not just passing time but creating an identity that would take him places few of us could fully imagine.

Lucien, Southbank and the London Grime

If you’ve ever tried skating through Southbank or Swiss Cottage, you know it’s not a playground. Those spots are rough and unforgiving, built for proper skaters. Lucien grew up in this school of hard knocks, the gritty, fast street skating that defined British skateboarding in the early 2000s. His style evolved from those crusty pavements: loose, spontaneous, but dialled in when it really counts. Watching Lucien make those rough London streets look smooth showed everyone what was possible, and it’s something loads of us still try to copy now.

Underground Classics: Lucien Before Palace

Everyone knows his name thanks to Palace, but Lucien Clarke was making waves before the brand even existed. You can spot him in legendary UK skate videos like Hello Coco and No Place Like Home, then as the years rolled on, standout sections in Dudes Dudes Dudes and This Time Tomorrow. Even before the hype, Lucien was backed by brands like DVS, Cliché and Unabomber, along with London spots like Slam City Skates and Cide, and support from Science Skateboards too. Every part he put out just got tighter, sharper tricks, more confidence, but always that gritty, raw edge that makes his skating feel relatable and unique at the same time.

Palace Skateboards, Cultural Impact, and the Big Time

When Palace carved out its place in skating from the Palace Wayward Boys Choir crew, Lucien Clarke was already deep in the scene, skating with Chewy Cannon, Rory Milanes, and the rest before Palace was even a brand. Palace wasn’t just a sponsor for Lucien, it became a platform with energy to match his approach. Check out Palasonic, Lucien’s section closes it out for a reason. It’s full of heavy banger filled lines, tough street spots and that distinct London steeziness. He matured as a skater, but the heart of it never changed.

Making History: Louis Vuitton and Beyond

2020 changed everything. Lucien Clarke made history as the first skateboarder to design and release a genuine pro model with Louis Vuitton, working under the late Virgil Abloh. Forget branded fashion shoes, this was an actual functional skate shoe designed for actual skateboarding. Seeing Lucien’s name on a Louis Vuitton insole wasn’t just about personal milestone, it meant visibility and representation for skateboarders everywhere. The DC Shoes Lucien Pro story really starts building from here, setting the stage for what would come next.

Anyone who’s been following Lucien knows he’s much more than a skater. By 2022, when he signed with DC Shoes not just as a rider but as a creative director, it flipped the script again. DC didn’t just want him for his tricks, they wanted his vision. With the launch of DCV’87, his creative platform within DC, Lucien brought together design, photography and skate culture under one roof. The DC Shoes x Lucien Clarke connection now means Lucien literally shapes what the next generation of skate shoes look and feel like.

DC Lucien Shoes Going Global: Exhibitions and the Creative Platform

Under the DCV’87 project, Lucien combined his passions: travel, photography, and skating. Projects like GOING PLACES took this energy on the road with exhibitions in Hong Kong, LA and beyond, capturing the same global vibe Lucien puts into every skate part and design drop. The energy is unmistakable, and there’s nothing else like it in the skate world right now.

DC Shoes The Lucien Review: A Skater’s Shoe for Real Skaters

The DC Shoes The Lucien is Lucien Clarke’s first signature DC shoe and it's the kind of thing you want in the rotation, whether you’re on the session or just out in the city. DC Shoes The Lucien in black has especially turned heads for skaters who want a versatile, no-nonsense look that works with every set up.

The silhouette steps away from those overbuilt chunky skate shoes of the past, giving you something cleaner, more refined, but still made for skating hard. The upper combines premium leather and mesh, making the shoe durable in the spots that get hammered and breathable where you sweat the most. The padded collar and tongue add comfort, but not so much you lose board feel. You’ve even got a moulded rubber toe cap up front, so flick and protection are both on point.

Inside, there’s a faux-leather sockliner with an EVA heel cup, meaning your foot stays locked in and supported during long sessions. The midsole uses lightweight TPU foam, giving bounce and response underfoot with enough cushion to battle rough landings. The outsole? Classic DC pill tread, reliable, grippy and wears in quickly to feel just right.

DC Shoes Classic Design, Maximum Function: The Lucien Way

If you’re after bold branding, look elsewhere. Lucien Clarke and DC kept it sleek. There’s a subtle jewel DC logo on the tongue, clean lines all over, and colourways that range from the timeless DC Shoes The Lucien Black and brown-tan, to hits of green flash or hot pink for the homies who want their shoes to stand out. It’s a shoe you can skate in all day and still wear to link up with mates afterwards. The design is low-key in appearance but loaded with thoughtful details that show real skaters were behind every choice.

DC Shoes Lucien review: How Does DC Shoes The Lucien Skate?

Here’s the real talk: the DC Shoes Lucien Pro rides exactly how you want a modern skate shoe to feel. The board feel is spot on, the flexibility and grip means you can trust it straight out the box, and it stands up to serious street abuse without falling apart. Comfort stays on point after hours of pushing, and the breathability is genuinely noticeable, no more swamp feet mid-session.

The DC Shoes The Lucien review from skaters who’ve actually put them through it in rough UK spots say the same things again and again: clean fit, solid construction, and a shape that doesn’t fight your foot. If you’re hunting for a shoe that’s all about real-world performance and not just hype, this is a proper contender.

Why DC Shoes Lucien Pro Matters for Skateboarding and Style

Lucien Clarke has always championed authenticity and long-term style over quick trends. The DC Shoes Lucien Pro stands as proof you don’t need massive logos or wild design to create a skate shoe people actually want to wear. It merges thoughtful construction with a classic look and gives UK skaters something designed for how they really skate, not just what a marketing team thinks they want.

Whether you’re searching for DC Shoes Lucien Black for endless wearability, or looking for brighter options that loud up your outfit, Lucien’s first DC pro shoe has you covered. And if you’re a fan of everything DC Shoes x Lucien Clarke brings to the table as creative director—this shoe is your way to represent the culture right on your feet.

If you want a skate shoe that’s as comfortable hitting Southbank as it is chilling in the city, DC Shoes The Lucien is the one to check. Made by a skater, trusted by skaters, and designed to last; this is the new standard for UK street skate footwear. Safe.