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Clark’s Botanicals is based on strength.
Today, Clark’s Botanicals is revered for its plant-powered skincare products.
Instead, he would have told you why he wanted to become a diplomat.
In fact, he shaped his college curriculum to prepare him for a life overseas.
But his family’s fears about his safety abroad swayed him to pursue other interests.
Byrdie / Francesco Clark
Clark’s transition into fashion was a whirlwind, with equal parts grind and glamour.
He established his footing in the industry as the assistant special projects director at the now-shutteredMademoisellemagazine.
Byrdie / Francesco Clark
In 2002, Clark was promoted to a top PR firm at 24 years-old.
“You feel invincible when you’re 24, 23, or 22.
You think the future is limitless.
That’s what it felt like to me.”
Byrdie / Francesco Clark
But, everything changed in the blink of an eye.
On the first night of vacation, Clark decided to go for a swim.
At that moment, Clark shattered his C3 and C4 vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed.
You could see the stars, and it didn’t make sense.
How could it be such a beautiful day and the worst thing that could ever happen just happened?"
I wanted to look confident.
I wanted to look happy."
A significant part of Clark’s quest to regain self-confidence involved skincare.
“My skin and my complexion did not look like me,” he says.
“Anything and everything that could go wrong with my skin did.”
They then developed what is today called the Smoothing Marine Cream.
“Glenda said, ‘You look the same as you did before.
You’re just sitting.'”
“I was mortified because I wasn’t there to sell an idea or a business pitch.
And she put it on her face.”
A lot of people [see the industry] as shallow and superfluous.
But, the assistant persisted and looped Clark in with the then beauty director Alexander Parnass.
Within six months, Clark had to find a factory and develop packaging to prepare his product for retail.
Growing Clark’s Botanicals has been a transformative experience for Clark in every sense.
“It’s about unlocking that superpower within you and understanding how you are your own superhero.
