There was once a time where I and everyone I knew either had a pair or desperately wanted a pair. As we grew older, the 6" Timberland boot became lost in the shuffle, in exchange for rare sneakers, only making an appearance when it was time to go to a club that did not permit athletic footwear. Then, suddenly, POOF! Timberland basically disappeared, both in creative direction and from many store accounts. What happened?
Timberland was facing a time where the public really... I mean REALLY latched on to their products, most notably the 6" premium workboot. Not knowing how to keep up with the demand for their $150 products, they did what many other footwear companies have done before and are especially doing now. Outfitting a classic like this with grotesque patchwork, shoddy materials, sheep wool liners, roll down tops, and the big killer, COLORS - lots and lots of colors. Colors that didn't make any fucking sense. Who the fuck buys an all-white suede boot with a baby blue sole and ankle padding? PINK Timbs???!!! And the crowd pleasing grey, navy & baby blue square patch joints that looked like a cheap pair of Burlington Coat Factory jeans. Sigh. With the recent resurgence of mens workwear invading the streetwear market, companies have been revisiting the classic work boot. Sophnet offers a pair that is only sold in Japan for $500. Visvim has a couple of offerings that retail around the same or more. Most of these boots are made in Canada or Japan and have nice materials - materials that have remained unchanged since the day they were made available to hikers, construction workers, and landscapers. But why has the industry turned its back on the Golden Years of Timberland? How can you reject the classic Wheat nubuck, Chili smooth leather, or Black nubuck?
The other day on Hypebeast they broke a story about Timberland collaborating with the French boutique, Colette. As expected there were a couple of haters, but all in all it seemed like the "kids" were really starting to take another, much needed look at the boot that really sets the bar. Premium construction & materials, and at $150 it beats the fuck out of a Japanese "exclusive" that comes in navy blue with pink laces (no diss to pink, just not on boots, please). That leads me to last night, when I unearthed the few remaining pairs I saved from years past. Hopefully I can find it in my heart to add these to the fall rotation... maybe you should do the same. Just remember to take the hang tag off and tie them up for God's sake! This isn't a Cam'ron video.
