Timberlands, Timbs, Timbos, the Yellow Boot. It’s ‘just’ a boot yet it’s got more nicknames than the guy that plays the loveable heartthrob athlete from a mid-2000s rom-com. No doubt the classic Timberland boot has been blowing up your feed for a couple of months now, but to say this ruggedly good-looking workwear boot has had an unconventional rise to the top would be the understatement of the century. But before we talk fashion, let’s find out Timbs as we know them came to be, shall we? Hot stepping our way back in time to the south side of ‘50s Boston, everything kicks off when the Swartz family buys half-interest in the local Abington shoe company.

Eventually taking full ownership of the small firm, the Swartz family would move the Abington company from making boots for other brands to producing their own, and folks, this was a big money move. It’s important to remember, that the Abington company’s customer base was largely made up of blue-collar workers, and what they needed above all else was a pair of boots that could keep them warm, and most importantly dry. Well, with the novel use of injection molding, the Abington shoe company was able to seamlessly bond the soles of its boots with the upper to create some of the first truly waterproof work boots.

Abington Shoe Company

Fast forward again to ’73, and the Abington company would at long last release the Timberland Boot, but not THE Timberland boot. No, no, this one was eight inches tall which according to what we know now were two too many because in ’76 we got THE six-inch Timberland boot in its gorgeous, wheat yellow nubuck, and gloriously chunky, rubber gum outsole. To say it was a success would not do this boot justice, because just a few years later the barnstorming success of our little Timb-othy would see the Abington company renamed to The Timberland Company in ’78.

With that bit of timely and vital history in the books, let’s talk about why you’re here. It’s because fashion blogs and your mood boards cannot stop telling you how Timbs are ‘like totally the thing right now’ – but that’s dumb as hell because they never stopped being a thing. The Timberland boot has been an icon of individualistic self-expression for almost as long as it’s been around, it’s always been cool, it’s just in another era of cool now.

Kicking off in Milan during the 80s, the Paninaro Movement was driven by younger generations as they sought to break free from the formal tailoring that typified their parents’ generations. They traded their parents’ look for something laid-back, and distinctly American, opting for denim jeans, Moncler jackets, and of course, Timberland boots.

It wasn’t just Italy feeling the love though, over in the U.K. Timberlands had become a de facto staple of the country’s rave culture. Since they were warm as heck, unreasonably comfortable, and waterproof, they were perfect for slogging around fields or laying down some serious moves in the nearest abandoned warehouse. In the famous Harajuku district in Japan, Timberlands exploded in popularity throughout the 90s as symbols of freedom of expression and individuality.

Paninaro Movement

But of course, the most influential era of Timberland style had to be the American Hip-Hop scene during the 90s. Starting off in local communities, the Timberland boot became a quintessential piece of street style thanks to its comfort, warmth, and irresistible good looks. Pivotal cultural figures like Biggie, Jay-Z, and Tupac would all rock the yellow boot at the height of their fame, even going so far as to name-drop the boot in their songs like Biggie’s classic ‘Hypnotize’.

DMX

Rihanna

Timberland® x Veneda Carter Timberland® 6-Inch Boot

Timberland® x A-COLD-WALL* 6-Inch Side-Zip Boot

Thanks to its truly global popularity, the Timberland boot was primed to take over in the era of social media and boy has it. Building on its creative, cultural legacy, Timberland has collaborated with some of the biggest names in fashion today like OFF-WHITE, Supreme, A-COLD-WALL*, and creators like Veneda Carter. The Timberland boot has been an icon for generations, and it’s something you feel every time you step into a pair. Whether it’s the depths of winter or the midst of summer, a pair of Timbs is going to pop off, and who knows maybe you’re creating the next era of Timberland aesthetic right now?

ASAP Rocky & Rihanna

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