TIMBERLANDS
Designed for outdoorsy types, embraced by ’80s rappers and now, fun fashion It girls. Kenny Loh reports on the iconic yellow boots’ street cred.
When the American outdoor brand debuted its signature yellow boots in 1973 – the same year the company started being known as Timberland – it never expected it to become trendy.
Crafted out of abrasion- and water-resistant nubuck leather, the ankle-high style, complete with heavy-duty rubber soles, was designed for rugged use. The laces were made of Taslan, a durable high-tech polyester, and the eyelets of rust-proof brass. The shoes were treated to repel mildew and rot.
But its novel blend of Americana design and function caught the attention of the “in” crowd as much as it did
Duck Dynasty types. Department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue marketed it as fashionable. The hip youths of the ’80s proconsumerist Paninaro movement in Italy made it part of their uniform (along with bomber jackets and Levi’s 501s).
By the ’90s, hip hop giants like Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang Clan would elevate its urban appeal, pairing it with baggy jeans and combat pants. Rapper Timbaland is even named after it. To seal its street cred: a string of collaborations with the most influential brands in the business, from Stussy to Supreme.
This season, the shoe re-establishes its street wear status, thanks to what’s easily its most stylish celeb fan club yet: It girls like Rihanna, Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne, who’ve made the original boot their dress-down footwear of choice.
Besides the yellow classic ($299), there are the S/S ’14 updates: pretty hues like rose pink and lavender, and a streamlined version ($239) that’s about half the weight of the original – it’s designed for city wear.