Courtesy of Timberland
Timberland is celebrating Black History Month with a new collection and campaign inspired by the stories of Black pioneers of the past and present.
According to the VF Corp-owned footwear brand, Timberland footwear designers Shari-Lee Whyte and Andrew Townes worked on the project, dubbed the Black Pioneer Collection, which sees reimagined editions of the label’s Premium 6-Inch Boot and the Euro Hiker.
For both footwear styles, “hairy” green suede was chosen as an accent, a nod to the deep greens and textures of nature, against a rich hue of premium, seam-sealed waterproof Timberland leather.
The collection also includes new apparel pieces, including an embroidered tree hoodie, utility mixed media jogger, short sleeve embroidered pocket tee, anti-UV long sleeve shirt, Brookline utility cargo shorts, and a canvas and leather backpack.
For Townes, this collection was important to showcase the outdoors and how it’s inclusive for everyone. “This allowed us to bring awareness to Black Pioneers and outdoorsmen across the globe,” Townes said.
“We took the concept of fresh traditions with the charm of old school Americana and elements of contemporary African American dress to create an outdoor-inspired lifestyle collection,” added Whyte.
To bring this collection to life, Timberland has created a new campaign with the legendary Oklahoma Cowboys, a family-run and community-rooted organization, as an “ode to the enduring and transformative power of community.”
Through this campaign, the footwear company said it will donate $50,000 to the Oklahoma Cowboys Foundation, which works to raise awareness and celebrate the significant role of Black cowboys and cowgirls in Oklahoma’s equestrian heritage.
This new collection and campaign come just one week after Timberland debuted a new collaboration with Louis Vuitton during the French luxury house’s fall 2024 men’s show in Paris. Highlights from the show included a classic industrial boot in wheat-colored or black waterproof nubuck leather, debossed with the maison’s monogram, also echoed on the back of the tongue. The boot likewise appears in pebble nubuck and super-grained buffalo nubuck versions.
The new Timberland Black Pioneer Collection is now available at timberland.com, Timberland stores and select specialty retailers worldwide.
