In 2023, Timberland's well-known 'Yellow Boot' celebrates its 50th anniversary and does so with the new design collective: Future73. The collective consists of six different designers, each of whom has put their own twist on the Premium 6-Inch Yellow Boot. The Timberland future73 collab will have several drops all throughout 2023.
Timberland Yellow Boot
In 1973, Timberland came out with the 6-Inch Boot, also known as the Yellow Boot. The Boot was designed in New England and was mostly worn by workers. The shoe was made of sturdy leather and came with a coarse outsole, which was ideal for tough working conditions.
Designed as a workwear boot with a focus on innovation, durability and craftsmanship quickly became a favourite when the model made its entry into the hip-hop scene. In the 1990s, rappers like Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G and members of Wu Tang Clan would wear the boots. This resulted in worldwide recognition of the model and the boot becoming a popular silhouette outside the working men or women.
To keep up with the times, Timberland asked six well-known designers to put a contemporary twist on the iconic boot. The team, which goes by the name Future73, includes Samuel Ross, designer and founder of A-COLD-WALL*, and Suzanne Oude Hengel, founder of Knit in Motion.
Designcollectief Future73
Working closely with Timberland's design team, each designer from the Future73 collective applied their own unique design method to modernise the Timberland® Premium 6-Inch Boot. The six designers from the collective got complete freedom in creating their own variations.
The design collective Future73 consists of six creatives and designers. Edison Chen, the Canadian-born Hong Kong-based actor and designer and founder of streetwear brand CLOT. Samuel Ross, a British designer and founder of A-COLD-WALL*. Suzanne Oude Hengel, a Dutch knit designer, shoe designer and the founder of Knit In Motion.
Also on the set was Nina Chanel Abney, a Chicago-born and now New York-based contemporary painter and artist, as well as Humberto Leon, a Los Angeles-based designer, retailer, creative director and restaurateur. And finally, Christopher Raeburn, a British designer and the founder of his own sustainable fashion label RAEBURN.
The first ever Premium 6" Boot designed for the Timberloop™ circularity platform was also produced for this project. This platform is created with sustainability in mind and the Boots are made for circular use. Throughout this innovative project, the brand remains close to Timberland's DNA. The Boots - like the original - are made for innovation. Each design is made in Timberland's new in-house innovation design lab and design space.
Timberland Future73 collections
The Timberland Future73 capsule collections will release in a series of seven drops throughout 2023. The collections, designed by the seven designers, will only be available at select exclusive fashion and streetwear shops and at Timberland itself. All seven collections will come with their own campaign discussing the story behind the collection. Besides the designed Boot, each capsule also comes with matching clothing items.
"It was an honour to work with these amazing creative minds," says Drieke Leenknegt, Chief Marketing Officer of Timberland. "Each has transformed the Timberland® 6-Inch Boot from their own bold innovative vision and design ideology. This has given us an idea of what the iconic boot could look like in the future. With our heritage and their vision, together we are creating the new frontiers of Boot culture."
Over the past 50 years, the Yellow Boot has become a global classic across cultures and communities. Now Timberland's focus is on the next 50 years. The brand wants to stay innovative and focuses on innovative designs and technologies. The Future73 project is a prime example of this.
The Timberland Future73 drop
Each of the six Future73 collections will release at Timberland from March to October 2023. Check out some images from the campaign celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Boot below. Keep up to date with Timberland Future73 designs through our Sneakerjagers Instagram.
