Part of BSTN’s Holiday 2025 Gift Guide, a hand-picked curation of some of the finest selections, staff-favorites, and proven all-time classics from BSTN’s premium product portfolio.
Born in New England and built to brave the elements, Timberland’s story begins in 1952 when Nathan Swartz, a shoemaker from Boston, bought into a small company called the Abington Shoe Company. Two decades later, that small business would change outdoor footwear forever: In 1973, the Abington Shoe Company introduced the original Timberland 8-Inch Boot – the ‘Yellow Boot’ that started it all. Three years later, the 6-Inch version followed, refining the design into the icon we know today.
That first ‘Yellow Boot’ set new standards for waterproof performance – unheard of for a leather boot at the time. Its innovation lay in the process: an injection-molded sole directly bonded to the premium nubuck upper, creating a fully sealed construction. And while branding footwear with a logo was far from common in the early ’70s, the now-iconic tree emblem marked Timberland’s confident entry into new territory: The boot’s popularity in fact was so immense that the company rebranded as Timberland in 1978.
By the 1980s, Timberland’s golden wheat boot had made its way from small-town job sites to big-city streets. Particularly in New York, where construction boots turned into cultural cornerstones. The 6-Inch became a statement piece – a signifier of authenticity and resilience. NY hip hop legends like Biggie, Nas, and Mobb Deep not only laced them up for the cold, but for their style and ruggedness. Timberland became shorthand for a lifestyle – one that valued toughness, craftsmanship, and self-expression.
Around the same time, another silhouette quietly made its mark: the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Lug Boat Shoe. First introduced in the late 1970s, it carried the same DNA – durable construction and timeless style – but with a nautical twist. Handsewn and built from premium leather, it combined the rugged outsole of a boot with the laid-back attitude of dockside footwear. The 3-Eye blurred boundaries between workwear and leisure, just as the 6-Inch had done between function and fashion.
And then there were the Field Boots – a slightly lighter, more flexible cousin to the 6-Inch that gained particular traction in the ’90s, especially in the Big Apple again. Favored for their mix of leather and nylon panels, they were the perfect middle ground: durable enough for winter, comfortable enough for daily wear. From the Bronx to Brooklyn, the Field Boot became another staple in the city’s street uniform.
In recent years, collaborations with the likes of Atmos, Bottega Veneta, Undefeated, and Louis Vuitton have showcased the brand’s ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. From job sites to runways, from hiking trails to hip hop videos, Timberland continues to prove that authenticity and quality don’t go out of style. Looks like it pays off to not chase relevance – but to build it.
