Chunky boots, which have become classics of the everyday look, look great with casual wear. Loose jeans and plaid shirts are hard to imagine without good old timbers. If you, too, are looking for yellow lace-up shoes, like those of Rihanna and Jay Z, it doesn't hurt to know their history.
Timberland (from English timberlander - "forest area" was transformed into the name of the brand Timberland) - the famous yellow nubuck boots of the American brand of the same name.
In 1973, these shoes were created by an emigrant from Odessa Nathan Schwartz. In addition to the recognizable design, the main feature of the boots is the patented one. This advantage allows you to comfortably wear them in any weather and at any time of the year. Originally popular with hikers and climbers, timba today are a spectacular part of the everyday outfit of celebrities and fashionistas from around the world. The Timberlands also became a symbol of the protest of civilians against racism and any inequality - the action was widely supported by the stars.
In addition to the iconic yellow boots, the company also produces other women's, men's and children's shoes of various colors and materials, as well as clothing and accessories. Timberland's motto is "Higher quality than you'll ever need."
Caterpillar- brand of boots with tractor soles. Their design is associated with the mechanisms of tractors, tractors, road machinery and equipment for mines. In the 80s USA under the CAT brand they were released by the creators of Caterpillar - American robotics engineers Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best.
In 1994, Caterpillar boots were adapted by designers for. This has made them popular with amateurs and comfort in an urban environment. In addition to boots with tractor soles, the brand produces other women's, men's and children's shoes, as well as accessories. Caterpillar motto: "Our shoes are ready to be tested in the city, put them to the test!"
What to choose - Timberlands or Caterpillars?
If you are not on a budget and dream of shoes like celebrities, feel free to buy Timberland boots. If you want to differentiate yourself from a popular brand and pay less for a similar pair, go for Caterpillar shoes. . And with those, and with others you can make up!
Timberlands
Caterpillar
Rihanna in Timberlands
Rita Ora in the Timberlands
10 facts from the history of the Timberland brand:
- Timberland was founded in 1952 by Nathan Schwartz, the son of emigrants from Odessa. His father had been a shoemaker all his life, and Nathan also knew this craft very well. So the yellow shoes are made by a real professional.
- Timber has always been a very advanced shoe. In 1965, these boots revolutionized the process with a unique technology that allowed the sole of a shoe to be joined to a leather upper without the use of threads. The result is a truly waterproof boot. The original model had 39 pieces that were held together in 80 steps.
- One of the latest unique Timberland technologies is called Sensorflex. This is the sole of the shoe, which consists of three layers: the hard upper supports and stabilizes the foot, the intermediate one serves for cushioning, and the lower one, thanks to flexible grooves, instantly adapts to any surface. The best part is that boots with such a cool sole are on sale at an affordable price! For example, these leather sneakers cost $ 100 (in Russia - $ 150).
- The classic yellow color was not chosen by chance. It worked as an additional advertisement: the shoes were deliberately soiled, and then they were easily cleaned - and it was clear to anyone that these tanks were not afraid of dirt :)
- True, there is another version, according to which yellow was chosen for safety reasons: shoes of a bright color are conspicuous, and this reduces the risk of stepping on your foot or dropping something heavy on it. It is clear that this is relevant for those who work in some kind of hazardous production (for example, in logging). This version is supported by the name of the brand (timber - "wood", land - "earth"), and a branched oak as a logo.
- The Italian Giuseppe Veronesi introduced yellow boots to Europe. In 1979, he bought 900 pairs of boots from Schwartz's company, and a year later returned for an even larger batch. In Italy, the sale of Timberland was accompanied by a massive advertising campaign, during which the boots were subjected to all kinds of tests in extreme weather conditions. And the slogan of the campaign was: “If you love your Timberland, treat them as badly as possible” :)
- In the 1990s, the yellow "Timberlands" fell in love with hip-hop performers. This music was then gaining popularity with might and main - therefore, the boots quickly conquered the whole world. Today, Timberland fans include Pharrell Williams, Jay Z, Rihanna, Cara Delevingne and many other celebrities.
- In 1990, Timberland became the official supplier of footwear for the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska.
- Timberland often comes up with interesting collaborations. For example, in 2011, the company, together with ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, released 75 pairs of unique boots. All plastic items in them were made from recycled materials, and the proceeds from the sale went to charity. The latest joint projects include a collaboration between Timberland and the Italian brand Marni.
The history of Timberland does not originate from the depths of past centuries, but this American brand is famous for the high quality of its products and the loyal love of consumers in almost every corner of the world.
And even if you don't see skinny models slashing down the catwalk in stylish yellow shoes during Haute Couture Week, these shoes are adorned in the British Design Museum and are not hesitant to sell them one of the most expensive stores in the world - Selfridges (London ).
"Yellow boots" ... Many residents of our country immediately remember the song of the same name by Zhanna Aguzarova, but when answering the associative question about "Yellow boots", 90% of Americans will start talking about the Timberland brand, which is a global manufacturer of not only famous footwear, but also clothes, watches and even swimming trunks.
The author and creator of the brand, Nathan Schwartz, was originally from Odessa and grew up in a very poor family. When the First World War began, they, having collected their modest belongings, went to the United States in search of a better life, stability and wealth, but the "Promised Land" could offer the Jewish family only an endless struggle for a piece of bread.
It so happened that the Shvartsov family business was shoe making, and young Nathan had no choice but to go to work as a shoemaker, so as not to break traditions. In 1918, Nathan became an apprentice in a tiny shoe shop and began doing what he was supposed to do: cut leather, cut out soles and sew shoes.
For 34 years he plowed like a damn before he bought shares of an obscure shoe factory in Abington, Massachusetts, at 50 with his hard-earned money. Three years later, he bought it out in its entirety and, together with his sons, produced shoes for another ten years without any special aspirations and ambitions to make a fortune or become famous for centuries.
“If a person buys Timberland shoes once, they will wear them all the time. He will feel her energy. Our consumer is a free person, full of energy, who feels himself. "
For almost ten years, the factory has been making footwear for private leading brands, and, perhaps, this story would not have ended with anything remarkable, if not for a great insight, supported by an undeniable talent: in 1965, Nathan and his sons invented and embodied a revolutionary technology of seamless connection of a rubber sole with leather upper of the shoe (using a special press), which made it waterproof. And already in 1973, the first "guaranteed waterproof" leather yellow boots appeared under the Timberland brand. Why was yellow chosen? There are two versions, each of which claims to be true with equal zeal.
The factory, which Schwartz acquired, made specialized shoes for lumberjacks, and the bright yellow color was used as a protection: too often in the twilight, workers dropped logs on each other's feet. Plus, the brand's symbol is American oak, and the name itself is nothing more than a combination of two words - timber (wood) and land (earth).
The second version is strikingly different from the first. According to the current head of the company, Jeffrey Schwartz (Nathan's grandson), when the first pair of shoes was made, everyone was so concerned about its quality and the process of work, namely: how to make shoes 100% waterproof; what is the best way to process the leather and what threads to use; which seam and laces to choose. But no one began to stipulate the future color, completely immersed in the solution of related problems. And when asked why the yellow color was chosen, Nathan answered something from the series: "It happened by itself."
But in any case, we love and recognize these excellent shoes exclusively in such a color scheme, and the well-thought-out marketing turned the obvious minus of the light shade into a feature and an undoubted plus. Demonstration of how easy it is to clean dirt from the surface of shoes has delighted millions of buyers. This presentation was developed by a cunning Italian who played a key role in the fate of the Schwartz dynasty.
He came to Nathan's doorstep like a bolt from the blue and bought all the shoes that were in stock at the factory. And this is 900 pairs. A year later, he returned and said that in Europe the shoes were a huge success and he wanted to buy more.
In Italy, he ran an advertising campaign in which Timberland boots were subjected to all kinds of tests in extreme weather conditions. However, even after them, the boots, clean and dry, hung on the clothesline; the slogan read: "If you love Timberland, treat them as badly as possible." Thus, the brand gained popularity in Italy, shops selling Timberland shoes began to open there, and yellow boots began a journey around the world. By 1980, there were about a hundred stores outside the United States, and in addition to yellow boots, other technological and model developments appeared.
“For me, business is deeply personal. Because Timberland is our family business. My father in a factory could work on any equipment. Even when he had free time, he fiddled with a piece of leather, thinking how to make its quality better. Therefore, we can safely say that our soul is invested in our business.
The company's designers say that white-collar workers are ready to spend three hundred bucks for one pair to look no less stylish and respectable on weekends, and those who have become a real fan of this brand are offered to put the name of the owner on the shoes and replace them for free. worn out sole. Timberland launched its first collection of menswear in 1988, and it is also designed for outdoor activities or sports. The combination of innovative technology and high quality continues the tradition for which yellow shoes are famous.
The history of the Timberland brand is yet another proof of how perseverance, talent and faith in our ideals can lead each of us to success and fulfillment of our most cherished desires. Over the course of several decades, the company has grown from an inconspicuous factory into a global standard that promotes an active lifestyle and a certain style, offering the buyer quality based on advanced technologies. Now Timberland, like big fashion brands, has several lines of clothing and footwear, its own design bureau, its own catalogs and brand stores.
Over time, the classic Timberland brand yellow color has entered many collections of the company. Yellow Timberlands are chosen by confident people who are always ready for adventure. This does not mean that the preference for yellow betrays a penchant for adventurism. Shades of yellow are rather joyful and positive; they are full of expectations of encounters with interesting things.
What do yellow Timberlands go with?
Timberland yellow boots are always stylish on both men and women. Of course, they can hardly be called shoes for business lunches and special occasions. But on walks and meetings with friends, they are irreplaceable. Yellow always sets the tone for the image. It looks great with denim wear. With the rest of the colors, when choosing clothes, you need to be more careful so as not to overdo it with brightness. The combination of yellow and purple looks very good, as well as with deep greens and khaki colors. You can choose a scarf or a bag for yellow Timberlands - this will not be too much, the main thing is to keep the tone. Another important feature of yellow boots is that due to their stylish look and bright color, they are appropriate in any season.
Where to buy Timberland yellow boots in Moscow?
You can buy yellow Timberland boots in our online store website. To do this, place an order on the website. And also you can come to our showroom, where you can try on the model you like.
Highly publicized and known to everyone, even those who have never worn them, Timberland boots are clearly designed for everyday wear. They are neither fancy nor elegant - they cannot be worn with a jacket pair or dress. Rather, these are sports, hiking or work shoes, and they are designed to be worn in extreme conditions by people who spend a lot of time on their feet. Similar properties are typical for the clothing of this brand. But in the designated consumer niche, this product is considered almost ideal. In its production, properties are concentratedly applied to ensure maximum durability, strength, water resistance, comfort and other important qualities. How did the manufacturing company manage to create a unique product, and even in the conditions of the American market saturated with high-quality and affordable footwear? This is what the story will go about.
The Schwartzians go to America
Historiographers love to remember that the founder of the Timberland brand was born in the Russian Empire, in the glorious city of Odessa, and this is really so. The Shvartsev family was engaged in shoemaking, and this is also true. However, little Nathan hardly managed to remember the beauty of the Bolshoi Fountain, walk around the Nikolaevsky boulevard and look at the Duke from the hatch, because he left South Palmyra at a rather tender age. In search of a better life, the Swarians emigrated to the North American States even before the outbreak of the World War, not to mention the revolution. At the age of sixteen, in 1918, Nathan was already working as an apprentice in a shoe production, and not an artisanal one, as in Odessa, but at a real factory itself. There was no support, America was not as hospitable as expected, and the family could barely make ends meet. Ahead loomed the prospect of bending his back on the owner for the rest of his life, gradually making a career as a modest worker. In fact, the first 34 years of his stay in the United States, Nathan Schwartz followed this fate.
Factory owner
And yet America, for all the severity of its attitude towards its new citizens, always gave them a chance to show private initiative, which, obviously, is the secret of this country's economic power. Nathan Schwartz, saving and denying himself everything, by 1936 was able to save money to buy part of the shareholding in the enterprise where he worked - The Abington Shoe Company, and within three years became its owner. Perhaps he was helped in this by the crisis, which sharply reduced the cost of many firms, but the fact is that not every ordinary worker was able to achieve such results. A factory located in Abington, Pennsylvania made good shoes, but it was known only to the locals. There have always been many such enterprises in the United States. It took a unique product to stand out.
How the boots were designed
The Timberland brand history is not a story of instant success resulting from a happy idea visiting someone's clever mind. Rather, it is a saga of hard work, hard quests and doubts. But there was also an idea, of course, and it consisted in creating special shoes that would combine all the most demanded consumer properties. Nathan Schwartz was already 52 years old when he set about solving this problem. As the son of the entrepreneur recalled, his father and grandfather worked very hard and constantly discussed the design of their new product from a technological standpoint: what kind of skin should it be so that it does not get wet and at the same time does not tan in the cold, what kind of threads are best suited, and from what to make rivets, without which such shoes, of course, could not do.
The result was a regulation developed by the Schwartzs, providing for eight dozen sequential operations to assemble 39 elements.
"They're yellow!"
The main technological discovery of the Shvartsev company was the unique method of connecting the sole to the upper (1965). The classical approach assumed a stitching that provides high strength (simple glued joints usually lead to the fact that after a few soaks, the integrity is broken and the boots “ask for porridge”). On the other hand, the thread did not provide a continuous, reliable moisture barrier. The use of a powerful press solved this problem. As for the material, after a long search and experimentation, a silicone-impregnated leather, tanned in a special way, was chosen. Everything was thought out: and triple seams with nylon threads, and special rivets, resistant to corrosion, and comfortable insoles, and a multi-layer sole. Only the color, as it seemed to one of Schwartz's grandchildren, let us down. The boy didn't even want to try on a prototype for a mass product in 1973. "They're yellow!" He exclaimed.
Marketing Veronesi
Yes, the color was not that bad, but somehow unconventional. There were large reserves of leather, it was not possible to repaint it due to the intricacies of the production technology, and explaining to each buyer why it is like this is a tedious and not always effective occupation. Sales of Timberland footwear (with a hint of lumberjacks) were initially unimpressive, despite all their advantages. The problems could be solved by the correct marketing presentation of the product.