Louis Vuitton x Timberland arrives this month

July 11, 2024

The capsule will be released globally next month. Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton

French fashion house Louis Vuitton and U.S. outdoor footwear brand Timberland are celebrating the working man.

Derived from the maison's fall/winter 2024 Paris to VA presentation, a set of collaborative styles seen on the runway earlier this year are now hitting the market in real-life. Louis Vuitton's latest capsule collection focuses on durable ready-to-wear for everyday use and features a first-time partnership with Timberland, all scheduled for in-store release at select locations on Aug. 8, 2024.

Cold resolve
According to Louis Vuitton, the capsule embodies a “dandy-esque fusion of elegance, utility and comfort,” rendering Timberland's involvement all the more fitting, as men's creative director Pharrell Williams' delivery explores the American Western origins of workwear. Worn across a range of settings, from cold weather environments to city streets, Timberland boots, commonly referred to as “Timbs,” are popular on the East Coast.

Having designed several joint launches with Timberland under the cofounded American streetwear label Billionaire Boys Club, the music producer's connection to the culture benefits the luxury brand once more, as the blue-collar staples now become part of the French savoir-faire tradition.

Men's Fall-Winter 2024. The story of American craftsmanship in @Pharrell's collection continues with traditional workwear and exclusive Louis Vuitton x Timberland collaboration. Discover the selection soon available for prelaunch at https://t.co/228EKqPbCd pic.twitter.com/0Ngszkg8o2
— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) July 9, 2024

The first Louis Vuitton x Timberland boot, called the “LV 6-Inch,” is crafted in the maison’s shoemaking atelier in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy. Merging the two brands’ codes, with the overall design being nearly identical to Timberland’s basic work boot, but embossed with the luxury label’s LV monogram — branded eyelets and high-end Italian nubuck leather heighten the item’s connection to the prestige fashion realm.

Another version, the “LV Boot,” magnifies the silhouette of the shoe by 15 percent and loses the monogram detailing. Instead, the footwear takes on a heavy-duty design better suited for harsher landscapes and terrain.

Rounding out the collaboration is a variant of the “LV 6-Inch” limited to 50 units. Outfitted in 18-karat gold on the tongue initials, eyelets, lace tips and tag, the small batch shoe is said to be Mr. Williams’ masterpiece.

The tongue is Inscribed with the phrase “the sun is shining on us,” which the creative director said at his debut fashion show in June 2023. Crafted in unison with Louis Vuitton’s footwear and jewelry divisions, the boot comes delivered in an LV monogram leather and plexiglass shoe box.

The maison refers to the limited-edition version as Mr. Williams’ “masterpiece.” Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Timberland’s collaborative pieces remain as but a few of the items within the men’s workwear capsule, the remainder of the collection is comprised of upscale takes on staples of Western American blue-collar life, such as cowboy hats, trucker jackets, heavy coats, bandannas, gloves, flasks, cigarette cases and jeans, among other apparel and accessories.

Handbags also see the spotlight within the collection, as the Keepall bag has been reinterpreted for a new use case. The “Keepall 50 Toolbox” merges the Carry-all’s French aesthetic with the rough and tumble nature of the American West, prioritizing functionality in its coated monogram canvas exterior, which is dotted with pockets and rivets.

The capsule will be released early next month at select retailers around the globe and online. An exclusive presale for the Timberland collaborative footwear will launch on July 18, with registration available on the Louis Vuitton website now.

Enduring legacy
Collaborating with Timberland is Louis Vuitton’s second recent action with ties to the New York hip-hop scene.

Earlier this week, the maison named American rapper Terrence LeVarr Thornton, widely known by his stage name Pusha T, as brand ambassador (see story). The musician’s roots are in the Big Apple, as he was born in the Bronx — later he connected with Mr. Williams in Virginia, propelling both of their careers massively in the late 1990s.

The maison is furthering its connections to streetwear culture. Image courtesy of Louis Vuitton

With the Timberland partnership, the luxury label continues to aim its attention at everyday, durable high-end attire and accessories in addition to its expected assortment of couture fashion offerings.

Louis Vuitton has been on this path since before Mr. Williams took the reins in early 2023, as former creative director Virgil Abloh, who passed away in November 2021, collaborated with Off-White, Nigo and Nike (see story), among other streetwear staples, during his tenure.

Now, this focus on durable luxury has been expanded in recent months, beginning with the release of a campaign starring that focused on the viability of the maison’s travel collection within harsh landscapes in May (see story) and continuing with the impending debut of the men’s workwear capsule.

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