After kicking off the Future73 initiative by collaborating with Edison Chen and CLOT in March, Timberland is back with its second Future73 project: footwear and apparel created in partnership with Samuel Ross and A-COLD-WALL*. Under the watchful eye of Ross, ACW (as it’s often referred to) has become known for its Brutalist and abstract architecture-inspired designs as well as its constant exploration of unique, high-end materials, with both of those brand pillars on display across the collection.Ross and Timberland’s creations consist of new takes on the 6-Inch Boot and the 3-Eye Lug as well as a set of co-designed apparel. The pieces walk a line between Timberland’s history and ACW’s unique perspective, a new balance for Ross. “When we started developing this collection, I was really thinking about what I wanted [A-COLD-WALL*] products to communicate on a long-term basis, not just what I wanted them to say when they were seen on a runway,” the designer told Hypebeast at Timberland’s Future73 launch event in New Hampshire. “Making this collection was a new process for me, as in the past I’ve usually designed from my imagination whereas here I designed from a historical reference point.” The 6-Inch Boot features a sleek, minimalistic look with no ornamentation on its upper besides a zip closure. It’s built from a premium natural leather and sits atop an icy sole unit, a design choice Ross mentioned strikes a balance between well-worn and brand new: the upper is made to develop a beautiful patina with wear, while the sole will continue to appear crisp. The 3-Eye Lug Shoe is dressed in a navy blue/black mixture and swaps out its standard leather construction for ballistic nylon, a material Ross said A-COLD-WALL* will use more heavily in the future. A finishing touch of durability is provided by a GORE-TEX liner.Besides the footwear, the apparel features modernized, hand-dyed takes on pieces from the Timberland archive like parkas, vests and shorts in various natural tones. “It’s easy to have a flourish of shape or color or crazy detail,” Ross said of the footwear and apparel. “What’s difficult is to move something forward without distorting it, but also use it to present newness.” You can expect the Samuel Ross x Timberland collection to release in two parts. The first drop is going down on May 12 via the A-COLD-WALL* webstore and May 16 on the Timberland webstore, while the second will hit shelves in August. Prices range from $220-$900 USD.For more from the world of footwear be sure to check out the latest installment of Sole Mates, a weekly Hypebeast series that explores the connection between notable individuals in street culture and their favorite shoes.
