Focus on : The Timberland Company

Today's post was going to be called “Designs on Men”.

As a mother of 3 teenage sons, a number of male apparel design products have entered our home, one of which is the “Tim-boot”, the “youth-name” for Timberland Boots. And (as a mother of 3 teenage sons) I am ready to pay homage to a great product: they're warm, they're waterproof, they're made to last...and they look great! Mother's everywhere are surely breathing a sigh of relief this winter...

So what relation does a boot company have to interior design? Well, good design is just that! And this company has been steadily turning out quality designs for decades, innovating, setting an example and standing up and being counted in terms of environmental and social issues. Their products have become design icons and you know what? maybe one day we'll be using “the essence of Timberland” as inspiration for a room: natural leathers, green products and big splash of Urban Design!...

Since 1952 they've innovated: fusing soles to leather uppers without stitching, producing truly waterproof boots and shoes: Guarnteed! Testing products in the field of extreme sports and creating clever products like their lightweight hiking boot: designed to minimize harm to walking trails, while giving maximum traction to the wearer, and introducing Green Rubber™ technology, using recycled rubber from discarded tires for their outer soles.

But it was in the '90's that the socially responsible face of Timberland really came to the fore: This company's philosophy is "pulling on your boots and making a difference." And this is a company that stands buy it's statements: offering employees 40 hours paid leave to perform community service, and surpassing its commitment the the US government to serve 40,000 hours in communities.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region of the US, Timberland established a short-term service sabbatical for employees wishing to assist with disaster relief efforts. And with the launch of “the Earthkeeper campaign”, started a movement to recruit one million people to become part of an online network designed to inspire real environmental behaviour change. Timberland and the charity movement, “Soles4Souls” link up to launch nationwide in-store shoe donation program. This is social reponsibility "BIG TIME"!

Timberland forged ahead in advertising too, helping them become a brand that anyone who cares about their appearance would be proud to wear! And these Guys are not scared to stand up and be counted: Timberland's "Give Racism the Boot" awareness campaign supports diversity and standing up against oppression. And this kind of commitment pays off, in all sorts of ways: With the creation of the “Model People” campaign, honoring individuals who pull on their boots and make a difference, Timberland's sales more than tripled between 1990 and 1994 – the same time Timberland became a major component of hip-hop and urban culture.

Check out these awards! Voted "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune Magazine year after year, one of 19 founding members of Businesses Strengthening America, (a White House initiative focused on national corporate service) ranked number five in Fortune Magazine's list of "Most Admired Companies." On the list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine.

#2 on Climate Counts' list of companies making aggressive strides in fighting climate change.

The list goes on and on...proving that when you couple good design with good management, and  a social conscience, everyone benefits. Great work Timberland!