Timberland man’s boots, beige suede, brown leather, synthetic material, and gold tone metal, 2013, USA, gift of Timberland

Hip hop devotees were a driving force in bringing workwear into fashion during the 1990s, modeling their styles on the blue-collar workers of their communities and the street hustlers who needed warm, dry shoes to weather the elements. Despite the exposure and sales they brought, the brands Timberland, Carhartt, and Filson distanced themselves from the inner city youth market in a 1993 New York Times article, dismissing the workwear fashion trend that is now an enduring classic.