This Underrated Timberland Silhouette Is Having a Moment

Over the years, Timberland's six-inch work boot has established itself as an icon in East Coast footwear, alongside Nike's Air Force 1. It's also earned some serious streetwear stripes along the

way. The decades-old style is so stylishly eternal that it made its way to luxury fashion brands, including Vetements and Louis Vuitton, which started to riff on the distinct hard-wearing silhouette last year. In recent seasons, though, Timberland's official collaborations with brands like Supreme, Aimé Leon Dore, and now with the New York label Alife have cast light on a different, slightly unexpected model: the brand's Authentic 3-Eye Lug shoe.

Courtesy of Timberland x Alife

Alife is no stranger to Timberland. (For the uninitiated, Alife was founded in the late-1990s and has been an influential player in downtown Manhattan's historic streetwear scene ever since.) In 2007, the two brands teamed up on a limited version of the classic work boot, and this collaboration marks the third time the duo have linked up. Alife is known for bringing a left-of-center aesthetic to projects (see the brand's recent collaboration with Crocs), and this is no exception. The Authentic 3-Eye design is kept relatively intact, except for the newly supersized "Lug" sole double stacked just so. By  playing with the proportions, Alife has added a bit more toughness to an already tough shoe, while the classic Timberland colors keep things from feeling too flashy. The duo of shoes will be available May 4 exclusively through Alife.

Courtesy of Timberland x Alife
Courtesy of Timberland x Alife

This is just the latest big look for the 3-Eye. Between Supreme's leopard-print take and Aimé Leon Dore's decidedly dressier reimagination, this third high-profile collaboration seems to hint that the style is poised for new heights. (In this case, quite literally.) The spotlight is well-earned here: it is essentially an ultra-rugged boat shoe with a bit of handcrafted flair—a winning combination. This new collaboration with Alife only seems to confirm that the spotlight on the silhouette is no accident. Either way, something tells us this won't be the last we'll be seeing of Timberland's 3-Eye in the world of streetwear.

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