Red dawn

Timberland's "construction worker" boot gets a new color, courtesy of City Year

by Nina Willdorf

Construction-worker chic is nothing new, from coveted Carhartt to oh-so-distressed denim. The key to working such items is an ironic, half-hearted attempt at authenticity. Sport those jeans as though the grease were from your car, while you acknowledge with a smiling shrug, "Fine, fine, I bought them like this." Then suit up in Timberland boots, like the countless urban hip-hop faithful. Sure, it's been years since the boots had that "I just came from the job site" credibility, but now they're turning yet another fashion corner. For a limited time at least, the company is adding some flavor to the classic tan and brown staples.

Starting November 1, Timberland, a sponsor of City Year -- The corps of do-gooder 19-to-24-year-olds putting off college to traipse around town building, tutoring, and helping the occasional senior citizen cross the street -- is issuing a bold, limited-edition red City Year boot, to match the program's trademark color. They even have a City Year hangtag and buckle.

The cherry-colored clodhopper is available only through this year's holiday season. Priced at $150, a few dollars more than the old-school shoes, the boots of the do-gooders themselves do good: Timberland plans on doling out an estimated $100,000 of the proceeds to eight City Year programs across the country.

Red, We ask? Authentic or not, how very glam. We wonder how well it will fare in the devout urban community of hip-hoppers with signature Timbos on their toes. "Red is an opportunity," says Ken Freitas, the company's vice-president of marketing for social enterprises. "Red is a very hot color."

But Jason Taylor, a Boston City Year Corps member, thinks Timberland might as well have made them pink. He's excited to wear them for himself, but doubts they're going to be a big hit outside the City Year community. In fact, he says, if he didn't get them for free from the outdoors company, he wouldn't be all that likely to buy them. "With the red, you're not going to want to mess up the suede," he notes.

We were also curious how rugged such a fancy red nubuck leather boot would prove to be on the feet of those stomping through the urban jungle. But, says Timberland's Leslie Bonnyman, "you could walk in a river in them." Whew.

-- Nina Willdorf

Stores carrying
Timberland red boots:

• Lady Foot Locker, 350 Washington Street, Boston, (617) 482-0703; 47 Commercial Avenue, (617) 225-2245.

• Foot Action, 381 Washington Street, Boston, (617) 451-0190; CambridgeSide Galleria, Cambridge, (617) 577-0155.

• Footpaths, 131 State Street, Boston, (617) 742-7463; 489 Washington Street, Boston, (617) 338-6008.

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