Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery Unveil Batch IV Of Their Collaboration 1000 Mile Boot

Elevating the art of craftsmanship to new heights, Wolverine®, the 141-year-old boot and clothing company, has once again joined forces with Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery just in time for Bourbon Heritage Month. Through their mutual dedication to superior quality, these two brands proudly unveil Batch IV of their Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle Boot.

Inspired by the caramel and wood notes of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year bourbon, the Batch IV boot was built on the silhouette of Wolverine's iconic 1000 Mile. First introduced in 1914, the 1000 Mile provides the perfect canvas for the continued partnership of Wolverine and Old Rip as they pour their distinct blend of heritage, craftmanship and quality into each product iteration.

"Working with the team at Old Rip continues to be a highlight of our year," stated Lauren King, Senior Director of Marketing at Wolverine Boots. "We constantly inspire each other through our unique, yet shared, brand ethos and design. Each pair of boots we've launched together has created a new take on our heritage product, drummed up energizing ways to connect to our audiences, and ignited enduring consumer demand. Batch IV is no different."

Tailored for the ultimate bourbon enthusiast, the Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle Batch IV Boot is designed to age gracefully, much like the fine bourbon at Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. Each pair of these limited-edition boots features all the timeless 1000 Mile qualities:

• Lux leather uppers in a rich hue inspired by the full-bodied flavor profile of Old Rip Van Winkle 10-year.
• Built from the iconic 1000 Mile silhouette and finished with the added comfort, support, and style of a wedge sole.
• Uniquely labeled with hand-numbered Old Rip Van Winkle woven label on the tongue.
• Designed in Michigan and handcrafted in Arkansas, supporting American workers and manufacturing.

Combining their shared passion for supporting the hard-working hands behind handcrafted, a portion of proceeds from each pair of Wolverine x Old Rip Van Winkle Batch IV boots sold will be donated to SkillsUSA, the number one workforce development organization for students.

"It's always a pleasure working with the Wolverine Team," stated Preston Van Winkle, member of the Van Winkle Bourbon Family. "Wolverine is a brand that truly embodies our shared passion of quality craftsmanship behind the creation of every boot, much like the dedication we pour into our bourbon. This collaboration not only celebrates our mutual dedication to quality, but also underscores our joint support for continuing to champion America's workforce."

ABOUT WOLVERINE
Wolverine, the 141-year-old boot and clothing company, is on a mission to honor the spirit and tenacity of the American worker and build the next generation of skilled trades people. Taking pride in crafting durable boots with unrivaled craftsmanship and the highest quality materials, Wolverine is dedicated to serving hardworking people all over the world. Through Project Bootstrap, Wolverine has contributed over $2 million to organizations in support of the skilled trades. For more information, visit www.wolverine.com. Wolverine is a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW)

ABOUT OLD RIP VAN WINKLE
The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four-generation history, starting in the late 1800s with Julian P. "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr., and continuing today with Julian III and Preston Van Winkle. From its early roots as the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville to the selling of the Distillery in 1972 while resurrecting the Old Rip Van Winkle label at the same time, and following with new, original expressions in the early 1980s, the Van Winkle story has been one of perseverance and survival. In 2002 the Van Winkles joined forces with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Frankfort, KY. All of the Van Winkle's whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed. For more information on the Van Winkle family of bourbon please visit oldripvanwinkle.com.

Source Wolverine

Timberland PRO Celebrates Trades with New 'Labor to Legacy' Campaign

Timberland Pro Honors Generations Of Trade Professionals In New Brand Campaign From Labor To Legacy.

Timberland PRO announces the release of a new brand campaign, From Labor to Legacy, celebrating generations of trade workers by highlighting a multi-generational family at their family-owned and operated business in Oregon. The family is seen wearing Timberland PRO® footwear and apparel that is designed to deliver comfort, durability and performance for skilled trade professionals, and reinforces how the footwear and product is built to withstand the toughest conditions and test of time.

Shot at DD Ranch and Smith Rock Ranch in Central Oregon, the campaign explores themes of comfort, performance and durability, and how Timberland PRO® products are designed as resilient and high-performing as the people that put their trust in them every day. Featuring authentic workers that embody the resilience and toughness of the brand, the campaign heightens the generational narrative of the trades industry and the profound familial bonds they inspire. The father figure in the campaign, Nate Kingsford, works full-time at DD Ranch and comes from a family of concrete workers. The young son figure, Beck, is the actual son of the ranch owners and helps maintain the ranch in real life.

"The hard work and contributions that skilled trades workers make today, will shape the lives of all future generations. From agriculture to construction, manufacturing to carpentry, the craftsmanship of those skilled professionals stands up against the hardest test of all – the test of time," says Ryan Murphy, Brand Marketing Director for Timberland. "That same thoughtful craft goes into every Timberland PRO product that is brought to market. This campaign celebrates the generations of workers who have truly moved our world forward and paved the way for future generations."

Key Timberland PRO® products featured in the campaign include the Direct Attach Waterproof Work Boot, Boondock Composite Toe Waterproof Work Boot, Hood Honcho Sports Hoodie and GritFlex Athletic-Fit Flex Canvas Pant–all of which have a longstanding reputation for superior comfort, performance and durability.

• The Direct Attach 6" Waterproof Work Boot was inspired by our Original Yellow Boot. These are waterproof and have 200 grams of insulation to help keep you dry and warm in cold-weather environments. From their premium Timberland® seam-sealed, waterproof leather uppers with comfortable padded collars to their heat-, oil-, slip-, and abrasion-resistant rubber lug outsoles for enhanced traction, these soft-toe boots are ready to get to work.
• The Boondock 6" Composite Toe Waterproof Work Boot is heavy-duty and provides industrial-grade protection from every angle. Starting with their Premium Timberland® waterproof leather uppers with internal waterproof, breathable membranes for waterproof protection and resistance to blood-borne pathogens, the molded Timberland PRO® rubber toe protectors that are as thick as standard boot outsoles and backed with composite safety toes, rigid external heel cups to support lateral movement, and Anti-Fatigue Technology footbeds designed for all-day shock absorption and energy return.
• The Timberland PRO® Hood Honcho Sport Hoodie is mid-weight and its cotton-blend fleece fabric features enough polyester for stretch and shape retention while our RainRepel™ reinforced technology adds durability and helps resist moisture penetration.
• The Timberland PRO® GritFlex Athletic-Fit Flex Canvas Pant is constructed with a Comfort Flex canvas fabric that's mainly cotton, designed for the durability you demand and a touch of elastane for stretch and a neat look. Plus, we added our Timberland PRO® FLEX technology features like a crotch gusset for improved fit and maximum mobility.

The campaign was photographed by Jay Kolsch who has a background in cinema and fashion, and adds a gritty and visceral take on athletics and outdoor lifestyle subjects. It was co-produced by Fortland Productions and Bluehour.


ABOUT TIMBERLAND PRO®

In 1999, Timberland recognized an opportunity to bring premium, durable boots to professional tradespeople–consumers who see footwear as essential tools to help them do their jobs-- and Timberland PRO® was born.

Based in Stratham, New Hampshire, the Timberland PRO brand is on a mission to celebrate and inspire skilled industrial workers by creating innovative footwear and apparel that delivers maximum comfort, durability and performance for any job.

The Timberland PRO consumer is the unsung hero within our communities—building schools and infrastructure, growing and harvesting the country's agriculture, manufacturing US-made products, and much more.  The brand celebrates these consumers by delivering products that work as hard as they do—with attention given to even the smallest details to empower them to perform at their very best.

Source TIMBERLAND