Comments on: Timberland rips off Adbusters!

By: Shaarangapan

Shaarangapan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:49:29 +0000

Great blog you got here…keep up the good work.

By: teksty z linkiem

teksty z linkiem — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:15:35 +0000

Interesting website, i have bookmarked your site for future referrence

By: Inhabitat » ECOLLECTION DAY 1: Sustainable Style Hits the Mainstream

Inhabitat » ECOLLECTION DAY 1: Sustainable Style Hits the Mainstream — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:00:43 +0000

[...] from recycled polyester fibers (plastic bottles). Launched by outdoorsy Canadians Mark Trotzuk and Steve Saldebus (manufacturer and designer, respectively), Ecopurna is completely sustainable. They use Blue Sign, [...]

By: admin

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:41:12 +0000

Alex,
Thanks for your comments. Adbusters is a non-profit organization that makes a boot of hemp and recycled tires. Timberland is a global multi-national corporation with over 53 factories around the world spewing out toxins every day. Adbusters is a cultural magazine that has the ability to change the world. Timberland is a for profit boot company that FOLLOWS consumer trends. As an employee you should remember that and realize that profit is the bottom line. Adbusters can influence people and change the way they think. Timberland will change nothing unless people demand it.
You commented that “It has been a substantial commitment for many years” and then said “Only recently are they talking about the environment openly.” Which one is it?
It is nice to see that Timberland is taking advantage of the trendy “green” movement to clean up their business and I applaud you for pushing them to keep up the effort.
Keep up the good work!

By: alex dardinski

alex dardinski — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:46:19 +0000

My name is Alex, I am a designer at Timberland and I read blogs like this specifically because I (and many of my coworkers) really care about these issues. I didn’t design the Rippler boot. But a co-worker / friend did. And I can say that there was no intention to visually steal the look of the “Unswoosher” I don’t think any of us were even aware of it until after the fact. The point was to create a minimalist boot with classic styling. That leaves you with a pretty small palette of parts, and essentially all boots start to look similar when you are embellishing them so minimally.

What I can say about Timberland’s commitment to the environment (and human rights) is that it is REAL. It has been a substantial commitment for many years and they have very humbly made a lot of progress. Only recently are they talking about the environment openly. And that is to raise the level of dialogue more than to make money from it. I’m really proud to work for a company like this and it totally bums me out to read people slamming it without all the facts.

(by the way the facts are here, please read them!: http://www.timberland.com/corp/index.jsp?page=csroverview)

I meet with material suppliers and factories regularly in my job. At every single interaction we are challenging them to be greener, more efficient and better at what they do. We reward like minded companies with our business. Like minded employees are rewarded with incentives to be greener. Timberland has solar and wind powered distribution centers. Those took a LOT of vision to build in a shareholder owned company. It’s hard doing the right thing in corporate America, but sometimes it takes a big company to challenge an industry. The “Unswoosher” boot is an awesome shot across the bow. But Timberland’s initiatives at a large scale have the potential to change the entire business. I am happy to be a part of it.

Alex

By: admin

admin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:17:39 +0000

Yes, The other great thing about the internet is that we can expose the “posers” in blogs like these..now, if we can figure out a way to put up digital graffiti on Timberland’s site that would be some retribution!
Thanks Mac!

By: Mack Benz

Mack Benz — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:56:23 +0000

Hey Steve, I totally agree with what you are saying about Timberland ripping off their style and trying to hop on the band wagon.

One pro and one con.

Con: Because of this idea they “stole/borrowed,” and the fact that they are a large clothing company that is publicy listed you can bet your ass that they are going to make a killing off of these as they push it in their marketing without giving any mention to the true Unswoosher boot therefore in turn really hurting a truly ‘good-natured’ domestic business in our community. So I say? Fuck corporate, its the ‘age of indepence’ with technology being so cheap the broke artist has a chance to get some real recognition.

unfortunately there is a pro though….

Because of Timberland hopping on this train it gives this “organic burst” through the media worldwide starting a revolution in next-gen organic clothing. Thousands of businesses follow suit. Unswoosher loathes in their own self-worth. No proclamation for the unknown little Domestic entity that was.

I love fashion… gives me the chills

By: Annarka

Annarka — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:21:39 +0000

What’s even crazier are the other ethical records of these companies. Timberland has battled a notoriously bad human rights record, whereas the whole ideology behind the Blackspot was a “sweat-free” sneaker… The look maybe shouldn’t be political, but it sure seems like it is. I guess you raise the questions… does it say “I’m smarter and I care” - or just “I look like I might be smarter and I want you to think I care” Crazy, I had no idea that Timberland was doing this!