Timberland:
Advice of an Icon with Trap,
Mike Ruiz Serra and Romeo Okwara
WORDS BY Kayla Curtis-Evans Photos by Gabriel Moses
The steps to creative success aren’t always clear-cut, but with tenacity, community and the right tools, anyone can make the bold leap. Before achievement comes aspiration, but there’s a difference between dreaming big and getting things done to ensure those dreams come to fruition. Timberland helps creatives take those first steps with confidence — both literally and figuratively. The brand’s recognizable Yellow Boot has become a symbol of strength with today’s biggest creatives wearing the boot as a canvas for bold self-expression, while others rely on the durable footwear to support them through the toughest tasks at hand.
here’s a difference between dreaming big and getting things done.
The brand’s latest campaign, “Advice of an Icon,” honors its over 50 year heritage, and also pays homage to the community that has propelled the boot to legacy status. Shot by Gabriel Moses, known for his emotional approach to storytelling, the campaign dives into the artistic journeys of three icons renowned for their bold identities: Spike Lee, Skepta and Kiko Mizuhara. Lee, a creative pioneer in film, embodies the same relentless character woven into every stitch of the Yellow Boot. He gives advice to those on similar creative career paths — or just advice for anyone facing challenges in achieving their dreams. “You have to have a work ethic,” Lee says, “You gotta put the work in. You can’t cheat that, if you’re cheating, you’re cheating yourself.”
The Yellow Boot has become a canvas for bold self-expression and a symbol of strength.
Creativity is resilience in motion.
Honoring the boot for its resilience and continued global reach, Hypebeast adds to the “Advice of an Icon” initiative through “Steps Toward an Icon,” a project that not only highlights the destination to success but also the tumultuous path towards it. For the project, we tapped three rising creatives who embrace the same unwavering determination as those in Timberland’s campaign: Trap, Mike Ruiz Serra, and Romeo Okwara. Dive into the digital experience to trace their journeys and get practical insights for defining and reaching your goals.
FIRST STEP STORIES
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[spike lee]
profile 02
profile 03
profile 04
First step stories
— Presented by Timberland
[spike lee]
[trap]
[Mike Ruiz Serra]
[Romeo Okwara]
[spike lee]
[trap]
[Mike Ruiz Serra]
[Romeo Okwara]
First step stories
— Presented by Timberland
[ROMEO OKWARA]
[MIKE RUIZ SERRA]
[TRAP]
[SPIKE LEE]