2025.10.29

The Long-Awaited Return of the "Third Icon"! Tracing the History of Timberland's Classic "Euro Hiker"

#Timberland

#Euro Hiker

#Boots

#Street Fashion

#Relaunch

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*The text-to-speech feature is generated by AI,
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When you think of iconic Timberland styles, the "Yellow Boot" and the "3-Eye Classic Lug" immediately come to mind. But in recent years, another model has been quietly gaining momentum in their shadow: the "Euro Hiker," revived in 2023.

Today, this classic is cementing its place as the brand's "third icon." We sat down with Bunta Oki from Timberland Japan to explore its enduring appeal.

PROFILE

Bunta Oki

VF Japan K.K., Timberland Japan

Marketing Department, Associate Marketing Manager

Born in 1991. After graduating from university, Oki began his career in sales at an apparel trading company. He joined VF Japan in 2019 and moved to the Energy Marketing team in 2021, where he handled collaboration projects and PR initiatives. He now holds the position of Associate Marketing Manager.

Born in 1988: A Hiker Designed for Europe

"The Euro Hiker was created in 1988 as a hiking shoe with the European market in mind. The model name comes from a portmanteau of 'Euro' and 'hiker.'"

While it was designed for the trails, it found a much bigger audience as a casual shoe. It especially blew up in the U.S., where it was embraced by hip-hop artists.

A Street Icon Forged by '90s Hip-Hop

Gang Starr, a group that symbolized the golden age of New York hip-hop in the 1990s, were also fans of these boots. Their profile skyrocketed after they were pictured wearing Euro Hikers on a hit album in the ’90s.