Timberland nathan schwartz biography
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The History of Timberland: Waterproof Boots and Rap Royalty
Like many of the blue-collar pieces we cover, Timberland rose from its working-class origins to eventually be adopted bygd the fashion and music elite. The boot that ultimately transcended class and crossed a racial divide to become a wardrobe essential, deserves a deep dive. Timberland, a New England company, was made by and for white workers and was eventually, by way of Brooklyn, commodified by a markedly different constituency. Though Timberland at first resisted, the boot once made for work, would become most famous for its role in rap.
Nathan and Sidney Swartz. Image via Tuck School of Business.
History and Early Philosophy
In 1952, almost twenty years prior to the release of the modern Timberland Boot, Nathan Swartz bought into a Massachusetts company called the Abington Shoe Company. Specializing in workwear for New England’s working man, the company was primarily focused on making truly waterproof lea
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Nathan Swartz
American shoemaker and businessman
Nathan Swartz (July 1902 – August 1984) was a Ukrainian-born American shoemaker and businessman, known for founding the Timberland Company.
Early life
[edit]Nathan Swartz was born to a poor Jewish family in July 1902 in Odessa, Kherson Governorate, the fourth generation of a family of shoemakers.[1] Soon before the First World War, the family migrated to the US.[1]
Career
[edit]Swartz started as an apprentice in a New York shoe repair shop. In 1952, he bought a 50% stake in the Abington Shoe Company, in Massachusetts, which later became Timberland.[1][2] He retired in 1968.[3]
Family
[edit]Swartz had two sons, Herman and Sidney. Herman led the company from 1968 to 1986, followed by Sidney from 1986 to 1998. In 1998, Sidney's son, Jeffrey Swartz, took over.[4][5] In 2011, Jeffrey sold the company to VF for $2 billion.[6]
Trivia
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The globally recognized Timberland brand is marking a significant milestone as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its iconic Yellow Boots model. Ukrainians can take pride in their connection to this footwear, as the company was founded by Nathan Schwartz, a skilled shoemaker from Odessa. In honor of this anniversary, Timberland is introducing the eco-friendly Colour Blast line, featuring models crafted using innovative technology that seamlessly joins leather uppers and rubber soles.
It all began in 1952 when the experienced shoemaker Nathan Schwartz, born into a fourth-generation shoemaker family in Odessa, purchased the Abington Shoe Company factory, where he had spent three decades perfecting his craft. Timberland was officially founded in 1973 in the small town of New Market, New Hampshire, with the goal of creating the ultimate durable and completely waterproof boots. The brand soon became synonymous with high-quality footwear and apparel suitable for both outdoor adventur