Timberland: 40 years of the yellow boot

Made up from 39 components and constructed via 80 separate factory floor steps, you'd be forgiven for thinking the subject in question is a piece of Nasa technology. This, however, is the drill dedicated to the creation of a pair of yellow, eight-hole Timberland boots. It's one of fashion 's most recognisable pieces of footwear, favoured across the board, from hipsters to workmen, rappers and pop royalty. This boot, which gave Timberland its company name, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and can truly be dubbed a fashion classic, theguardian.co.uk

For a shoe to become so popular - and still sell millions of pairs each year - it must transcend fashion and penetrate another pop-cultural sphere. It's not enough to have a loyal following of fashionistas, you have to reach outside the industry bubble. Similar success has been achieved with the help of music or art by other labels, such as Converse - which had Hot Chip front its campaign in 2010 , and currently has ads shot at gigs and in clubs around the world.

Often, though, this additional dimension isn't chosen by the brand, it happens organically; it's all about being in the right place at the right time with the right look, style and attitude. That's what Timberland did - and it shows in its earnings. Bought by sportswear giant VF Corporation in 2011, the brand saw net income increase by 13% in the first nine months of 2012 , reaching £479m. You can be sure that the yellow boot accounted for a fair chunk of that.

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