The logotype of the US outdoors wear manufacturer Timberland, the maker of the well-known Timberland shoes, is both meaningful and recognizable.
The visual metaphor behind the emblem is closely connected with the literal meaning of the brand’s name. Taking into consideration that “Timberland” is actually “a land where a lot of trees grow,” a depiction of a tree seems like the most natural choice.
The image appears as a version of the Timberland logo, dating back to 1973. The emblem showcases a robust and detailed tree with numerous branches, which conveys the brand’s connection to forestry and the outdoors. The brand name is presented in a clean, sans-serif typeface that suggests modernity and sophistication. The logo is rendered in a single dark color, which reinforces the brand’s commitment to nature and its outdoorsy image.
This logo features the brand name “Timberland” in a bold, serif font that conveys a sense of rugged durability. The letters are black, indicating strength and reliability. To the right of the text, there is the iconic Timberland tree logo which is also in black, encircled by a simple border. The tree has a full canopy with intricate branches, standing on a curved horizon line that suggests an outdoor landscape. This design is straightforward yet effective in communicating the brand’s association with outdoor gear and environmental consciousness.
The emblem sports a branchy tree with a crown, the shape of which is very close to a half-circle. The symbol is placed to the right of the company’s wordmark, which is given in plump letters. Both the wordmark and the emblem are black, while the background is white.
The brand and its logo were mentioned in an extremely negative context in a poem titled “Clothes” or “FUBU,” which started circulating on the web in spring 1999. The poem was believed to have been written by the African-American poet Maya Angelou, yet she later claimed it wasn’t hers. In the poem, the Timberland’s tree was described as a lynching tree, on which black people were hanged. The contents of the poem could have been explained by the rumors that the company owners belonged to the Ku Klux Klan. The company put a lot of effort into trying to get rid of these rumors.
What does the Timberland logo mean?
The logo is built around a tree with strong branches, which seems to be a perfectly natural emblem for a company the name of which means “land covered with trees.” Rumor has it, the emblem symbolizes the trees on which Afro-American slaves were hanged. The rumor was supported (or started) by a specific poem by Maya Angelou.
The typeface that could be seen in the Timberland logo looks very much like the display font Windsor SB XBold Condensed, which was created by graphic designer Eleisha Pechey.