This fall, footwear and apparel brand, Wolverine, recently joined forces with legendary bourbon brand Old Rip Van Winkle to release a limited edition boot, dubbed the Wolverine 1000 Mile Old Rip Van Winkle boot. The dynamic new boot celebrates the "the legacy and spirit of the American worker and the brands’ shared heritage of craftsmanship and commitment to the labor of love that goes into making quality goods."
The Wolverine 1000 Mile Old Rip Van Winkle boot features boot heels made from American white oak barrels used by Old Rip Van Winkle to age bourbon in for over a decade. The boot is made from a premium whiskey-colored Horween Cavalier Squash leather and features a hand-numbered textile tag used in packaging a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle.
The one-of-a-kind collaboration is currently available for pre-order from Wolverine, with the official launch rolling out on September 29th.
Image Credit: Wolverine
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Bourbon Barrel-made Fashion Items
- Expanding the use of bourbon barrels into fashion items introduces a unique, eco-friendly way of upcycling to the fashion industry.
- Heritage Collaboration
- Collaborations that celebrate shared heritage and craftsmanship between brands can help create unique and one-of-a-kind products.
- Premium Upcycled Materials
- The use of unique, upcycled materials, like bourbon barrels, in premium products appeals to environmentally conscious consumers seeking quality, sustainable items.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Footwear
- Footwear brands can capitalize on the trend of using unique materials in their products to create one-of-a-kind collaborations with other brands.
- Fashion
- Fashion brands can explore ways to incorporate upcycled materials, like bourbon barrels, into their products to appeal to the sustainability-focused consumer market.
- Alcohol
- Alcohol brands can partner with fashion and footwear brands to upcycle their product packaging, like bourbon barrels, into functional items, creating unique marketing opportunities.
