Wolverine, the 137-year-old boot brand, has joined forces with Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery to create a collaboration boot designed to honor the American worker. The limited edition 1000 Mile boot features a heel crafted from white oak bourbon barrels previously used in the aging of Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons. Wolverine 1000 Mile boots and Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons are both products of enduring American craftsmanship and are still made largely the same way they were more than a century ago.
"The collaboration celebrates the legacy and spirit of the American worker, a cause to which both Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle are genuinely devoted," said Tom Kennedy, global brand president for Wolverine. "These are two American brands with deep roots coming together to showcase their love for American craftmanship, bourbon and boots."
The Wolverine 1000 Mile Old Rip Van Winkle boot will release this fall alongside Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons. The boots are perfect for collectors, fans, and anyone looking to give back to the American workforce. The limited-edition boot is a cap-toe 1000 Mile silhouette with a heel featuring a wooden layer that is crafted from American white oak bourbon barrels previously used in the aging of Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons. The boot is handcrafted in the U.S.A. with Horween Cavalier Squash leather and is hand-numbered, with gold hardware and a special edition metal tag.
"We are proud to partner with Wolverine to create a boot for Old Rip Van Winkle collectors and fans that will raise funds to support the future American workforce," said Preston Van Winkle, fourth generation business owner of Old Rip Van Winkle.
The Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle limited-edition boot is available for pre-order now ahead of the release date on October 1, 2020. It can be purchased for $400 on Wolverine.com. All proceeds from the boot will go towards the mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program.
"The skills gap is real and getting wide every year," said Mike Rowe, founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. "Our country faces a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople, and my foundation is committed to helping more people get the necessary training they need to fill these in-demand jobs. Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle understand this problem better than most, and their commitment to the American worker is laudable. I'm grateful for their support and leadership, and I'm hopeful more companies will follow this example."