Who is Darren McKoy, Timberland ‘s new creative director?

Forget everything you know about the classic 6-inch Yellow Boots. Timberland just appointed Darren McKoy as its new Global Vice President of Product Design and Creative Direction. After making history at Dr. Martens, he’s now back at VF Corp to lead one of the most iconic streetwear brands on the planet.

Ex-Dr. Martens. Ex-The North Face. Ex-Adidas. McKoy is a silent force who’s been behind some of the most significant transformations in European streetwear. But his real masterstroke happened at Dr. Martens, where he completely reset the brand’s universe and drove its sales to record highs. He was the one who took the 1460 from British classic to global must-have. Remember the Raf collab? The A-COLD-WALL* capsule? That brutalist aesthetic takeover? All of it had his signature.

What defines his work is balance: diving into the archive without sounding vintage, staying street without falling into clichés, and speaking to the now without losing soul. At Dr. Martens, it was enough to look at the 1460 and ask: what if Rick Owens got his hands on this? Or if a London rave reimagined it from scratch?

The million-dollar question: what’s next for Timberland? The brand’s been in standby mode for a while. Sure, we all love the Yellow Boots, but maybe it’s time for something more. Picture a post-industrial take on the 6-Inch. An outdoor line with Berlin club energy. A capsule where New Hampshire workwear meets London drill aesthetics. If Veneda Carter opened new doors with her collab, Darren McKoy might just take Timberland to the next level.

For now, we wait for his first moves at the helm. But one thing’s clear from his track record: Darren McKoy isn’t here to play it safe.