Public School NY's Bespoke Boots Are Timbs at Their Toughest
The metal-toed boot is crafted by Timberland’s “The Shed”, a prototyping and innovation workshop in New Hampshire.
Summary
- Timberland’s “The Shed” crafted bespoke, all-black leather boots for Public School NY founders at the 2026 Met Gala.
- The custom design features exaggerated proportions, stacked midsoles, and distinct nickel-plated copper toe guards.
“The Shed”, Timberland‘s special workshop, crafted custom boots for the Public School New York founders, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, as they attended the 2026 Met Gala. In addition to dressing the menswear content creator Wisdom Kaye in full Public School, Dao-Yi and Maxwell joined him on the Met steps, sporting the bespoke boots.
In all black, aside from the metallic details, the leather boot fits neatly in the Public School NY street-meets-sleek aesthetic. The custom Public School NY pairs are composed of Wickett & Craig vegetable-tanned leather. In a minor update to the silhouette, the 6-Inch boot’s body receives exaggerated proportions, and stacked leather midsoles sit on a Vibram Montagna sole. Most noticeably, the toe features a polished nickel-plated copper guard.
The two designers made their long-awaited return to NYFW after a 7-year hiatus during the FW26 season, returning to the local streetwear scene they helped cultivate. Their Met Gala appearance in Timberland boots, an NYC favourite, reads as an homage to the city’s distinct style.
Timberland’s New Hampshire-based studio is the company’s exclusive prototyping lab where some of the most ambitious and innovative Timberland models live. As of the time of writing, the bespoke design doesn’t have a planned release, but the special collaboration prompts speculation about a future Timberland partnership in the near future.
