Skip to main content

Wolverine Partners with Mike Rowe on New Boot Supporting American Workers

As a native-born Michigander, nothing makes me prouder of my home state than its instinctive knack for bringing nature and industry together. Perhaps no Michigan-born brand represents this dyad better than Wolverine. (There’s a reason we’re known as the Wolverine State.)

Wolverine has not only been building boots since the late 1800s but has remained steadfastly loyal to its Michigan roots. The company still crafts its iconic footwear out of headquarters in Rockford, Michigan, sustaining a unique connection to the people and the place that made the company who it is. The boots are more than just a beautifully made example of heritage foot fashion — they’re the real deal, every pair combining comfort, durability, function, and style. Even today, 135 years after the company was founded, Wolverine makes boots according to its original construction methods and archival patterns.

wolverine 1000 Mile Boot
1000 Mile Boot. Wolverine Boots & Apparel/Facebook

The 1000-Mile Boot is the calling card of Wolverine, manufactured since 1914. Crafted from horsehide treated with an innovative tanning process that made it uniquely soft and pliable, it offered exceptional durability and long-term value to the wearer.

Founder G.A. Krause was not only a consummate craftsman but also a workingman’s advocate. He created one of the nation’s first profit-sharing plans, selling shares of his highly successful company to his employees. His product and his vision were always designed for men and women who understand the meaning and value of a hard day’s work.

For the company today, this is more than just a branding concept. For the past three years, Wolverine has put extra muscle into supporting the skilled workers of America through Project Bootstrap, an initiative that outfits trade school students around the country with a pair of tough-as-nails Wolverine boots that can carry them throughout their career.

This Labor Day, Wolverine takes the project one step further with the launch of a new partnership. Dirty Jobs host (and longtime Wolverine fan) Mike Rowe has created a limited-edition version of the 1000 Mile Boot that pays homage to the masons, carpenters, construction workers, and other skilled workers who serve as the backbone of American industry. Recreated from the original 1000 Mile, the mikeroweWORKS edition will feature red, white, and blue stitching and a mikeroweWORKS-embossed leather hashtag. One-hundred percent of all sales will be donated to benefit the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a non-profit helps train people for skilled jobs and has provided over $3 million in scholarships for trade schools.

At a time when 82 percent of construction firms project increasingly difficulty in recruiting and hiring qualified workers, it’s more important than ever for successful individuals and companies to invest in the future of America by supporting the training of skilled workers.

The limited edition mikeroweWORKS 1000 Mile Boot will be available for purchase online via Wolverine one week leading up to Labor Day: Tuesday, August 28 through Tuesday, September 4.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chelsea Batten
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chelsea Batten is a writer, photographer, and Kerouac groupie. One of the original digital nomads, she was seduced from life…
You Do You with Wolverine Customizable Boots
wolverine boots

Founded all the way back in 1883, Wolverine boots has been in the quality, leather boot game for over 130 years.

Since its inception, the tannery and workshop has been crafting top-notch leather boots for both work and play using old-school construction techniques in combination with emerging technologies, which today, have led to Wolverine being one of the premiere names in the work boot market.

Read more
Mitchell & Ness teamed up with Miller Lite on throwback gear to help you look like your dad
We love this Mitchell & Ness collection for Miller Lite
mitchell and ness miller lite athletic wear collaboration x  amp club collection full suit 3

 

It seems everyone loves the '80s, and honestly, what's not to love? The simpler times, the yuppies, MTV, and, of course, the fashion. Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co., a renowned seller of historically accurate vintage sports apparel, is capitalizing on that throwback trend with another partnership with Miller Lite. Together, they have launched a limited-edition collection that "gives a fresh take on the nostalgia of the original Athletic Club line" that originated in that decade. That's right! Now you can own vintage-inspired crew necks, sweatpants, t-shirts, windbreakers, and hats that will take you all the way back to that classic '80s vibe.
What's in the collection?
Pieces from the collection range from $35 to $100, according to a press release,  made with "premium fabrics, providing high-quality pieces that are built to last." This includes a classic crewneck sweatshirt that is unisex and comes with ribbed side panels for maximum stretch, ribbing at the cuffs for a truly '80s look, and the Miller Lite Athletic Club emblem on the front for $80. Also in the collection are the snapback hat in navy ($35), a navy windbreaker (because you can't have a throwback line without a windbreaker) for $100, sweats, and a 100% polyester unisex satin navy jacket ($95) to cap off the look. It can't get much more '80s than this.

Read more
This incredible chronograph watch just debuted, and you’re going to love it
This luxury watch from Bravur is a stunner
Bravur La Crosa Rosa III

If you're a fan of luxury watches, you may want to take a deep breath before you continue. Bravur, the Swedish watchmaker and cycling enthusiast, just dropped their newest model, The La Corsa Rosa model III, and it's as stunning as you'd come to expect from the manufacturer. The founders, with all their watches, pay homage to The Grand Tour—La Corsa Rosa (nickname for Giro d’Italia), La Grande Boucle (referring to the Tour de France), and La Vuelta (or Vuelta a España)—three of the biggest, most historic bike races in the world. Each watch is hand built in Båstad, Sweden, and the detail and style are nothing short of perfection.

The La Corsa Rosa model III
The new model was inspired by the Giro d'Italia, which is the first Grand Tour of the year. It has a case diameter of 38.2 mm, both beautiful and weighted thoughtfully. The case, made from 316L stainless steel, has been treated with a matte black ceramic coating. The sandwich dial has gorgeous pink accents, an homage to the leader's jersey of the race. Additionally, the tricolor on the sub-dial is a reference to the blue climber's jersey and the purple sprinter's jersey, worn by the rider with the most points in the mountains and sprinters classification.

Read more