by 1965, Timberland sealed its place in history with the introduction of injection molding. the process revolutionized the footwear industry and the timberland brand name was born. it took another eight years for the company to move from leather shoes into boots. by 1985, however, timberland boots were both well known and highly respected. that led other countries to clamor for international export. in 1990, the company expanded to include styles specifically with women in mind. in 1996, the focus adjusted again to make boots for children, including young girls. in 2005, timberland bought out smart wool corporation in order to incorporate their temperature regulating capabilities into their boot and apparel products. the following year, Timberland acquired howies and created an active sports footwear division. in 2007, it also encompassed i path, a sports company focused specifically in the skateboarding arena. timberland boots are an example of that odd phenomenon of utilitarian shoes being embraced by hip fashion gurus. the same happened with doc martens when they were first introduced to the market. while doc martens started out as boots for the common british workingman and quickly moved to the punk scene, Timberland boots have made a similar transition from hiking shoes to the footwear of choice for hip-hop pioneers.