Timberland Selects "Best Green Handbag" Designer at Fifth Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards

STRATHAM, N.H., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Timberland Company announced Australian born designer Belinda Pasqua as the winner of the "Best Green Handbag" design at the 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IHDA) in New York City last night.  Timberland, a company rooted in the outdoors and committed to environmental stewardship, sponsored the "Best Green Handbag" category for the second consecutive year and helped to select the winning design.

Pasqua's winning Marlo Tote was honored at the IHDA for its unique design, which merges repurposed premium leathers from scrap and excess tannery leather with traditional handwork and a modern silhouette.  Inspired by the Australian landscape she grew up admiring, Pasqua started The Sway collection of handbags to give women eco-conscious and beautiful design. Like all of Pasqua's bags, the Marlo Tote features recycled cotton linings with her signature 'Boomerang' print inspired by Aboriginal art.  Her bags are available for purchase at www.theswaynyc.com, Fred Segal, Kaight NYC, Searle, and International Playground.

"Belinda's love of nature and dedication to the environment shines through in her beautifully crafted designs, and aligns perfectly with Timberland's values," said Jackie LaLime, senior director of licensing & accessories for Timberland.  "With the Marlo Tote, she has created a bag that combines detailed craftsmanship with sustainability and style, using leather pieces that would otherwise go to waste. The result is a green handbag that allows women to look great and feel great while wearing it.  It's what green design is all about."

A selection of Pasqua's designs will be on display for a limited time at the Timberland^® store at 474 Broadway in New York City in the coming weeks. In addition, Pasqua will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Timberland women's footwear design team on a limited edition Earthkeepers™ handbag and boot collection, slated to come out in 2012.

Timberland is committed to finding new ways to reduce its environmental footprint without compromising the style or durability for which its products are famous.  The Earthkeepers™ collection represents the company's best efforts to put its environmental values into action.  What started as one boot designed with the environment in mind has struck a chord with consumers and resulted in the growth of the Earthkeepers™ footwear collection to more than 100 men's, women's and kids' styles for the upcoming Fall 2011 season.

IHDA was presented by InStyle and Handbag Designer 101, an international handbag designer resource.  Peter Dooney, co-founder of Dooney & Bourke received the ICONOCLAST Recipient award for his love of oldworld craftsmanship and classic shapes, which rekindled America's interest in traditional accessories. A panel of esteemed and influential handbag design professors, experts, editors, stylists, buyers and brands, including Timberland, judged the finalists' designs and selected winners from each of nine categories who truly stood out as independent handbag designers.

About Timberland

Timberland (NYSE: TBL) is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland markets products under the Timberland^®, Timberland PRO^®, Mountain Athletics^®, SmartWool^®, Timberland Boot Company^® and howies^® brands, all of which offer quality workmanship and detailing and are built to withstand the elements of nature.  The company's products can be found in leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland^® retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South Africa and the Middle East.  Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" – forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work.  To learn more about Timberland, please visit www.timberland.com.

About The Independent Handbag Designer Awards

The Independent Handbag Designer Awards was created to celebrate handbag design and creativity from the United States and around the world.  Founded by Handbag Designer 101, the handbag designer resource, the IHDA is now in its fourth year and is an industry staple.  Currently, it is the only international design competition to discover, recognize and create brand awareness for independent handbag designers.  www.handbagdesigner101.com

SOURCE The Timberland Company