Dr Martens

It is probably only fitting that i open this blog with a brief history of the iconic Dr Martens to give an idea of why i have decided to start this blog. They are only boots after all (or are they?).

Dr Martens mean so much more to me than just being boots (or shoes) and they mean so much more to many especially when taking into account their long and colorful history that has included some very diverse interesting sub-cultures.

Dr Martens were the idea of Dr. Klaus Märten a Dr from Germany. In 1945 during the second world war Dr Märten’s suffered an ankle injury that meant his standard issue army boots could not be worn due to their ridged uncomfortable and heavy design. While recovering from his injury he set upon designing a comfortable alternative with soft leather and air padded soles. His original concept for the boots could only turn into reality once the war had ended. Dr Märten’s stole leather from a cobblers shop at a time that their mass looting throughout Germany and created his first pair.

It was not until Dr Märten’s met up with an old friend Dr. Herbert Funck, in Munich in 1949 that his boots would prove successful in terms of sales. Throughout the first decade over 80% of sales for Dr Marten boots were purchased by ladies and were a huge hit with housewives due to their comfort and durability.

Due to the ever increasing sales Dr Märten & Dr. Herbert Funck opened their first factory in Munich in 1959 and decided to attempt to market the boots internationally. R. Griggs Group Ltd bought the British patent, and added the now iconic yellow stitching. Griggs also anglicized the name, mainly due to bad German sentiment following the war.

The first Dr Martens range released in the UK were the 1460 range originally released on 1st April 1960 and proved exceptionally popular amongst certain professions including policemen & office workers. Since the 60’s Dr Martens have proved to the the choice of shoe for many popular sub-cultures including skin heads, football causuals, mods and many more besides. More recently the Dr Marten phenomenon  has also been associated with more American sub-cultures and were worn by Kurt Cobain prior to his death.

Since the original release in 1960 Dr Martens have seen sales rise and fall (normally in tune to subcultures gaining popularity and then going out of favour) however the British people have adopted the boots & shoes and have been described as a very British Phenomenon. Dr Martens continue to design and release their boots and are currently selling many new ranges that build on the original concept – Im sure the Dr Martens brand will be around for a long time to come.