History
The history of Dr. Martens shoes is a fascinating story of innovation, cultural symbolism and fashion icons. It begins in 1940s Germany, where Dr. Klaus Märtens, a German army doctor, needed more comfortable footwear after a skiing injury. He invented a new type of sole made of soft rubber with air cushions, which provided a lot of cushioning. Together with his friend, Dr. Herbert Funck, Märtens began producing these shoes in 1947. Initially, they were especially popular with older women because of their comfort and practical design.
The big breakthrough came in 1960, when British footwear company R. Griggs Group acquired the rights to manufacture and sell the shoes. The company anglicized the name to "Dr. Martens," gave the shoes their signature yellow stitching, a distinctive heel pull tab with "AirWair" and an improved sole design. On April 1, 1960, Griggs launched the model "1460," named after the date of introduction. This eight-eye boot would become Dr. Martens' most iconic design.
Originally, the shoes were intended as work shoes and were worn by laborers, postmen and police officers for their robustness and comfort. But from the late 1960s onwards, Dr. Martens took an unexpected turn: subcultures adopted them as a symbol of rebellion and identity. Skinheads were one of the first groups to embrace the shoes, but soon other movements followed suit, such as punks, goths and later grunge musicians. For many of these groups, Dr. Martens symbolized authenticity, independence and a rejection of the mainstream.
In the 1990s, the brand experienced a global fashion revival, thanks in part to its popularity among artists and celebrities. However, sales declined in the late 1990s, forcing the company to move much of its production to Asia in 2003 to cut costs. Ironically, the revival of nostalgic fashion in the 2010s has led to a new wave of popularity, especially among young people.
Today, Dr. Martens are a global classic, worn by a wide range of people, from blue-collar workers to high-fashion enthusiasts. They remain a symbol of self-expression, comfort, and durability, while staying true to their heritage.
The big breakthrough came in 1960, when British footwear company R. Griggs Group acquired the rights to manufacture and sell the shoes. The company anglicized the name to "Dr. Martens," gave the shoes their signature yellow stitching, a distinctive heel pull tab with "AirWair" and an improved sole design. On April 1, 1960, Griggs launched the model "1460," named after the date of introduction. This eight-eye boot would become Dr. Martens' most iconic design.
Originally, the shoes were intended as work shoes and were worn by laborers, postmen and police officers for their robustness and comfort. But from the late 1960s onwards, Dr. Martens took an unexpected turn: subcultures adopted them as a symbol of rebellion and identity. Skinheads were one of the first groups to embrace the shoes, but soon other movements followed suit, such as punks, goths and later grunge musicians. For many of these groups, Dr. Martens symbolized authenticity, independence and a rejection of the mainstream.
In the 1990s, the brand experienced a global fashion revival, thanks in part to its popularity among artists and celebrities. However, sales declined in the late 1990s, forcing the company to move much of its production to Asia in 2003 to cut costs. Ironically, the revival of nostalgic fashion in the 2010s has led to a new wave of popularity, especially among young people.
Today, Dr. Martens are a global classic, worn by a wide range of people, from blue-collar workers to high-fashion enthusiasts. They remain a symbol of self-expression, comfort, and durability, while staying true to their heritage.