We have sold Dr Martens ever since we can remember. The beginning of an icon was born 1901 with the Griggs family who were known for making boots in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, this was the very heart of the English shoe industry.
Years later post war 1945 a soldier named Dr. Klaus Martens who had a broken foot helped create a unique air cushioned sole to aid recovery for himself and others with war and sport injuries, making a prototype shoe and going into partnership with mechanical engineer Dr. Herbert Funk and started to produce unique shoes in 1947.
In the 60’s it was the third generation of the Griggs family who acquired an exclusive license to this air cushioned sole which included key changes to the footwear such as an attended heel, a bulbous but simple upper and a distinctive yellow welt stitch, a two tone grooved sole edge all with a unique sole pattern.
The boots were branded ‘Airwair’ and came with a black and yellow heel loop with the brand name and slogan. On the 1st of April 1960 the the 8 eyelet Dr Martens boot had arrived.
In the 70’s the British youth of glam, punk, two tone and early goth used Dr martens as their signature footwear. Whilst in the 80’s Britain was in a bit of a pickle going through a transitional period with anti government riots, so inevitably youth culture grew with individual tribes such as psychobilly, grebo and scooter boys.
A decade later the grunge scene took the British music by storm whilst sporting Dr Martens, followed by nu-metal and very early emo, with the 90’s seeing Dr Martens becoming the brand to wear at any festival..
Yet in the 2000’s after the 40th Birthday UK factories closed due to bankruptcy but in 2003 the famous brand advertised with with high end fashion designers around the world and started to customized the classic 1460’s.
In 2010 the 50th anniversary came and the brand witnessed a new revival with celebrities, musicians and free thinking individuals making them perform on another level.
2022 Dr Martens are still going strong through social media and adverts although some old school personnel may say that they have lost their way and forgotten their roots, but one thing is for sure, music is the heat beat of the brand.