Dr. Martens shoes are a true gem of street fashion! Did you know that their aggressive and chunky appearance hides a rich and very interesting story?

We should be grateful to Klaus Maertens, a former German Army doctor, for these shoes. Only a few weeks after World War II, he skied in the Bavarian Alps, and as he was riding down the mountain, he fell and broke his leg. During his recovery, he designed a prototype shoe that emphasized the unique air-cushioned sole. Maertens also showed his work to an old university friend, Herbert Funck, who was impressed. This is how the two friends started making and selling shoes.

At first the shoes were used by industrial workers and gardeners, and soon they became interesting for older women. At one point, approximately 80% of them were bought by housewives over the age of 40.

In 1959, the Dr. Martens brand began to spread around the world and reached the United Kingdom. The patent for the shoe was sold to a company owned by the Griggs family, and this is where Martens' history underwent an exciting change. The first steps in the UK were taken with the 1460 model. These numbers symbolize the start of the Martens era in this country, which began on April 1st, 1960.

At that time, radical ideas, as well as cultural and social changes were prevalent in the environment. Fashion and style became one of the main accents of protest and self-expression. Functional and durable shoes worn by postal and factory workers became attractive to people from different cultures, primarily to the British working-class skinheads. Pete Townshend from rock band The Who was probably the first famous person who rocked Dr. Martens shoes. The singer was a true rebel and was frankly proud of being a member of the working class and became one of the key factors in Dr. Martens role development.

Over time, more and more subcultures began to wear Dr. Martens shoes. Punks, goths, fans of alternative rock and electronic dance music and much more used Dr. Martens for their style and self-expression.

The spreading Martens' obsession also found its way to the United States, where they were first introduced by Hardcore genre musicians who returned from tours in the UK.

The 21st century was marked with another turning point in Martens history - boots became the epitome of fashion and runways. The popularity of these aggressive-style boots only grows and Martens are ready to conquer the world. Nowadays celebrities like Jessica Alba, Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora, Gwen Stefani and many others are creating their own style rules with Dr. Martens.

Worldwide sales grew strongly in the early phase of 2010 and in 2012 Dr. Martens was listed among the fastest growing companies in the UK. It is estimated that over 100 million pairs of Dr. Martens were sold between 1960 and 2010.

Get yourself a pair of Dr. Martens boots ➡️ SHOP

Get yourself a pair of Dr. Martens boots ➡️ SHOP