Now selling 13.8 million pairs of Dr Martens worldwide in the financial year 2023, the company (producing
recognisable footwear that is durable yet stylish) was once a simple work-wear boot business.
In the post war world of Munich, 1945, Dr Klaus Maertens was living the life of a soldier at twenty-five years old.
Due to sustaining a foot injury, he designed the distinctive air-cushioned sole to replace the leather base that
was causing discomfort.
The Doctor recovered a cobbler’s last (a shoe maker’s model of the foot) and needle to create the prototype of
his innovative boot, which he later introduced to his university associate Dr Hebert Funk (a mechanical
engineer).
This sparked the partnership, so the pair collected disused military supplies to construct the shoes.
By 1947, formal production of the work boots commenced, leading to successful business within a decade –
eighty percent of these sales came from women over the age of forty.
In 1959, the decision to advertise their business in an overseas magazine resulted in a well-respected company
called Griggs discovering the design.
The Griggs Family were the popular boot makers in the English Midlands, producing similar durable shoes for
six decades.
A member of the Griggs company, Bill, noticed the advert whilst reading his copy of the shoe trade magazine.
He was intrigued by the unique design, resulting in Griggs buying patent rights to manufacture the work-wear
boots in the UK, and introduced the name ‘Dr Martens’.
The boot saw some essential alterations to the fundamental design,4 an example being the distinctive yellow
stitching along the edges.
As societal fashions and cultures progressed, the shoes adapted.
The 1960s saw dramatic designs, and the boots were adopted by those in society who took pride in their
working-class lifestyle.
Dr Martens’ first high profile customer (a guitarist and songwriter) wore the boot to symbolise his respect for his
own working-class experience – Pete Townshend of the Who.
The company instantly became a fashion statement.
Dr Martens boots spread like a rumour across the globe by touring musicians and high-profile individuals,
becoming a representation of self-expression and different music genres.
Despite all but one factory closing after the business’ fortieth year, high end fashion designers reintroduced the
boot in 2003, with occasional customisations to the original 1460 design.
Manufacturing began once again in 2007 which has successfully continued to the present day.
Celebrities as popular as Olivia Rodrigo, Robert Pattinson and Dove Cameron have worn multiple pairs of Dr
Martens, inspiring millions to do the same.
Once a two-pound work-wear boot, Dr Martens is now a successful and respected brand, producing many
fashion statements and describing society’s struggles through the footwear as the time advances.
