Dr. Martens

Although the first official Dr. Martens boot, the 1460, hit the market on April 1, 1960, the boot brand's legacy stretches back to 1901 with the bootmaking Griggs family. Over the course of six decades in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, the Griggs earned a solid reputation in the footwear industry for their sturdy, durable work boots.

Dr. Martens' unique air cushioned soles originated separately in 1945 with Dr. Klaus Maertens, recovering from a broken foot. Dr. Maertens saw the need for a better, lighter sole material, rejecting the ubiquitous hard leather soles of the time. In partnership with his mechanical engineer friend, Dr. Herbert Funk, formal production began for the innovative, light, and durable soles.

Seeing the incredible potential of the new technology, the Griggs family acquired an exclusive license for the soles, combining the AirWair “bouncing soles” with their classic work boots and distinctive yellow stitching to create the iconic Dr. Martens boot that we know today.

Loved for their long-wearing comfort, Dr. Martens became a cultural icon for the British working class. Throughout the ensuing decades, the boots have become a symbol of rebelliousness and self-expression, adopted by countless artists and subcultures.