Why is “Dr. Martens” still supported? From its remarkable history to its charms and classic models!

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Why is "Dr. Martens" still supported? From its remarkable history to its charms and classic models!

Dr. Martens” is a British leather shoe brand that celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2020. In addition to its durable materials and versatile designs, Dr. Martens has strong ties to the music scene and subcultures, and is still supported by many people today. In this issue, we focus on the appeal of Dr. Martens and introduce the history of Dr. Martens, its classic models, and shoe care!

What is the British leather shoe brand ” Dr. Martens “?

Dr. Martens was founded by Dr. Klaus Martens, a German, in 1960 with the first model “1460” and will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020. The iconic model, with its smooth, shiny leather, yellow stitching on the welt, and striking heel loop, became popular among British workers and later made a big splash in the music scene. Today, in addition to standard and seasonal items, the brand has achieved a high status in the fashion field, collaborating with many popular fashion brands. Incidentally, Dr. Martens is the official name of the brand, but it is also abbreviated as Dr. Martens, Doc Martens, Docs, DM’s, and so on. In German, the name is ” Doktor Martens.

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Learn about the history of Dr. Martens, ” The birth of Dr. Martens began with the “sole”.

During World War II in 1945, Dr. Klaus Martens, who later became the founder of Dr. Martens, was serving in the German army. While on leave, he injured his ankle while skiing in the Alps in the Bavaria region. He realized that his injured foot was not suited for the boots he had been issued by the army, so he designed an improved boot with soft leather and air-filled soles while he healed from his injury. The result was the “Air Cushion Sole,” which reduces the burden on the feet and makes them feel as if they are walking on air. This was the beginning of Dr. Martens.

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Started business by producing boots made from military supplies.

Dr. Martens actually began producing boots when the war was coming to an end. Combining the leather he had obtained on his own and the air cushion sole he had developed, he completed the boots that would become the prototype for Dr. Martens. In 1947, in Munich, Dr. Martens showed the boots he had made to an old university friend, Herbert FUNK, who had a background in mechanical engineering. They started their business in Seeshaupt, Germany, using rubber tires discarded from Luftwaffe airfields as materials. The boots, with their comfort provided by air cushioning, became popular among housewives. During the first 10 years of business, 80% of sales were made by women over 40 years old. The business was so successful that by 1952, the company had a factory in Munich.

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From Germany to England, in 1960, the first model “1460” is born.

The stage was set from Germany to England when ” Griggs, ” a long-established British leather shoe manufacturer, found an advertisement for the air-cushioned sole in a shoe industry magazine. Fascinated by the originality of the air cushion sole, Griggs obtained a patent for the production of the air cushion sole. The first Dr. Martens model, the “1460,” was born in 1960 after several improvements were made to the model that had been manufactured until then. Unique details such as the rounded, simple upper, yellow welt stitching that contrasted with the upper, and the unique Air Cushion sole had already been perfected by this time. The sole was trademarked “Air Wair” and introduced to the world with the claim ” With Bouncing Soles. The first model, which featured a heel loop that reflected this claim and other unprecedented design elements throughout, quickly attracted public attention.

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From work boots to the music scene. From work boots to the music scene, a brand with deep ties to subcultures.

The brand made its debut in 1960 as “Dr. Martens,” and its comfortable fit and initial price of 2 pounds made it a favorite among British policemen, postmen, paramedics, factory workers, and others. Dr. Martens. Later, they were worn by the “skinheads” and “mods,” a subcultural group in England who liked the Jamaican music SKA (ska), and became an indispensable item for subcultures. They have become an indispensable item for the subculture.

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The Who’s vocalist, Pete Townsend, wore them in live performances to express his working-class pride and rebellious spirit, and they were reborn as an item that symbolized subculture. Since then, the brand has continued to enjoy tremendous support from those who prefer various musical styles such as glam, punk, and two-tone, and has established its popularity. They were also worn at many music festivals and became an indispensable item in the music scene.

Overcoming hardships to become a brand with a unique look and style

In the 2000s, sales declined sharply, especially in the U.S., which had been a major market. To avoid bankruptcy, the company closed all but one factory in the U.K. and relocated production to China and Thailand. However, the company achieved a V-shaped recovery by changing its brand policy. One of the concrete measures taken was active collaboration with fashion brands. By developing collaborations with well-known brands such as ” YOHJI YAMAMOTO,” ” MARC JACOBS,” and most recently, ” Rick Owens,” the company has become a well-known shoe brand in the fashion scene. The company has grown into a shoe brand that is well-known in the fashion scene by collaborating with famous brands such as Rick Owens. Today, the brand attracts not only subculture lovers, but also many fashionistas due to its high design quality. The brand has grown to be loved by people of all generations. Even at Pitti Uomo, where fashionistas from all over the world gather, we see many people wearing the brand every year.

[related article] Dr. Martens Codes for Men! Introducing examples of actual outfits from the brand’s history and classic models.

関連記事 Dr. Martens Codes for Men! Introducing the history of the brand, classic models, and examples of actual outfits.
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Dr. Martens’ White Company products are a focus for vintage enthusiasts.

Dr. Martens used to have a history of production at two factories, ” Air Wair” and “White Co. The White Company discontinued production in the late 1990s, and today they are a rare item that can be found only rarely in vintage stores. The details of White’s and Air Wair’s Dr. Martens are slightly different, so you can tell them apart to some extent. For example, the logo on the heel loop. White’s heel loop logo, for example, has the words “Dr. Martens” instead of “Air Wair. Other features include a more rounded toe and flat laces instead of round laces, giving the shoes a more casual look. Of course, the design differs depending on the age and model, so this information is for your reference only. The distinctive details unique to the White company’s products, which are different from the current Dr. Martens, are treated as a rarity as time passes, and are becoming more and more valuable.

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