Dr. Martens is an iconic brand that sells to consumers in more than 60 countries.
Dr. Martens’ origins date to 1945, when Dr. Klaus Maertens, a 25-year-old soldier and medical doctor at the time, created a unique air-cushioned sole (rather than the traditional hard leather sole) to aid his recovery from a broken foot. Dr. Maertens made a prototype shoe and showed it to a friend and engineer, Dr. Herbert Funk. The two went into partnership and by 1947 they began formal production of their unique shoe. Within a decade they had a booming business. By 1952, sales had significantly grown so much that they opened a factory in Munich.
In 1959, British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs Group, owned by Bill Griggs, bought rights to manufacture the shoes in the United Kingdom. Griggs took the sole and created a new boot, which included an altered sole shape, a bulbous but simple upper, a distinctive yellow welt stitch, a grooved sole edge and a new undersole design. The boots were branded as “Airwair” and came complete with a black and yellow heel loop featuring the brand name and the slogan “With Bouncing Soles”. Taking its name from the date of its inception, 1 April 1960, the iconic eight-hole 1460 Dr. Martens boot was born. The following year, the 1461 shoe arrived. The 1460 and 1461 remain at the core of the Originals range.
The first boot was born on 1 April 1960 in Wollaston, England, and was so called the “1460”. The 1460 boot began the brand’s journey to become one of the most recognized footwear brands in the world.
The 1460 boot, with its iconic and instantly recognizable design characteristics: the yellow welt stitch, grooved sole and black and yellow heel loop, still provides the foundation for all other product expressions and a typical year it represents over 40% of sales. The brand remains as relevant now as ever. It is still being adopted by those looking to express their individual style and attitude and who appreciate uncompromising quality and durability.
Their products are worn by a diverse consumer base who use Dr. Martens as a symbol of their individual self-expression. Dr. Martens operates across three geographic regions: EMEA, Americas and APAC. Their product segments include Originals, Fusion, Kids and Casual and a complementary range of Accessories.
Learn more about Dr. Martens at their website.
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