Doc Martens has quite the history — here’s everything you need to know about this iconic brand.
Doc Martens can’t be beat when it comes to finding a pair of workwear-inspired boots that are just as stylish as they are comfortable.
Even if you haven’t tried out Doc Martens shoes yourself, you’re probably familiar with them. They’re a pop culture icon with a rich history and legacy that makes them a fashion staple today.
Currently, many would consider a punk’s wardrobe incomplete without at least a few pairs of the company’s signature boots in different styles and colors. But just like the brand’s ethos suggests, they can be incorporated into more styles than just punk fashion.
For over five decades, Dr. Martens has been one of the most iconic footwear brands in the world, delivering premium-quality shoes while innovating and staying true to its roots.
What are Doc Martens?
Dr. Martens, also known as Doc Martens, Docs, or DMs, is a German-founded British footwear company. The brand is best known for its combat-style boots that have been around for the past 76 years.
“Docs” most commonly refers to their military-style boots, but the brand has expanded over the years to make other styles of shoes like mules, loafers, and sandals.
The boots are known for their comfortable, signature air-cushioned soles that historically have been popular with the British working class, punk scene music acts, factory workers, police officers, and even housewives.
History of Dr. Martens (Doc Martens Origin)
You might look at Doc Martens and think they were initially designed to be a stylish punk shoe, but they were actually a result of Dr. Klaus Märtens desiring a comfortable shoe to aid in the recovery of his skiing-induced foot injury.
Märtens was serving as a doctor in the German military, and he found that the standard-issue boots were too hard and unsupportive for his injury.
In his downtime, he got to work designing by using scraps of tires and soft leather. His most important breakthrough? The air-cushioned soles.
After the war ended, Märtens decided to create and market his innovative boots. He tried his hand at selling some initial runs but didn’t have success until he reconnected with an old colleague.
The old friend, Herbert Funck, was interested in the unique shoe design. The two set up shop in Seeshaupt, Germany, and continued innovating.
When Did Doc Martens Come Out?
The first Doc Martens came out in the late 1940s and early 1950s when Märtens and Funck found an interested audience: housewives.
Since the boots were initially invented for comfort over style, they were a smash hit with women over the age of 40.
The reason was simple: Housewives on their feet all day wanted relief the same way Klaus did when he had injured his ankle. In fact, this demographic generated 80% of Doc Martens sales in the brand’s first decade.
By 1959 the company was so successful that it was searching for a way to sell its shoes overseas.
British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs Group saw a Doc Martens ad in a shoe trade magazine and bought the rights to manufacture the shoes in the United Kingdom. R. Griggs soon improved upon the already great design and added the contrasting, signature yellow stitching.
In 1960, Dr. Martens launched the 1460 Smooth Leather Lace Up Boots. These would grow to become the brand’s most popular boots, and they’re still a top seller today.
When Were Doc Martens Popular?
Once the domain of factory workers and policemen, Doc Martens are still widely popular today as part of many styles.
Docs are often associated with the kind of bold attitudes and rebellion that came as a result of the 1950s British post-war recovery and youth culture.
Doc Martens initially targeted the boots at the military and mine workers, but they were eventually picked up by youth subcultures looking for a way to create their own identity and expression. As a result, the shoes became symbolic for the working class.
Notably, Pete Townshend of The Who played a pivotal role in bringing Doc Martens into the public eye.
In Dr. Martens: A History of Rebellious Self Expression, Townshend stated that “their toughness combined with their softness and flexibility is what made them so perfect for the pseudo-athletic routines I performed on stage.” He was the first high-profile musician to wear them, and many others followed suit.
The boots and shoes continued to become popular in the 1990s as grunge fashion arose, and today Doc Martens footwear is still associated with alternative and punk music subcultures.
Doc Martens Today
Doc Martens peaked in the ‘90s, but by early 2003 the brand almost went bankrupt from decreasing sales. The company even had to close several factories and start producing mostly in Asia.
In 2004 Dr. Martens launched a new range of footwear to appeal to a younger demographic. The footwear kept the brand’s overall approach but also served as a departure from the Doc Martens shoes of the past. These newer shoes were even more comfortable and had less of a break in period.
The pivot worked. In 2005 the company was awarded for its success at restructuring and avoiding bankruptcy. Sales picked up again throughout the early 2010s. By 2012, Dr. Martens was an established, fast-growing British company.
Today, Doc Martens continues to innovate while remaining true to its original style. Famously, the brand stole the hearts of animal lovers by creating a vegan range of footwear that dropped the leather but kept the attitude and durability of the originals.
This lineup included the Vegan 1460 Lace Up Boots, an animal-free take on the original Docs.
To this day, Dr. Martens is still breaking records. In 2022 alone, the brand sold 14.1 million pairs of boots, shoes, and sandals, cementing Doc Martens as a fan favorite and a cultural force.
Doc Martens FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions about Doc Martens:
Can I wear Docs even if I don’t have a punk style?
Yes! Doc Martens shoes and boots might be edgier, but they can still be incorporated into a variety of casual styles. The brand makes most types of boots, so there’s something for just about everyone.
Do Doc Martens have a controversial history?
Many different Docs are worn by youth subcultures as part of their self-expression. Doc Martens as a brand is not connected to any controversial ideologies.
The Future of Doc Martens
Doc Martens footwear is instantly recognizable and continues to be popular today. The brand now offers everything from the OG military-inspired boots to more understated (and almost dressy) shoes.
Dr. Martens is proud of both its bold history and forward-thinking collaborations. In the future, you can expect to see the brand expand its lineup by teaming up with visual artists, musicians, and other clothing brands.
Do you have any Docs in your wardrobe? How do you style them? Let us know in the comments below!
Louis Bondi says
Got my 2 pairs of Docs at thrift stores and love them.