Dr. Martens

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Created on: 28 Nov 2006
Description:
group for Dr. Martens boots lovers

www.drmartens.com


Worn they are the best...

A group for last.fm / Dr. Martens shoes and boots lovers (and scrobblers).
"Made like no other shoe on Earth"

www.drmartens.com





Dr. Martens is a footwear brand, often known as Doc Martens, Docs, or DM's.
The brand is distinct for its air-cushioned sole, dubbed Bouncing Soles, developed by Dr. Klaus Maertens of Germany.

Klaus Maertens was a doctor in the German army during World War II. While on leave in 1945, he injured his ankle while skiing in the Bavarian Alps. He found that his standard-issue army boots were too uncomfortable on the injured foot. While recuperating, he designed improvements to the boots, with soft leather, and air-padded soles. When the war ended and some Germans looted valuables from their own cities, Dr. Maertens took leather from a cobbler's shop. With that leather he made himself a pair of boots with the now-famous air-cushioned soles. Maertens didn't have much luck selling his shoes until he met up with an old university friend, Dr. Herbert Funck, in Munich in 1947. Funck was intrigued by the new shoe design, and the two went into business that year in Seeshaupt, Germany, using discarded rubber from Luftwaffe airfields. The comfortable and durable soles were a big hit with housewives; 80 percent of sales in the first decade were to women over the age of 40. Sales had grown so much by 1952 that they opened a factory in Munich. In 1959, the company had grown large enough that Maertens and Funck looked at marketing the footwear internationally. Almost immediately, British shoe manufacturer R. Griggs Group Ltd. bought patent rights to manufacture the shoes in the United Kingdom. Griggs Anglicised the name, slightly re-shaped the heel to make them fit better, added the trademark yellow stitching, and trademarked the soles as AirWair.

Skinhead style: DM boots with Levi's jeans: The first Dr. Martens in the UK came out on April 1, 1960, with an 8-eyelet, cherry-red, Nappa leather design. They were popular among workers like postmen, policemen and factory laborers. By the late 1960s, skinheads took notice of Dr. Martens boots, and street gangs made the cherry-red boots a trademark style. By the mid 1970s, Dr. Martens boots were popular among some British punk rock stars, and soon it seemed that most punk fans were wearing them. The boots and shoes then became popular among some other youth subcultures. Dr. Martens have been the subject of a song by Alexei Sayle and have appeared on the cover art for a Madness box set The Business.
In the 2000s, Dr. Martens are sold exclusively under the AirWair name, and come in dozens of different styles, including conventional black shoes, sandals and steel-toed boots.

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  • mbhooligan

    Grinders used to kick Dr Martens ass but now even Grinders are made in China... if you can get your hands on them, Gripfast are where it's at. Still "Made in England" and quality.

    May 2011

  • siandoll

    my dark purple docs are my babies. i really want some cherry red ones too, though.

    April 2011

  • Wickedsound

    solovair is now better...... 1969 11 holes model in oxblood are my favorite

    March 2011

  • carnage_

    Dr Martens da nam siłę, łatwiej z nim przez życie iść!! ; )

    August 2010

  • staymetal666

    my oh my Dr bLack Martens %)

    February 2010

  • luisamodesto

    Vendo DOC MARTENS pretas, biqueira de aço, 10 furos, novas a estrear. Comprado nº errado por engano. 80.00€ (Abaixo de preço de custo). Entrega em mãos, zona de Oeiras. Urgente

    December 2009

  • psycholindsey

    i have a total of 7 pairs.... =o!!!

    September 2009

  • DahmerIsDead

    Love my dark purple ones!! :o)

    June 2009

  • g0dsavethequeen

    mine are also made in England, got them last summer in Brighton, purple 8 holes, second-hand, only 20€ :D

    June 2009

  • Lachsbroetchen

    here is one :D

    May 2009

  • PRODDIEBOY

    no skinheads in this group? :/

    May 2009

  • Werewolf8949

    DM1919 rock!

    February 2009

  • YogurtJalla

    Wrong! Oxblood 8-holes is the only way! ;-)

    February 2009

  • mazi_a

    black 1460 only :)

    January 2009

  • misterzeb

    "Doctor Martens en los pies, la cabeza bien rapada... " Oi!, Ultimo Asalto!!!

    December 2008

  • tasha909

    I love my yellow shoes! :D

    December 2008

  • Hobbaloo

    So glad i got mine from before they started making them in China.

    October 2008

  • namilolo

    Seems like yesterday we were sixteen. We were the rebels of the rebel scene. He wore Doc Martens in the sun, Drinking vintage cider having fun, We were drinking vintage cider having fun. (The rebels - The Cranberries)

    October 2008

  • onetruelove

    anyway I love it !!!!!

    September 2008

  • oloowa

    What colour have you got ? ^^

    April 2008
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