Dr. Martens Women: New Collection Online

Dr. Martens Women

The Griggs family has been making boots in the small town of Wollaston, England since 1901. At the very heart of the English shoe industry, Griggs footwear soon earned a solid reputation for being sturdy, durable work boots. The story then switches to post-war Munich where a certain Klaus Maertens had broken his foot and created a unique air-cushioned sole (rather than a hard leather one) to aid his recovery. After teaming up with his friend Dr Herbert Funck, they began formal production in 1947. Within a decade they had a booming business, mostly selling to older women. In 1959, they decided it was time to advertise their revolutionary footwear invention in overseas magazines. While scanning the pages of a shoe trade magazine, Bill, head of the third generation of the Griggs family, spotted the Germans' advert for their innovative air-cushioned sole. He acquired the exclusive production license and, after making some changes to the original "Airwair" concept, decided to anglicize the name to Dr. Martens. The first ever Dr. Martens boot was then released, christened the 1460. Initially worn by postmen and factory workers, the brand sold large quantities to the British working class at a cost of £2 a pair. Suddenly, the boot was picked up by young skinheads and then worn by Pete Townshend of the The Who as a symbol of his own working class pride and rebellious attitude. As the boot continued to gain popularity among high-profile rock stars and young international artists, Dr. Martens became an integral part of the fashion scene. It positioned itself as a cross-generational brand, retaining loyal customers and attracting new ones from all classes.