50 years ago, when people still wrote letters instead of emailed, bought records instead of downloaded, an unlikely matrimony happened between people from different lands. Dr. Klaus Maerten in Munich was an aspiring inventor with a garage full of failed and successful experiments, and amongst the knickknacks he had gathered through the years lies a very important one that would change his life and many others– shoe soles that felt like they were made from air. Moving on to England, the Griggs family resided in Northampton and had a glorious family tradition of making quality shoes. Through classified advertisement in a magazine, Dr. Maerten and the Griggs met, and very soon after, the first pair of Dr. Martens 1460 boot was born on April 1, 1960– and mind you, it was no April Fools’ joke.
When the
Dr. Martens 1460 boot was first introduced, its comfortable soles and hard-wearing quality made it a hit among the good old blue collar workers who labor and sweat to feed their families. However, not long after, the boots were quickly picked up by rebels for its grass root, working class appeal. Even though these rebels were divided in their styles and cause– the punks, the ska, the mods, the goths, the psychobillies, the industrialists, the grunge…just to name a few– everyone with a statement to make and a cause to rebel and scream and shout were stomping the status quo to the ground.
J
ust yesterday, Dr. Martens kick-started its 50th Anniversary celebration on the dot of its 50th birthday. And aside from a mammoth collaborative music campaign rallying ten contemporary bands and ten film directors to celebrate the landmark birthday, the label is also launching a 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Collection of the 1460 boots and 1461 shoes.
The special 50th Anniversary Limited Collection sports the boots and shoes in Dr. Martens original colors– Cherry Red and Black. However, the birthday twist lies in the pebbled leather upper, which updates the classics in a gorgeous, textured look that is more matte than the original. Also, the boots and shoes feature gold heel loops and eyelets. The boots come in an extremely limited run of 1460 pairs for the 1460 and 1461 pairs of the 1461.
They are available now at select retailers such as Opening Ceremony, so celebrate the rebel you are and get a pair before they stomp their ways out!
All pics & info via www.freshnessmag.com
