History was made on April 1st, 1960 - the iconic 8-eye boot 1460 by Dr. Martens went into production.
As in an earlier blog text about the history of the company Dr. Martens mentions, it all started when the British company Griggs bought the licenses from Dr. Klaus Märtens acquired.
Bill Griggs, who, together with his two brothers and his son, ran the Griggs company in the third generation, thus had the opportunity to manufacture safety shoes. In order to be able to implement the idea not only creatively but also technically, Griggs turned to the Solovair company, which manufactured the matching soles for the shoe, while Griggs took over the design, processing of the leather and marketing.
The 1460 was equipped with a yellow welt that firmly connected the sole and upper leather, the 8-hole lacing also supported the ankles, and 'bouncing soles' ensured comfort that was unique to date. The solid cap to protect the toes and the profiled sole with a slight heel complement the well thought-out design of this work shoe.
In the early years of the 1460, sales increased steadily and Dr. Martens quickly became popular.
For as little as £2, working class people could purchase safe and sturdy shoes - so it's no wonder they were soon spotted on every foot by postmen, factory workers and police officers.
Peter Townshend of The Who Docs wore Docs to proudly represent his working class heritage, starting a trend that continues to this day. So it didn't take long for the different subcultures to make boots part of their look.
When punk conquered the world in the 1970s, the 1460 had long since become a symbol of rebellion and social criticism. In the 80s, it was a popular expression of individuality to creatively personalize your Docs - be it by spraying, painting or decorating with rivets. In the 90s, at the time of grunge and Britpop, the boots were just as ubiquitous as in the decades before. First, in the early 2000s, there was a crisis that resulted in all Dr. Martens factories in the UK were forced to close except for the one that still makes the 'Made in England' shoes to this day. In 2003 the company got back on its feet and the first limited editions of large high fashion houses went on sale - the original safety shoe had finally made it onto the catwalks of the big cities.
Even though the world, society and fashion have changed over the past few decades, the 1460, now in its 60th year, is more up-to-date than ever.
Of course, there were also some changes, after all, every 8-hole boot from Dr. Martens 1460. Today it is available in different fits and types of leather, as limited editions or classics, lined with cozy fur or with glitter - but the feeling of happiness that is triggered when you wear your favorite shoe has remained the same.
