Dr. Martens Brand Overview
In 1945, during World War II, German doctor Klaus Maertens, now called Dr. Martens injured his leg while skiing in the Alps, and the standard military boots made his injured foot very uncomfortable and painful when walking. In order to alleviate the pain, he modified the military boots with soft leather and air cushions during his recuperation. It was because of this accidental improvement that the design of Dr. Martens boots was born.
After the war, Martens met Dr. Funck, a good friend from college in Munich. Funck admired Martens's new design of military boots very much, so the two went to Schieshaupt, Germany, to start a business together. They developed air-cushioned soles designed with aircraft tires, created the world's first pair of leather shoes equipped with air cushions, and applied for a patent. This is the world's first pair of Martens boots, which were originally invented by doctors for patients to recover their injured parts.
Soon, the design of Martens boots was discovered by The Griggs Company, an old England shoemaking family. They were very interested in the creativity of Martens Boots, and they hit it off with Martens. Finally, in 1960, the Dr. Martens brand was founded in the UK. It was the first A classic 8-hole 1460 was born, and the obvious yellow thread on the edge of the sole has also become the classic symbol of Martens boots.
Dr. Martens is a famous shoe brand in the UK. In the 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Martens became the favorite of streetwear, punks, skinheads, and the New Wave after young people put on their boots because they were easy to wear and became workers' boots. The Dr. Martens brand is rated as the most comfortable boots in the world by the modern fashion circle and has become a must-have for many boot lovers!
Dr. Martens Boots Selection Tips
1. Dr. Martens boots type
Martens boots are divided into three types: short boots, mid-tube boots, and long boots. Generally, mid-tube Martens boots are more common. There are many colors and patterns, and black is the most traditional. In addition, bright red and yellow are also very popular, and there are even popular elements such as grids, patterns, and rivets. England soles are thicker and more durable.
2. The number and selection of Dr. Martens boot holes
The hole means the number of pairs of eyelets on the upper of the shoelace, and the meaning of 3 holes means that there are three pairs of eyelets on the shoelace. The more holes Dr. Martens boots have, the higher the boot shaft and the higher the requirements for the shape of the legs. Regarding the number of holes, there are 3 holes, 6 holes, 8 holes, 10 holes, 14 holes, and 20 holes.
3 holes: In fact, they are not boots; they are small leather shoes, and suitable for petite girls.
6 holes: They are the most error-free model. Girls under 5'2'' can buy it. The upper is short, and the height and leg length are not selected at all.
8 holes: They are suitable for girls over 5'3'', the boot wraps the ankles and extends upwards naturally, making the legs slender.
More than 10 holes: Since the shaft of the boot is relatively high, other people’s eyes will automatically focus on your calf. Tall people can choose it by themselves; if a small person insists on trying, it is recommended to choose a thick sole to support your height.
3. Dr. Martens boots material:
Patent Lamper: The smooth surface is very cool, strong, and waterproof, but it wears your feet. It’s okay for holes below 6, but the patent leather with a large area is exaggerated for ordinary people, and it’s not very versatile.
Smooth: It is full of punk feeling, stylish, and easy to take care of. It is still a little bit abrasive, but after a period of wearing and running in, it will become soft and fit your foot shape. It is recommended.
Nappa: Matte soft leather; the comfort of the leather is just right; it is more stylish than Pascal; and it will become more textured as you wear it. It is recommended.
Pascal: It is also soft leather, the thickest leather, with natural texture, perfect comfort, no hemming on the boot shaft, and soft at the ankle. But because the cortex is too soft, it may become out of shape.
Greasy: This is the least common type of leather. There was no such material in 1460 of leather. Greasy is the least glossy PU-coated leather, which is matte. The advantage is that it is the least wrinkle-resistant cortex, and it is neither soft nor hard; the hardness is in between. It's just rarely used in classic models and is suitable for low-key and calm people.
Crazy Horse: Crazy Horse is a general term for a domestic processing method. The raw material of the leather embryo used can be top-layer cowhide, second-layer cowhide, or artificial leather, which has nothing to do with horses. In full-grain matte leather, there is a very fine anti-fluff layer on the surface of the leather. When you rub the surface of the leather with your fingers, you can see that the plush has a positive and negative direction. It has weight but is not very hard; some of it is distressed and worn.
4. Dr. Martens's origin
Dr. Martens boots before 2004 were all produced locally in the UK. After 2004, Dr. Martens began to place more production in China and Thailand for OEM, and later Vietnam also had an OEM. At present, China, Thailand, and Vietnam produce the most Dr. Martens boots.
There is a small amount of production in the UK, but the price of England products is more than twice as expensive. The current England-made Dr. Martens horse boots are divided into Made in England (M.I.E. Collection, a common classic series made in the UK) and Vintage (a re-enactment of early Martens shoes). The shoe shape is thinner and longer than ordinary models, and the leather is thicker than ordinary models. The leather of the England version is much better than that of other countries, with a thickness of about 3 mm, which is more durable, and the toe cap is also sharper.
In addition, each pair of shoes in the England series comes with a Union Jack tag and a booklet telling the history of Martens. Vintage England handmade, the best leather, and more retro England style! However, it is limited to the same external size as the shoes, so fairies who buy England-made Dr. Martens boots should buy a larger size appropriately.
5. Soles
Dr. Martens's boots have several kinds of soles. The most common ones are DMC for men, DML for women, and DMS for unisex. The width of different soles is slightly different. The widest for men is the narrowest for women, and the vintage is for women.
DMC wide men's sole: the middle part of the sole is a square grid, the toe is slightly warped and wider, the sole is translucent or fully transparent yellow, the forefoot shock pad is milky white, mostly used for men's soles.
DML narrow women's sole: the middle part of the sole is a square grid, which is characterized by light weight; the toe is very warped; the sole is translucent or fully transparent; the forefoot shock pad is white; used for Martens women's soles.
DMS narrow unisex sole: diagonal grid in the middle of the sole; the toe is not warped; the sole is translucent turquoise; black is also available. The forefoot shock pad is basically the same color as the midsole, which is a universal sole for men and women. In general, there is no movable insole and only a heel patch, which is also called a half pad.
Same size, width, and length: DMC> DMS> DML
6. Size selection
Generally speaking, when you choose shoes, you are not sure about the size. We always say to wear bigger or smaller ones, but Martens is different. Dr. Martens can neither wear big nor small, because no matter whether it is too big or too small, it will wear your feet.
How to choose the size of Dr. Martens boots: let me tell you a little trick. Measure the length of your feet first, and add 4–8 mm to the inner length of your shoes. This number in mm is the amount of space your feet need to move in the shoes.
Also worth noting: inches measure the length of the insole, not the length of a foot that fits that size. When you put on your boots, you usually wear socks. Measure the distance from heel to toe on your heel and match this length with the length of the insole. For example, for a tighter fit, a 9.5" foot might technically fit a US WOM 6, and for a wider fit, a US WOM 7 with more wiggle room might be more comfortable.
7. How do I maintain Dr. Martens boots?
Before wearing
Don't rush to wear it; first apply a layer of shoe polish to it, and then after drying, gently wipe the leather surface of Martens boots with a soft cloth until the leather is shiny, and then spray a layer of waterproof mist to prevent water damage. And not easy to get stains on. If there are suede Martens boots that are easy to get dusty, it is best to apply a layer of anti-slip agent on the upper before wearing and then lightly brush it several times with a soft brush.
Maintenance method of Martens boots in wearing
It is recommended not to wear the same pair of Martens boots for more than three consecutive days. The leather material used to make Martens boots also needs to be "rested" in time. When not wearing Martens boots, shoe lasts or crumpled newspapers can be stuffed into Martens boots. In the boots, they can prevent Martens boots from being deformed due to various factors.
When wearing Martens boots, you must avoid bumps. If the leather surface of Martens boots is worn, it will definitely affect the wearing effect. Do not wear Martens boots to go out in rainy and snowy days because the fine particles mixed in the rain and snow will cause varying degrees of damage to the leather of Martens boots.
If you are accidentally soaked in water, stuff newspapers into the shoes to absorb the water, and put the boots in a well-ventilated place to wait for them to dry naturally. Never use a hair dryer or place your shoes next to a heater, as this will warp and crack the leather.
When cleaning sheepskin and cowhide Martens boots, do not apply the cleaning oil directly to the surface of the boots. You should wipe the cleaning oil on a clean and soft cloth so as to avoid leaving any spots on the leather surface!
Maintenance method for collection
After cleaning the stains on the surface of Martens boots before storage, apply a layer of shoe polish. After the shoe polish gradually penetrates into the leather, wipe the leather surface with a soft cloth until the leather becomes bright! Finally, put it in a ventilated and dry place. After 1-2 days, put it in a shoe box for collection. It should be taken out occasionally for ventilation to avoid mildew.
Dr. Martens boots should be placed separately. Putting two shoes of different materials and sizes together will definitely cause the shoes to squeeze each other and deform, affecting the effect of wearing them again.
