Dr Martens

[Edward]

There is a small collective of people who are boot and/or shoe hobbyists. They are into things like build quality, construction techniques, parts used, leather quality, etc. The rest of the world just wears shoes. Same way car enthusiasts know about power trains, suspensions, braking, cornering, etc...... and most people just ride in cars.

To anyone who is not a boot aficionado, Dr. Martens are worn because they are fashionable. Nobody is buying Dr. Martens for actual trade jobs or labor. Dr. Martens customers are not looking for the finest leather, or the ability to recraft the shoe. Dr. Martens has never been the best boot that you can buy. The price reflects it.

Dr. Martens boots offer the AirSole. That's what I am buying them for. It is uniquely comfortable. NPS Solovair sells the exact same boots. I haven't bought any yet because Dr. Martens always seem to have a lower price.

Certainly - branding, and , yes, I think a lot of people do buy them for the sole. Ironically the sole was one of the main reasons I stopped wearing them - partly an aesthetic thing, partly a more solid sole just wears better for me. But undeniably comfortable when the shoe is broken in.

 

[Arnold Layne]

Dr. Martens, here in the UK, have long been associated with police uniforms, the emergency services, Ministry of Defence etc. They have during this period also had a close relationship with anti authority, leftfield thinking and the arts.
Unique for an article of clothing perhaps.

Postmen's boots.