Dr Marten’s
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Worn by British Postal Workers, Police, and factory workers, these boots gained a reputation as a hard wearing, multi-purpose, work boot. They maintain this reputation today, and are expected to last years.
Almost everyone has a tale of 10 or 20 year old boots, people wear boots owned by their parents, or older siblings, with pride knowing full well that they’ll get at least another couple of years wear. Some even belive that the boots are sold with a lifetime guarantee.
They’ve become something of a cult shoe, and the DM website states that…
“Once the genie had been let out of the bottle back in the 1960s, the vapours of Dr. Martens’ rebellious spirit could not be contained and the boot seeped into every corner and crevice of youth culture. Consequently, the subcultures who have championed Dr. Martens reads like a Who’s Who’ of youth culture: skins, punks, two tone, Oi!, hardcore, psychobilly, goth, industrial, grebo, grunge, Britpop, emo … the list goes on.” (http://www.dmusastore.com/t-history.aspx)
… and, despite the fatuous way that this is presented on their website, it’s true. I bet anyone who sees one knows what they are.
Dr Martens boots, essentially, have become a symbol of British manufacturing and quality. They trade on this assumption.
Unfortunately, my experience doesn’t hold up and has shattered the myth, for me, at least. I bought a pair of boots in January this year, and by July the soles had worn down to the air pocket, and had split from the upper on one boot. Since then, I’ve become aware that my experience isn’t a one off. I’ve spoken to people who’s stitching has come undone in 3 months, and who’s leather has split in less than a year.
And the cost, bloody hell, for a boot that retails at £65 upwards, you’d expect at least a years worth of wear.
Some claim that the fall in quality is due to the fact they’re now produced in China or Thailand, but I’ve got products produced in far off lands that have lasted years. The problem must be cost cutting on materials.
Sure, D.M.s remain aesthetically pleasing shoe, but their function appears to be lost. I doubt I’ll buy another pair of D.M.s ever again. And so, the hunt for a suitable replacement boot, begins.
