Apr 20, 2001 03:52 PM
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The History behind the shoe
Doctor Marten (Dr. Klaus Maerten, the correct spelling of his name) was an Orthopedist who, along with another doctor, designed the first shoe, known as Doc Martens. It was said, he did so after hurting his foot in a skiing accident. The shoe was designed with a special sole that trapped air between two layers of rubber (polyurethane). While this shoe was originally marketed for women, they are generally worn by men and still have a large market for women and men and are even worn by children.
Doc Martens have had good and bad thoughts connected to them. Many view them as a fashion/style statement while others see them as a rebellious piece of apparel. Few see them as beneficial footwear, yet that is exactly what they can be.
Doc Martens were known in Europe first, particularly in England, as the orthopedic shoe they were, yet when they caught on as a fashion statement in the Western world it was far from the fit and comfort, they were bought. These shoes were desired by most teens, in the boot and laced shoe style. I recall them being referred to as the 8-holer and so on (according the the number of lace holes the shoe/boot had).
During this time my son was in grade 7 (12-13 years old) and wanted a pair. They were an expensive thought, so this young boy could make a statement. It was decided we would pay for half and he would pay the difference out of his after school job. His first pair were just shy of the $100.00 mark, Canadian. What followed, came as a pleasant surprise.
My son's feet had been a mother's nightmare from the time he had started to walk. I had paid large amounts of money for his baby shoes, with little success in his comfort. He then proceeded to wear a boot style orthopedic shoe from the time he was in first grade. By the time he was 10 he didn't want to wear them anymore. When he started to wear the Doc Martens, his feet would no longer hurt him while wearing shoes. These shoes were his fashion statement and a mother's relief all in one (how often does that happen).
Young teens wearing Doc Martens became targets in Canada and the United States. They were accosted in parking lots, school grounds and malls and the shoes were stolen. The shoes were bannered in some schools and even certain religious denominations forbade them. My son continued to wear his shoes and today he is married and works all day on his feet.
Conclusion: These shoes were designed for comfort and did their job. The fashion end of the deal was just a bonus for those who benefited from their original purpose. They are long wearing shoes, so therefore, I found the cost was balanced out by the durability and the comfort.