![]() This means that if you want to protect a pair of Docs against the elements, you’ll need to either waterproof them yourself, or get it done professionally. ![]() If you must have a pair of Docs, don’t buy them- get someone else to buy them for you.ĭoc Martens boots are not water-proofed, or even water-resistant. A brand new pair of Docs is expensive! I got mine as a birthday present, which seems like a good way to go about it. ![]() If you decide you don’t care about the ethical issues, and you manage to find a pair of Doc Martens boots that fits, you’ll find yourself facing another hurdle: price. Different styles of Docs have different shapes, so you may be able to find a style that works for you, but chances are that if you’re far outside the mainstream foot size, you won’t be able to find a pair of Doc Martens boots that you can comfortably walk in. The stiffness of the leather, especially when you first buy them, makes Docs difficult to adjust through tight or loose lacing, so what you see in the store is pretty much what you get in terms of fit. For the price, it seems like you should be able to expect the shoes to fit well!ĭoc Martens boots don’t have sizes in multiple widths, which means it is tough to find a good fit if your feet are particularly narrow or wide. You may find yourself piling on multiple socks or inner soles to get the fit you want from a pair of Doc Martens boots. Martens company only makes boots in full sizes, which can mean trouble for those of us in between. ![]() Make your own call, but be aware that the Doc Martens official website says that “a continuous succession of cultural renegades” have adopted the boots as a sign of “independence, uniqueness, and individuality.” Now, think about how independent, unique, and individual those renegades really are if they’ve all chosen the exact same shoes? A lot of people feel like this corporate branding of subcultures de-fangs or dis-empowers the political power of the subculture’s aesthetic. However, once Doc Martens realized they had a whole new market, they started putting a lot of effort into attracting young people looking for shoes that symbolized the “alternative” mindset. So, any Brit-cool credibility that wearing a pair of Doc Martens boots has is really pretty artificial at this point.ĭoc Martens boots became popular among punks and mods in the 1960s because they were the shoes of the proletarian working man. However, the marketing of Doc Martens boots depends largely on pushing a very British aesthetic, and trades on the history of the British punk and mod movements. In the past few decades, the Doc Martens corporation has completely shifted their operations out of the U.K. However, Doc Martens boots are definitely bucking the trend towards animal-friendly shoes. Most sneaker and boot companies at least make a slight effort, mostly because there is a demonstrated rise in the market for leather-free shoes. However, the Doc Martens company is particularly notable in terms of animal rights because they do not offer a single style of shoe in any of their product lines that is leather-free. Okay, so of course Doc Martens boots are made of leather, and any vegetarians hoping to buy animal-friendly shoes should go elsewhere. So, although Doc Martens boots are traditionally associated with standing up for the rights of marginalized or disenfranchised people, when you wear these shoes today you’re economically supporting major human rights infringements. In short, Docs are likely made in sweatshops, and are certainly made in places where the Government does not protect the rights of its workers to earn a living wage or work in humane conditions. From ethics to fit to the reality of daily wear, check out these ten reasons why not to buy Doc Martens boots.ĭoc Martens boots are primarily made in China and Thailand, where the supervision of factory conditions is not up to Western standards. However, there are a lot of reasons to look for an alternative to these ubiquitous symbols of alternative style. Doc Martens boots have long been a fashion staple for members of the goth, punk, and hipster subcultures. ![]()
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