Dr. Martens

Klaus Märtens, a doctor in the German army, designed an air-cushioned sole while recovering from a skiing injury in 1945, and went into business with the engineer Herbert Funck two years later. The Northamptonshire bootmaker R. Griggs bought the British rights in 1959 and on 1 April 1960 made the first 1460, an eight-eyelet boot in oxblood leather with yellow welt stitching. Skinheads, punks and grunge kids have all claimed it since, and a Made in England line is still produced at the Cobbs Lane factory in Wollaston.