“Necessity is the mother of invention” and no one knows this better than Klaus Maertens, the German doctor who created the first Dr. Martens prototype for himself following a foot accident while skiing. The first model of this brand, in fact, was conceived as an orthopedic shoe characterized by a sole cushioned by an air cushion and a softer leather for the boot. These features continue to be the distinctive features of Dr. Martens boots and shoes, but thanks to the English brand Griggs Group Ltd, which purchased the patent, the rear strap with the Air Wair brand and the yellow stitching between the sole and the upper were added to these. 1960 was the year in which the market discovered the Dr. Martens 1460 boots, the eight-hole model, in cherry red, still in production today. Comfort and durability are the adjectives that identify Dr. Martens footwear and that have earned them collaborations with Raf Simons, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Stussy and Swarovski.