Iconic Shoe Factories

Dr. Martens UK Factory is home to one of the most iconic shoes of the last few decades and Highsnobiety had the chance to step inside the Northamptonshire facility. The boots made a comeback in the late 2000s, appearing on the feet of street fashion aficionados, but it first started out as a blue-collar boot for the working class. In the 70s the shoes were morphed from worker boots to a subculture must-have and nearly every decade after Dr. Martens transformed with the changing youth-culture.

The factory retells the history of the shoes. The street its situated on, Cobbs Lane, is a direct reference to cobblers. Once inside, there's an English flag hung up to represent the roots of the company. Vintage boots, with some definite wear and tear, are sat upon platforms. Aged posters of movies and old photos are placed around the factory to visually describe how the shoes became popularized. Highsnobiety's inside look of the historical Dr. Martens UK Factory shows how a brand can go from mundane to a coveted style symbol.