TOWER Family: Revisiting the Doc-tor!

TOWER takes you back to 1901, when the Griggs family established themselves as a workers' staple at the heart of Wollaston, Northamptonshire - the birthplace of what would become Dr. Martens.

Airwair was developed by Dr. Klaus Maertens and Dr. Herbert Funk in 1945 to support Maertens’ broken foot. After discovering its comfort, the Griggs family acquired an exclusive license and made some changes in England before stitching it into their own boots.

The result was a two-toned grooved sole-edge, yellow stitching and an iconic outsole impression beneath modified heel-cups, delivering superior comfort — features still built into Dr. Martens boots today.

From their first eight-holed 1460, the Airwair sole went on to redefine workers' footwear and quickly filtered into music and fashion subcultures, who adopted the brand’s aesthetic as a complement to their own signature styles.

From workwear to wardrobe mainstay

What began as practical workwear evolved into a cultural signifier: durable, uncompromising footwear with a distinctive attitude. Decades on, Dr. Martens continues to blend craftsmanship with contemporary finishes — smooth leathers, polished patent, rugged suede and seasonal experiments in colour and texture — ensuring there's a pair to anchor any look, from pared-back tailoring to festival-ready streetwear.

At TOWER we consider fit and finish as carefully as you do. Some styles run true to size while others benefit from a half-size adjustment; leathers soften and mould to the foot over time, so your first few wears are part of the break-in story. Think about the silhouette you want to build around — chunky 8-eye 1460s for attitude, Chelsea 2976s for understated utility — and choose a colour and leather that will age with you.

We’ve seen Dr. Martens on the feet of everyone from mods to models — but which pair is perfect for you?

To make your decision even easier, our TOWER family has pulled together every pair into one, bite-sized page here. Browse the styles, check our fit notes and find the silhouette, colour and finish that will go the distance.

What are you waiting for?

Shop Dr. Martens at TOWER

Dr. Martens 2976 Womens Black Leather Chelsea Boots View product

Dr. Martens 1460 Smooth Womens Cherry Red Leather Boots View product

Dr. Martens 1460 Smooth Womens Black Leather Boots View product

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