On the Factory Floor: Dr. Martens’ Cobbs Lane

Founded on traditional shoemaking techniques dating back to post-World War II, Dr. Martens is today synonymous with great British craftsmanship. Hailing from the English shoemaking capital of Northamptonshire, the brand built its reputation on creating shoes and boots that combine functionality, durability, comfort and utility with timeless silhouettes. In the 70 years since its inception, the brand’s signature silhouettes—the 1460 boot and 1461 shoe—have been adopted as a uniform foundation for dozens of subcultural groups ranging from the mods and rude boys, to skinheads and punks.

A lot has changed since the first pair of Dr. Martens 1460s rolled off the production line in 1960, but one thing that hasn’t changed too much is the brand’s iconic UK Cobbs Lane factory. Dr. Martens has made shoes in the factory since 1960 and continues to do so until this day. The meteoric rise of the brand meant that the factory simply couldn’t keep up with demand, so today it is predominantly the Dr. Martens Made in England range that is made here. But nevertheless, it is in this very factory that many of the brands crown jewels were first manufactured, including the 1460, 1461, 1490, 3989, plus the Church and Capper boots.

Dr. Martens invited us to take a look around the Cobbs Lane factory, the birthplace of some of British shoemaking’s most iconic silhouettes. Entering the factory floor, we are greeted with the smell of freshly cut leather and an orchestra of machines all being worked to create the latest batch of shoes. On one side of the factory, rolls of soft leather sit waiting to make their way through the assembly line, while at the other end highly-skilled machinists mold the upper and sole with a heated blade at 700°C before they are neatly wrapped up in a premium red Made in England Shoebox. Join us on a visual trip around the Cobbs Lane factory.

The 5-Step Factory Process:

1: CLICKING

The finest sections of leather are cut to create the shoe's uppers. For the standard required for a 'Made in England' product, the Clicker needs experience, a steady hand and, above all, an eye for detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfJrQh3DeeE