Dr Martens launches unique collection using deadstock material

Dr Martens is set to release a new collection of footwear made from surplus materials, respecting the importance of all materials and giving "each wearer a unique pair".

The Deadstock pack from their Made In England collection combines various types of leather from a range of seasonal stock and tanneries. The handcraft and leather specialists at Dr Martens' Northamptonshire factory use their expertise to combine surplus stock and still construct boots and shoes of the "highest quality".

By using leathers from different sources and areas of the cowhide, the company get maximum use and minimal waste. Through exaggerated stitching, colour variation, unfinished edges and mismatched, hand-punched eyelets, the Deadstock pack displays its patchwork aesthetic and creates a different finish on every single boot and shoe.

The collection is a testament to what can be done with what would go to waste and serves as an evolution of Dr Martens' 2022 collaboration with Stockholm upcycling specialists Our Legacy.

Dr Martens confirmed that the Deadstock pack will continue into AW23 and beyond, becoming a permanent and key range.

The 8-eye 1460 boot is reworked with many types of leather from world-renowned tanneries, including Desert Oasis suede, Classic Oiled Shoulder and Wax Commander, with each leather providing a different purpose. The boot is finished with a traditional Dr Martens sole and signed with its unmistakable yellow welt stitch and branded heel loop.

The 3-eye 1461 shoe is a staple of numerous subcultures and, with the Deadstock approach, it’s reimagined as a premium and unique piece of footwear. The shoe is a union of contrast base Quillon leather with soft Desert Oasis Suede and classic Split Suede. With a palette of black and indigo with contrast white stitching, the 1461 highlights its unique construction and diverse materials.

To further DM’s approach of reuse and rework in the collection, the campaign shoot collaborated with designer and furniture maker Lewis Kemmennoe and weaver Rosa Martin Rodriguez. Using wood and leather scraps, they created the plinths and sculptural elements that feature in the campaign. The campaign itself was shot on expired 35mm film.

The Deadstock pack launches tomorrow, 17 February 2023.