DMs infiltration into the United States can actually be traced back much earlier than Grunge. The Californian punk and hardcore scene at the start of the 80's found a home for the hard-to-find Doc Martins almost a decade before its west coast companion. Predominately based in Los Angeles and San Francisco, bands like the Crowd, China White, Black Flag and Outsiders played hard edged alternative music with a strictly underground feel. Amongst th masses of these sweaty gigs could be found the Dr Martins boots, despite the fact that only a handful of specialist stores stocked the imported footwear at this early stage.
America also had its own skinhead scene which championed the Dr Martin boot, after which a series of subcultures found a place for it. Rockabilly, ska and several other underground scenes have since fostered the DM as almost standard issue.
The international appeal has meant that DM's are perhaps Britain's most significant contribution to global anti-fashion and counter-culture in the last forty years. More importantly the Dr Marten boots iconic status has been created by the marketplace, not sold to it.
In America the DM's restricted availability meant that prior to 1991 DM's were very difficult to find, although in some senses this gave some added kudos to the brand. By 1993 the Dr Martens boot was grabbing headlines across the States for trouncing the trainer market that had been dominant for so long. Surfers and skateboarders were just a few of the subcultures who picked up on Dr Martens.
Doc Martens popularity in the States provided a rare beacon of culture in America after years of post-war Americanization of Great Britain.
In the Far East, the Doc Marten shoe found a niche that blossomed quickly into a major phenomenon. In Hong Kong Docs had filtered through in tiny quantities before 1990, but once export gates were fully opened the country's thirst for British culture meant that the DM shoes were a massive hit. Demand has become so great in Hong Kong that a thriving second hand market has developed, with a few rare styles selling for more than brand new Dr Martens. Similar cult status has also been afforded to the DM in Japan. Dr Martens is now truly a global icon.
