Doctor’s orders
Class in session
World Footwear learns from Ms Granaghan that the business’ plan has “always” been to expand its (slightly more expensive) Made in England line. She explains that Dr Martens is operated with a long-term, custodian mindset and that “part of that means ensuring key skills are retained and passed down to new generations of skilled shoemakers”. Hence, a year-long traineeship in expressly British-style upper shoe production - including foot measurement, sizing, last types, pattern-cutting, clicking and closing – was launched by Dr Martens in April 2012. Since then, nine cohorts of Cobbs Lane-based apprentices have received a government-accredited qualification in footwear manufacturing upon completion of the scheme. (Class of 2022 applications closed on July 2.)
