Dr. Martens Women's 1461 W Loafer
Categories: Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry > Women > Shoes > Oxfords
Store: Dr. Martens
Average rating: 4.6 (84 ratings)
Features:
100% Leather
Imported
Rubber sole
Shaft measures approximately mid-top from arch
Constructed on the iconic, durable Dr. Martens air-cushioned sole
Good abrasion and slip resistance
Made with a Goodyear welt: the upper and sole are heat-sealed and sewn together with a z-welt stitch
Made with Virginia Leather—a soft, fine-grained leather treated to feel smooth and supple
Retains essential Doc DNA, like yellow stitching and grooved sides

The original 1461 shoe is undeniably iconic. This classic style has been adapted for women — offering the same look with a narrower footbed, in soft, supple Virginia leather that comes in a variety of hues.
Dr. Martens is the stuff of legends. It all began near Munich, Germany in 1945 when Dr. Klaus Maertens injured his foot in a skiing accident in the Bavarian Alps. To make walking easier during the healing process, he designed a shoe with an air-cushioned sole. Using old rubber tires, he constructed soles that had air trapped within closed compartments. He showed his prototype to his engineer/inventor friend, Dr. Herbert Funck, and together they decided to develop and produce the shoes. Not only did the shoe solve the doctor's immediate problem, but it also started to sell well in Germany. By 1959 the two decided that they needed a company to produce and distribute the shoes, then called Dr. Maertens, in other parts of the world. At first, many manufacturers rejected the concept of an air cushioned sole as a short-lived gimmick. However, the R. Griggs Group, located in the village of Wollaston in England, decided to go along with the idea by creating the first work boot with the revolutionary sole. On the first of April 1960, the first cherry red eight-eyelet work boot was produced and named 1460. To sell the brand name better in England, the name was anglicized to Dr. Martens. The range was branded AirWair and the rest is history.