Tremaine Emory‘s Denim Tears has teamed up with Dr. Martens for a collection that reflects on Afro-Caribbean diaspora, highlighting the Windrush generation. The collaboration acknowledges the cultural revolution that lives on today, 75 years after Windrush, where the Post-War British Government gave members of the colonies the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
Despite being faced with prejudice, these communities left an inimitable mark on art, music, fashion and culture. The Denim Tears x Dr. Martens collaboration seeks to remind us of the struggles faced by migrants and the struggles still faced.
As part of the first link-up between the New York-based brand and the iconic British shoemaker, A Union Jack is subverted with the colours of the Jamaican flag. Inspired by Chris Ofili’s 2003 “Union Black”, the emblem features across the vamp of the classic 8-eye 1460 boot and Penton loafer shoe. The shoes are constructed from smooth, resilient leather in a “Pure Black/Bold Red” colourway, set on a traditional DMs sole, secured with a Goodyear welt stitch, and handcrafted at the original Dr. Martens factory in England.
The Penton loafer’s laceless construction provides the perfect canvas for the collaboration, in keeping with Denim Tears’ focus on iconography to tell a story. Denim Tears was founded in 2019 and serves as a vehicle for Tremaine Emory’s artistic vision as an African American. The loafer was a silhouette adopted in the ‘70s ska and two-tone music scenes and is an authentic stylistic legacy introduced by the Windrush generation.
Dr. Martens was founded in 1960 and was initially designed for workers before being adopted by a range of youth cultures and tribes. The Northamptonshire factory that housed the former factory site still exists to this day, constructing a limited-edition range of Made in England products.
The Denim Tears x Dr. Martens collaboration will be released on October 17 via Dr. Martens with more information set to be announced soon.
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