IN 1975 a band of anarchic, irreverent and rebellious outliers took the global punk scene by storm. Ushering a loud, brash and no-holds barred era of music was none other than the iconic Sex Pistols. While they only produced one album “Never Mind the Bollocks: Here’s the Sex Pistols” during their short-lived career, the raucous group’s legacy carries on.
Arguably hailed as the true purveyors of punk, the image of the Sex Pistols endures as the embodiment of nonconformist attitude and brazen rebellion.
It was only a matter of time before Dr. Martens, a staunch crusader of subcultural iconoclasts, rolled out with a collection that pays homage to one of the most influential rebels in music history.
Keeping punk alive
DRAWING inspiration from the groundbreaking album artwork designed by the equally influential artist Jamie Reid for the controversial British foursome, the Dr. Martens x Sex Pistols collection features select Dr. Martens classics emblazoned with lyrics from the band’s song Pretty Vacant. The collection includes the 1490 10-eye boot, 1460 8-eye boot, and the 1925 steel toe.
To officially introduce the collection in the Philippines, an exclusive media launch was held on February 28 at Saguijo Bar and Café. As the band is considered as innovators not only in music but also in art, the event paid homage to the distinct musicality and brand of artistry that defined the Sex Pistols’ era: from the décor of the venue and the music, all the way to the requested attire of the guests.
Hosted by Raymund Marasigan, the event gathered select representatives from the media, Dr. Martens enthusiasts and fans of Sex Pistols alike for a night of tribute to the rebellious power of art and music. The program kicked off with the highly-anticipated product reveal, soon followed by a brand talk.
In a way that’s most fitting, each of the pieces in the Sex Pistols collection were unveiled one after another as the spotlight was turned on a musical instrument, where a pair of Dr. Martens was displayed. After the program, the night continued to pick up pace as guest bands Grace Note and Chicosci took over the stage to perform. Chicosci performed two Sex Pistols songs: God Save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK. The bands also performed original songs which reflected the defiant spirit of the collection and the brand.
Dr. Martens x Sex Pistols
A FEROCIOUS take on the 1460 boot, the 8-eye 1460 Sex Pistols Vicious boots is emblazoned with a digitized print of the band’s wildly infamous bass player Sid Vicious.
Apart from the bold print, what makes this boot stand out is its visible neon pink welt-stitching, neon pin and shocking yellow heel-loops, and its flat “No Feelings” laces with pink and yellow aglets. Built to last with a durable Goodyear welt, the boots are also constructed no less with the trademark air-cushioned soles with grooved edges and Backhand Straw Grain, a full-grain leather with a crosshatch texture.
For something a little more nondescript yet unabashedly straightforward, check out the 1460 Sex Pistols No Future. This monochromatic eight-eye men’s boot features song lyrics on its back strap as a tribute to Jamie Reid’s album artwork. Made with Milled Greasy, a lightweight, soft leather with an oily coating, the boots also bear a striking neon pink and shocking yellow heel-loop and are constructed with comfortable air-cushioned soles with grooved edges and durable Goodyear welt.
Far from subtle, the 1490 Sex Pistols is a striking variation of the classic 1490. A staple amongst purveyors of anti-establishment ethos such as the countercultural characters of the 70s, the punks, and the goths, there’s no doubt the 1490 is an ideal silhouette for a Sex Pistols collab. Emblazoned with song lyrics, this 10-eye boot is a graphic black-and-white tribute to Jamie Reid’s found-letter aesthetic which he popularized with the iconic typography he used for “Never Mind…” The boots come with two pairs of laces, features neon pink and shocking yellow heel-loops and are made with Backhand leather and constructed with air-cushioned soles with grooved edges and a Goodyear welt.
All style and attitude, the 1925 Sex Pistols is a punchy take on the classic 3-eye shoe. Featuring a bulbous toe silhouette, the monochromatic shoes also bear a cutout which reveals a fashion steel toe cap. The true highlights of the pair however are the mismatched logos, with one reading “Boredom” and the other “Nowhere”—a reference to the buses on the cover art for the single Pretty Vacant. Unapologetically bold, the laces of the shoes also feature mismatched color pop aglets or the plastic tag covering the end of the laces. Made with Smooth, the original and durable Dr. Martens leather, the shoes are built to last with a durable Goodyear welt and constructed with air-cushioned soles with grooved edges.
The Sex Pistols collection are already available in limited quantities at Dr. Martens stores in Glorietta, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa The Block, Marquee Mall, Nuvali Solenad 2, SM City Cebu and Abreeza Davao.