Rick Owens' dark underground aesthetic and architectural, gender-neutral silhouettes are an ideal complement to Dr. Martens structured, utilitarian boots —and set the stage for another explosive collection that debuts this month.
The collection stands on the Dr. Martens 2” Quad Retro sole and retains the unmistakable signatures of Docs DNA alongside Owens’ dark and exaggerated architecture: both boots are fitted with an oversized, heightened tongue, heavy side zips, and adorned with dramatic wrap around laces.
The 1918 Rick Owens is a boot ripped from centre stage: with its entire upper constructed using a striking platinum Hair-On leather. The boot is fitted with pearl laces, with eyelets and hook trims in a dull silver finish. The unorthodox statement boot is tagged with a black and pearl heel loop, secured with the yellow welt stitching and finished with a dual-branded sock liner.
The first instalment of the new Dr. Martens x Rick Owens collaboration lands mid October. To celebrate the latest collaboration, Dr. Martens spoke to Rick Owens about the story and inspiration behind his shoot with performance artist Ron Athey.
"I have known Ron Athey since the 1980s when our paths would cross in the filthiest L.A clubs I could find," said Owens. "Ron was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, and I am afraid I was quite smitten. His work speaks to the eternal primitive in all of us and to our shared human experiences - fear,
shame, sexuality, mortality, and faith - In a timeless tradition of blood rituals, from the drama of human sacrifice on Mayan altars to a messiah on a cross to childbirth to blood tests to our current war... I asked Ron to represent this Dr. Martens collab as an example of how elegantly real
transgression - and our individual searches for transcendence - can be."
