Last month @rubencress started a 30 day challenge about ordinary everyday objects we use and what it means to us. Needless to say, I never managed to complete the 30 day challenge, in fact I only did 3 posts. I still see a couple of people doing this challenge now, and thought "why not?".
So here goes #4 My Boots - Not so ordinary ordinary challenge
Many years ago in my younger youth days, I went through a phase of wearing Dr Martens. They were trendy and cool, made popular by the British punk culture from the 60s. Their iconic yellow stitching and thick clear plastic soles made them instantly recognisable. Then I moved onto the next stage of my life, stilettos for work and convenient trainers (sneakers) for the weekend. A few months ago the soles of my regular Converse started to crack and I needed a pair of new shoes.
I remembered my DMs and that they have never gone out of fashion all these years. I went into my local DM store, tried on a few pairs and they were just as stylish as before. The only thing was the price for the quality. Previously DMs were all made in UK, that's always a quality standard. Then like most manufacturing, they shipped production off to low cost countries China mainly, and also south east Asia Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. And they still cost around £160/USD200 a pair. There were still some DMs some Made in UK but they were even more expensive.
Then I did some research and found out that the British made DMs were actually made by a firm called Solovair before production was shipped off shore. Solovair had been making shoes since 1881, and DMs since 1950s.
Solovair boot styles are similar to DMs, but they use green instead of yellow. And like DM, the 8 eyelet boots are one of the most popular styles. The best thing was that they were priced around the same price as DMs but were Made in England!!!!
You probably figured out by now I got myself pair of Solovair. Buying shoes online is really tricky as shoes need to fit perfectly, at least I want mine to be if I'm paying £170 for them! When my boots arrived, they were quite uncomfortable as the leather needed to break in, especially the sides, they kept in digging into my calf. I was expecting that and figured if it was really unbearable, I could always send them back for a refund.
Luckily they only took a couple of weeks to break in and now they are mega comfortable. I love wearing them, plus they are soooo stylish. Made in England products rarely disappoints, we just need more of them.
By the way, I was trying to find a suitable community to post this, and couldn't find a shoe or footwear community👠🥿🥾🩴. There was a Feet Community🦶!!
Hi @livinguktaiwan,
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Nice boots. I got a pair of black Justin Roper's (kind of cowboy boots but more dress style, no flash) which I love. I've worn them to weddings and funerals. Boots are the best.
Also, your pose reminded me of a drawing book called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" which is kind of a classic. One of the first exercises is "draw your shoes". I drew my chukka boots then in the same crossed foot pose.
!LUV
I took that photo on the first day I got my boots and was wearing them at home to break them in. They were quite uncomfortable, but I remember posing for that selfie and it felt so natural and comfortable. I googled the book you mentioned, it sounds interesting. Did it teach you to draw? I always wanted to draw but don't have a drop of art inside me..
I went through the book and really liked it. I can draw so-so. But I can share the premise of of book...
Draw what you see, not what you THINK.
The idea is that the left hemisphere of the Brain, the logical side, has a preconceived image of how things SHOULD appear. For instance, if someone said, "Draw a bird." Most people would draw a profile pic of a prototypical bird (kind of like the Twitter logo). Truth is, we rarely see birds like that. Usually they are from the back side or crooked or underneath and often very different shaped, like say a pelican. From the right brain, you draw what you SEE, which is likely very different than the Twitter like bird in the left brain. 🐦 🦜
@livinguktaiwan, @crrdlx(1/4) sent you LUV. | tools | discord | community | HiveWiki |
NFT | <>< daily
Your boots are beautiful, I work to make leather boots like these in Italy, these boots like yours are called with Norwegian stitching, they are the best in terms of resistance, they cost a lot because they need much more processing compared to a normal boot. I wish they can lead you on many beautiful journeys full of wonderful discoveries 😉.
You're an artisan! If you ever decide to talk about your work, I co-run the Worklife Community https://peakd.com/c/hive-195880/created which would be the perfect place for people to share their worklife experience. It's not very active but I keep a look out for good posts.
For these boots, I actually had to send them back to be restitched, I think they missed one stitch at the end so I figured I'd send both back to be repaired. They were great about and I got it back in a couple of weeks.
In just two weeks they were fast. The stitches of that seam are difficult to do, I'm not capable of doing it, it's another skilled worker who does it, but it may happen that the last stitch doesn't lock well.
Thank you for the invitation, but as far as boots are concerned, I work in a factory that produces them and I know almost all the processes that are done, but I'm not an artisan with his shop to understand. But now I'm in standby with my various creations and work, because I have to operate on my arm in a couple of weeks, I have two cysts that blocking my tendons. But I love building and creating things like Hobby, once I also built a wooden sofa, I'll retrieve the post for you, I don't remember, but perhaps I only wrote it in Italian. But when I'll be able to give life to my creativity again I'll surely visit you in your community :). Thank you very much, you are always very kind, my best regards.
https://ecency.com/ita/@stea90/stea90-versione-mastro-geppetto-o-perlomeno-ci-proviamo
This is the post where I showed part of the process when I built the sofa, but unfortunately I only wrote it in Italian.
This is a fun challenge. Can we participate to or just for the teamuk?/😅
Btw, i don't like wearing boots.. Too uncomfortable for me..
The challenge is open to everyone, you can find more information about it here
https://peakd.com/challenge/@rubencress/the-not-so-ordinary-ordinary-item-challenge-30-days
Boots aren't exactly the best for Asia because it's so hot and if you need to remove your shoes often it's quite a hassle!
Exactly... Maybe good for winter
I had a pair of DMs back in late 80s and they were very good, might have been a bit heavy on my feet as I don’t have particularly big feet for a man. So in the end I gave up on them which I was gutted about.
I’ll check out the 30 day challenge, it’s a great idea for blog content.
I do have a pair of Clarks walking boots as they make great fits for narrow footed folk. I call them my invincible boots because they are still going and they are possibly 20 years old near enough!
The challenge is a very interesting one, gets you to think about everyday objects you take for granted, plus you can play around with your photography skills!
20 years for your Clarks walking boots!! I bet you the new ones won't last so long now, they shifted production off shore as well. In fact, Clarks isn't even British owned anymore, no prizes for guessing which country owns it now 😔
I know they’d moved production offshore which is a shame. You’re right anything I buy now will not last so long. They’re starting to become a bit worn not but only just.
I’ll give the challenge a go I think it will be a good exercise in appreciating the seemingly ordinary.
Pure class!
I love my DM's, (once they are broken in and the blisters stop). Back in the day as a teen I wore oxblood red boots and white skiiners jeans with braces and a ben sherman button down shirt. Rode a lambretta LI125 scooter.
Now in the autumn of my life I drive a car. wear shorts in all weather, and my DM's have become shoes.....
.... though still ox blood red.
Old habits die hard.
Shorts in the winter??!!!😬 ❄️
Now you mention your teen look, you'll have to back it with a photo otherwise it ain't true. Photo! Photo! Photo!!
photos from 50 yrs ago?????
But surely you're only 50 now 🙂🙃
lol @livinguktaiwan , flattery will get you everywhere!!
Omg!! Your boots look really great. I am also a fan of wearing one, since I feel comfortable. Actually, I have two boots, one black and the other one is like the yellowish brown leather. Both were great too.
I like boots because they protect my ankle and I like that feeling, hence the 8 eyelet one is just the right height. The yellowish brown leather makes a nice difference to black. I was pondering whether to get a non black one just to be different, but since I was only going to get one pair, I opt for the safe option 😀
The safest color to choose is black, always. 😅
Oooh, they are so nice. Thanks for introducing me Solovair. I haven't seen them here in Spain.
I used to wear DM boots while I was studying and those were so good that lasted for many years. Last year I wanted to buy agan a pair and yeah, the price compared to the place where they were made didn't convince me either...so I bought another, cheaper boots. 😔
I've been wearing trainers and Converse the past decade or so, it's nice to switch back to boots again. So far I'm very pleased with mine, and love how protective my foot feel because I like to cover them up 😁
Next time you need to replace your boots, maybe you can check out Solovair. They're very exclusive compared to DM as they only produce about 100k pairs a year compared to 14m pairs of DM!
I never said that these 30 days should be right after the other :P
On another note... I do wonder... where are DMs made? Can't rememba!
Yup, thats why I'm calling this #4 and not Day 4. I might get to the 30th one in 2025 😄
I think most DMs are made in China nowadays. If they're made in England I'm sure you'll see the big label (and price tag) on it!!
I have full faith in you! Its awesome that people are doing the challenge, didn't expect that! And it is so much fun doing them.
🤣 Yeah, I couldn't not see that label!
I was going to ask if they are as expensive over there as they are over here. It seems like a lot of the 90's fashions have circled back around now. My nieces were wearing flannels the other day and I just had to laugh. I loved my flannels back in the day!
That's why you should never throw away your old clothes. Just keep them in the closet for 20 years and they'll come back in fashion again, and then you can boast you got the original!! 😁
Haha, yeah, I guess so!
These boots look very cool. It's true that the products made in the UK are usually of good quality, but companies make them in different countries to make everything cheaper. I'm glad you found a British-made boot that suits you and I hope you wear them on nice days.
I've been wearing them pretty much every day since I got them to soften the leather so it's more comfortable. They're also good in the cold wet weather, Sonia can walk in the puddles. Yes, silly like a child I know 😂
It's not silly, I like to walk in puddles in my boot too. If I'm wearing the boot, I should be able to walk there, right?
Now those are some punkey boots eyyy😎 loving them! Keep up the swag
Way to go!!!
Nice boots! My husband is a fan of DMs, but they are out of our budget these days. However, he still has a pair that has lasted him for years. They are indestructible. And I'm going to check if they say Made in England, hehe ;) Anyway, I'll tell my husband about Solovair.
And seriously, is there a Feet Community? I'll have to post something there.
If he's had them for years, maybe they were made in UK, do let me know!
As to the feet community..... well, what can I say 🤐
I already checked, and are Made in Thailand
Never heard of Solovair but they look very cool! :)
I had DMs at school and then they went all trendy and expensive!
The shoes are cool too.
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I love fashion and shoes 👟
DM are one level up and have made their name worldwide with quality made in UK.
It's cool and for me also important to know what I'm buying and especially where it's coming from and where it's produced so I can be a little bit at peace and in line with my principles.
Your DM's are very classy and sober, I really like them.
For my part, even though I've always been in awe of these shoes, I haven't had the opportunity to find simple and "passe-partout"/"master-key" as ones like yours. I was charmed by a pair of black leather G-Star's with a little yellow stitching that strongly looks like DM's and that I have been wearing for over 7 years 😍
I'm really glad that I found these Solovair, that they're made in UK and the company actually made DMs for DM, so I guess you can say they're the originals 😃 Hopefully they'll last as long as your G-Stars, 7 years is very impressive, you're certainly getting your money's worth
You can be glad of them, they are very beautiful!
Oh yes, me too I really was impressive about these shoes and you're wright, I get my money worth 🙃
Those are some good looking boots. I have already checked out their website. Lovely collection overall. Thanks for introducing me to Solovair.