Dr. Martens air-cushioned sole, designed by German inventor, Dr. Klaus Maertens, was engineered to meet the specific need of providing additional support and comfort for a broken foot. The Dr. Martens boot, manufactured by R Griggs and Co, British boot makers, with its trademark yellow stitch, grooved sole and heel-loop, was a boot for workers; comfortable, durable and lightweight in comparison to its competitors at the time. Initially worn by postmen, policemen and everyday workers, the boots were adopted, customised and used as a tribal emblem by successive subcultures, decade after decade.