Dr. Martens has teamed up with Ulster University to set foundation year students a project brief to design an outfit that stands for Belfast’s musical and cultural history.
This October, young designers on the university’s Art and Design BDes (Hons) course, within the Belfast School of Art, have been tasked to reflect the brand’s current #STANDFORSOMETHING campaign.
Throughout Dr. Martens legacy, the brand has been adopted and subverted by countless rebellious characters, subcultures and tribes. These are the people who stand out from the crowd in their own unique way and for many, their journey of self-expression has always been accompanied by a pair of Docs.
Dr. Martens celebrates these free-thinking individuals; from the first time wearers to those who have been with the brand forever.
Dr. Martens UK retail marketing manager Amy Nelson said: “Our #STANDFORSOMETHING campaign features authentic characters of different ages, backgrounds, occupations and personalities. They all have one thing in common – they wear Dr. Martens boots and shoes with pride and passion, an empowering mark of something worth standing for.
“We are asking the foundation Art and Design students at Ulster University to interpret that on a local level and design an outfit for the Northern DMs fan.”
Drawing on local music, sub-culture and the brand ethos, the design can be for a male or female. Students will present their work to Dr. Martens in December and the winning student prize will be an outfit from Dr. Martens and their own design on display in its newly-opened Cornmarket store.
Ulster University fashion lecturer, Stephen King, said: “The brief carries such a strong message and it’s fantastic to give our students full creative license. They are all really excited about it, already making a start on their designs – researching beyond what they already know about the region.
“Dr. Martens is a heritage brand while being incredibly popular at current so the students can all associate with it and have a real market in mind. The project affords them the opportunity to experience fashion design from a commercial perspective.”
As one of the city’s most recent footwear and clothing brands to open on the high street, it marks the first standalone store in Northern Ireland.
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