“EVERYONE WHO STANDS UP FOR ME, THEY STAND UP FOR MY ART, THEY GIVE ME A PURPOSE.”

To celebrate Pride, artist and mental health advocate Wednesday Holmes is creating a limited edition of the 1460 boots featuring their signature joyful illustrations and positive messages.

At Dr. Martens, Pride signifies an ongoing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. With a history deeply intertwined with queer culture and a community where 30% identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the opportunity to platform, celebrate, and support LGBTQIA+ issues and people is never taken lightly. This year, Docs explores how creativity can create, empower, and strengthen LGBTQIA+ communities. As part of that celebration, they collaborated with 3 queer artists to reimagine a series of 3 boots. The third edition of this collaboration is designed by artist Wednesday Holmes (they/them).

About Wednesday Holmes:

Wednesday Holmes from Brighton became an artist during a period of crisis. The work began as a way to “figure out who I was in relation to the world,” and after searching on Instagram for “#queer illustrator” and “#queer artists,” there was nothing. Encouraged to fill this void, Instagram posts received a profound positive response. Initially, comfort and understanding were sought in art, but now a global community finds comfort and much-needed affirmation in Wednesday’s creations.

The 1460 Boot:

“I immediately knew I wanted to create something that was really joyful and rainbow-like.”

Wednesday kept their word and used the classic 8-eye 1460 boot as a canvas for bright and playful anthropomorphic illustrations, including the trans symbol and the inclusive Pride flag.

Made from DM’s traditional Smooth Leather in black and white with matching laces. The back features the messages ‘you are magic’ and ‘you are a star.’ Placed on a traditional DMs sole and signed with DM’s yellow welt stitch and AirWair heel loop. This limited-edition version of the 1460 boot is about “queer joy and bringing a smile to people’s faces” and serves as a reminder of Pride “365 days a year, in our everyday environment.”