LAYERED PERSPECTIVES CREATE NEW,CRAFT FORMS.
Dr. Martens and Sage Nation introduce their first collaboration, a union of distinct and shared positions on contemporary craft. The partnership is the second release from Dr. Martens ongoing Statements in Craft series. A long-term vision of collaboration rooted in mutual respect for process, materiality, the people behind the craft, and craft’s dialogue with culture.
Founded by Sage Toda-Nation in 2020, Sage Nation is recognised for its progressive approach to menswear. The brand prioritises precise technical construction with considered material choices, stripped-back silhouettes, and an instinctual sense of balance. In line with his own heritage, Toda-Nation’s work focusses on bringing together the finest fabrics and makers from Japan and the UK. It centres on adaptability and a belief that garments should be in service to the wearer and their lifestyle.
The partnership is a result of the natural alignment between both brands’ respect for heritage craft and traditional techniques, as well as Toda-Nation’s personal relationship with the brand as a longtime wearer, with DM’s featuring in Sage Nation lookbooks and launches dating back to Toda-Nation’s graduate collection.
The Made in England collection reworks DM’s foundational 1461 shoe with Sage Nation’s design codes. Each pair is an expression of both brands’ dedication to craft and quality and cut from Classic Calf, a rich full-grain leather finished with natural oils and waxes to create a subtle pull-up through wear, sourced from the British tannery C.F. Stead. The upper features a double welt seam that bisects the front of the shoe as a reference to Sage Nation’s signature Box Pleat trouser design.
The three-eye silhouette is highlighted with tonal stitching, a single pair of brush silver eyelets and tonal waxed flat laces. All set on DM’s traditional DMS air-cushioned sole in smoke with a black-on-black Goodyear welt stitch. The two-part collection is available in classic black or clove green colourways.
Stills and AV for the collection were created by British photographer Robbie Lawerence, featuring the dancing talents of Toru (@tohru_dance) and Kennie (@kennie.andrews).
„We have had a strong relationship with Sage since the inception of his brand, with Dr. Martens featuring in his campaigns from the very beginning. Coming together for this project was a natural synergy and made Sage the perfect fit for our ongoing Statements in Craft series, blending his sensibility for minimalist detail with our iconic 1461 shoe. From a distance, the shoe remains true to its original silhouette, but a closer look reveals a number of subtle refinements, including the split vamp and sidewall stitching, which give the design its distinctive character.“ – MICHAEL FORD, HEAD OF BRAND CONCEPTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, DR. MARTENS
“Growing up between the UK and Japan, Dr. Martens shoes have always felt like home. They are a uniform staple for people from all walks of life and even now, continue to bridge the gap between the two countries and their subcultures. The DM legacy of utility and craftsmanship has been a touchstone of mine since we launched, so this collaboration is one I’m incredibly proud of. Our goal was to craft a ‘forever shoe,’ one that seamlessly blends into the wardrobe we are building.” – SAGE TODA-NATION, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SAGE NATION
