How Doc Martens became the boot of 2018

They say fashion comes full circle and that's definitely the case for stylish stomping boots Dr Martens.

The English footwear brand, which began life in the 1960s as a work boot, has become engrained in the British style scene over the years.

From being popular with skinheads in the 1960s to punks in the 1980s, grunge in the '90s and Britpop in the early 2000s, the sturdy shoes have been synonymous with a range of subcultures for over five decades. Now, the cult boot, more commonly known as 'Docs' in the US or 'DMs' in the UK, has truly infiltrated the mainstream.

Going from a workwear item to a fashion staple, the practical shoes have become a regular sight during fashion week, not only worn by influencers and editors, but also mega-models like Kaia Gerber, Gigi and Bella Hadid as well as Hailey Bieber.

And it's not just the streets where the retro boot has seen a resurgence. The footwear brand has also gained the high fashion seal of approval with Marc Jacobs' recently-unveiled collaboration with Dr Martens. Meanwhile, during London Fashion Week spring/summer 2019, Sadie Williams, Fyodor Golan and Pam Hogg sent the chunky boot down the catwalk.

The bestselling shoe of the year is the original Dr Martens '1460 Smooth' style (£130). Championed by Gigi Hadid throughout 2018, the model has been papped wearing the classic lace-up boot in statement hues such as bright yellow, red, white and retro cherry red.

The brand, however, credits its reimagining of a different classic boot for its particularly "outstanding year." Dr Marten's revenues jumped 20 per cent to £348.6 million in the last financial year (to March 2018) with nine new stores opening in the UK.

Enter £169 Jadon boot. It was first released in 2013 but, this year, has been given a modern makeover. It's described on the website as: "A fierce evolution of our 8-eye boot, the Jadon retains all its original details — grooved edges, yellow stitching and a heel-loop — and adds a chunky, empowering platform sole."

The bold boot has seen incredible success this year and has been a hit both on the street style scene and on social media. This led to the British brand being named the best UK retail Instagram account of 2018 by Red Hot Penny.

The popular platform boots have seen several re-stocks this year and now come with several different finishes, including velvet and glitter.

Dr Marten also saw another best-selling style be reimagined for 2018: the classic 2976 Chelsea boot, £135, which was first produced in the 1970s. The WinterGrip collection gives the already-practical shoe a fleece-lined inside, grit-and-salt-resistant sole and a water-resistant finish.

With hiking boots being a key trend for autumn/winter 2018, Dr Marten has once again proved its place on the fashion scene.

And, if history has taught us anything, not for the last time.