Dr. Martens, the iconic footwear brand that kickstarted it all, owes its roots to the 1460 Boot. With over six decades of rebellion and a symbol of durability and craftsmanship, the 1460 Boot encapsulates the past, present, and future of the brand. From the innovative street style of Jean Paul Gaultier to the creativity of Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto, Dr. Martens has woven itself into the history of some of the most iconic fashion designers of all time.

Beyond collaborating with industry giants, Dr. Martens has a history of nurturing emerging talents from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, amplifying their voices across the globe.

Taking the 1460 Boot as a starting point, Dr. Martens challenged CSM students to reimagine the silhouette through their unique creative vision. The task was to craft a complete look along with a personalized pair of 1460s to express their individual visual language.

Nine students representing some of the world’s most innovative emerging design talents were selected by an industry panel of experts. Led by Dr. Martens’ Creative Director Darren McKoy and CSM’s Master of Fashion Director Fabio Piras, the panel also includes Lulu Kennedy MBE, the founder of Fashion East, and Erin Magee, Vice President of Design at Supreme and founder of MadeMe.

The jury will now select four finalists to collaborate with Dr. Martens’ design and production team, bringing their customized 1460 Boots to life. These winners will gain essential skills and receive guidance at DM’s ‘Made in England’ factory in Northamptonshire. The winning prototypes will debut during London Fashion Week 2024, alongside Central Saint Martins’ graduate showcase. The victorious students will be awarded a £5,000 scholarship to support the development of their creative practice during their final academic term.

Let’s take a look at the finalists:

ATLI GEIR ALFREÐSSON incorporates innovative men’s tailoring with corsetry touches and cutout elements.


JOYCE BAO creates ethereal, organic, and sculptural women’s clothing, radically utilizing traditional lace, drawing inspiration from fairies and witches.


DHRUV BANDIL, transitioning from Bombay to London, pushes the boundaries of contemporary Indian art through hyperbolic silhouettes.

YANYA CHENG designs women’s wear with intricate patterns, folded and layered fabrics, and a daring futuristic edge.


ÁLVARO MARS, formerly a stylist’s assistant at Givenchy and Vivienne Westwood’s studio, focuses on women’s fashion lines.


VALERIA PULICI, with experience at BOY London, is a print designer who blends hand sketches and digital manipulation, creating multi-product collections with a streetwear focus.


MAXIMILIAN RAYNOR has clothed artists like Ellie Goulding, Shygirl, and Stefflon Don, describing his style as “a unique juxtaposition of elegance, refined craftsmanship, and a more anarchic, erotic, and distinctly London vibe.”


TRAICELINE PRATT, raised in the Bahamas, sculpts women’s wear with forms that distort the wearer’s silhouette.


FINLAY VINCENT is the mind behind his own men’s clothing brand, SYSTEM, centered on modular apparel.