FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE MADE OF

At Dr. Martens, we like to think we know our leathers. But from a quick glance, it can be tough to tell them apart — or which is the right leather for you. We've gathered our expert knowledge to help you decide.

FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE MADE OF

At Dr. Martens, we like to think we know our leathers. But from a quick glance, it can be tough to tell them apart — or which is the right leather for you. We've gathered our expert knowledge to help you decide.

GET TO YOU KNOW YOUR DOCS INSIDE OUT

DISCOVER THE DETAIL

Smooth, soft, shiny — and some that aren't leather at all. Find out more about each of our top leathers — so you can go and show the world what you're made of.

AMBASSADOR LEATHER

WE’VE GONE SOFT

A leather that feels soft and well-worn from day one. Ambassador is a heavyweight leather with a rich, oiled finish. It’s been tumbled to create a pebbled texture with loads of character.

Keep your Ambassador leather’s oiled finish topped up with regular doses of our Wonder Balsam or buff it to a healthy shine with our nourishing Shoe Polish Cream in the corresponding colour or neutral shade.

SMOOTH LEATHER

HARDWEARING AND FAMOUSLY TOUGH

Where else could we start but with our Smooth leather? One of our most famous materials, known for its durability — and the infamous DM’s break-in.

Smooth is corrected grain leather, which means it’s sanded and continually buffed to leave it with a uniform finish. The repeated buffing is what leaves Smooth leather famously stiff to start with — but give it a couple of weeks of gentle wear and tender care with our Wonder Balsam, and your boots or shoes will mould to your feet in no time.

VIRGINIA LEATHER

WORN IN FROM THE FIRST STEP

One of our most comfortable leathers. Virginia is soft, fine grain leather, which is treated to feel smooth and supple with a lightly pebbled finish.

Boots and shoes built from Virginia leather feel worn in from day one. And since Virginia leather is easy to dye, you can choose from a variety of bold colours — and wear them all straight out of the box. With leather as soft as Virginia, you can wait a few weeks before dipping your sponge into the Wonder Balsam.

CRAZY HORSE LEATHER

READY FOR THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE

Heavyweight, with a worn-in, distressed appearance straight out of the box. Our Crazy Horse leather means business. Or pleasure. Treat it mean or keep it clean. It’s up to you.

Sometimes referred to as saddle leather, it’s full-grain and treated with wax layers that cause natural variations in colour when scratched or rubbed. Show off every squeeze, scuff and scrape — or wipe them away with a scoop of Dubbin or Wonder Balsam and start over again.

PATENT LEATHER

A SIGNATURE SHINE

Want to see your reflection in your DM’s? Look no further than our Patent Lamper leather. It’s PU-coated on a suede base for enhanced durability.

With an unmistakable finish, Patent Lamper is more robust and resilient than traditional Patent leathers. Prolong your spotlight-stealing shimmer with a splash of our Patent Cleaner.

FELIX RUB OFF

OUR VEGAN ALTERNATIVE

Lose the leather. Keep the attitude. Black Felix Rub Off is our go-to synthetic material. Soft and supple, Felix Rub Off has a pliable, premium feel and a matte finish.

Shoe Care has never been easier — just give your footwear a quick wipe with a damp cloth and finish off with a spritz of Dr. Martens Ultra Protector Spray.

NAPPA LEATHER

A HEAVYWEIGHT SOFT OPTION

Our Nappa leather generally has a smoother finish than pebbled Virginia leather. It’s just as soft, pliable and easy to wear — and durable enough to hold its shape when put through its paces.

You can look after your Nappa leather with a combination of Wonder Balsam and Dr. Martens Shoe Polish — because even the heavyweight leathers deserve a bit of care.

QUILON LEATHER

A pillar of our Made in England collection. Quilon is a premium, heritage-inspired leather — dyed black or oxblood, with a buttery tan base colour that gives it a two-tone appearance.

Quilon leather has a textured finish called hair-cell, which gives it a vintage, character-rich finish. Quilon is still relatively stiff to start — so keep the Wonder Balsam handy for the first few weeks.

NUBUCK LEATHER

BUTTERY SOFT

Silky, pliable and full of character. Nubuck leather is made from the exterior of the hide, which is then sanded or buffed to create a velvet-like surface — which can be stamped to add a pebbled, embossed appearance. Because it’s created from the exterior of the hide, nubuck is generally thicker than suede — but it still needs to be carefully looked after. You can spray your nubuck boots and shoes with Dr. Martens Ultra Shoe Protector and buff away any light scuffs with the soft side of a suede brush.

SUEDE LEATHER

BIG ON TEXTURE

Soft and supple from day one, suede is a versatile material which can easily add bold colour or unexpected texture to your outfit. It’s full of character and makes the perfect partner to our distinctive boots and shoes. Suede is unique because it’s made from the underside of the hide, making it soft and flexible. It also feels fuzzy to the touch — referred to as the “nap” — which can vary in length, resulting in a statement textured finish. ​The delicate nature of suede leather can make shoe care seem daunting — but we’ve put together our best tips and tricks for cleaning and maintaining it. Look no further than our suede care guide.

GENIX NAPPA

RECLAIMED LEATHER. REMADE TO LAST

Leather offcuts transformed into an innovative material through milling, heat, pressure, water and a textile core. Soft and supple straight from the box without compromising on durability.

Keep your Genix Nappa in the best possible condition by wiping off any dirt with a soft, damp cloth. We don’t recommend using our shoe care products on this material.

SHOP BY LEATHER

KEEP THEM KICKING

Well-loved vintage or box-fresh — your DM's need a bit of extra care from time to time. We've laid out how in a series of guides to ensure your Docs can keep up — wherever you take them.

CARE GUIDES