Dr. Martens has revealed its latest campaign — “a vibrant fusion of cross-generational heritage, sound and culture” starring DJ Jordss and musician Lady Banton — to launch its archive sandal collection. Galvanized by the “blues parties” of the 1980s, when the footwear label first introduced its sandals, the campaign looks to highlight the creativity that fueled those culture-defining events.
“Everything was happening when I first started DJing,” Lady Banton, a pioneer of all-female music collectives, said of the era. “It was a special time. I had a love for disco, soul, and a deep foundation in reggae. My transition into the Dancehall space came after my inaugural trip to Jamaica. I cherished all music—Ska, Rock—but Reggae became my turning point. When I’m behind the decks, it’s like transporting people back to my favourite era—the 80s—unveiling the thrillers and bangers of that time with conviction.”
Jordss, meanwhile, became a DJ after being inspired by “soundsystem culture and attending carnival from a young age.” Citing roots in tradition, the artist explains that “areas of music that inspire me the most are the 80s and 90s, I love sampling music listening to the newer tracks and also going back and listening to the old samples.”
In the campaign, both Lady Banton and Jordss celebrate their strong cultural roots, in a series of editorial photographs shot in Notting Hill Carnival’s Tabernacle. Platforming footwear favorites among subcultures of the ’80s and ’90s, the duo flaunts Dr. Martens’ Lakten leather platform mules, Wrenlie leather fisherman sandals and Joseff leather buckle slide sandals.
See the sartorial delivery in the gallery above, and shop the old-time silhouettes on Dr. Martens’ webstore.
