The 1970s, the decade of glam, punk, “Two Tone” popular music and early “goth”, saw British youth culture mushroom into countless distinct groups. By the end of the decade the boot had become a symbol of self-expression at the very heart of British youth culture. Sales of small men’s size boots alerted Dr. Martens to a street trend for women buying then customising (usually with florals) the simple eight-hole boot. Meanwhile, US “Hardcore” musicians touring the United Kingdom began to take pairs of Dr. Martens back to the west coast, thus inadvertently starting American subculture’s adoption of the brand.