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Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF is known for releasing tongue-in-cheek collectibles that often spark controversy. The brand continues to create derisive designs that are sure to turn heads and raise eyebrows. So it was no surprise when MSCHF’s Big Red Boots went viral on social media when they made their debut last February.

Inspired by the classic Japanese television series and video game character “Astro Boy,” MSCHF’s Big Red Boots quickly gained notoriety due to their odd shape and cartoonishly large appearance. Launching with a $350 price tag via the MSCHF sneakers app, the Big Red Boots sold out in minutes and were eventually seen on the feet of several A-list stars and fashion influencers.

MSCHF described the Big Red Boots as “cartoon boots for a Cool 3D World.” The striking style certainly delivered on this promise of cartoonish surrealism as the boots look designed for the anatomy of an animated character.

Everything You Need To Know About MSCHF’s Big Red Boots

When did the the Big Red Boots release? 

MSCHF’s Big Red Boots officially released on Feb. 16, 2023 via MSCHF.com and the MSCHF sneaker app.

What is the MSCHF brand and Who Are the Owners? 

MSCHF is an art and media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018, the brand is known for creating viral and controversial products that often spark public debate and generate a lot of media attention. MSCHF stands for miscellaneous mischief. Gabriel Whaley is the Founder & CEO of the MSCHF brand. He is the son of an ex-military officer and he used to work for Buzzfeed. After the company got shut down, Whaley started making his own projects on the internet.

Who is Astro Boy?

“Astro Boy” is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. The story follows Astro Boy, an android young boy with human emotions who is created by Umataro Tenma after the recent death of his son Tobio. Eventually, Astro Boy is sold to a robot circus run by Hamegg, but is saved from his servitude by Professor Ochanomizu.

What are the boots made of? 

The Big Red Boots are made of TPU, which is what many phone cases are made of, rubber, and an EVA foam outsole and a midsole. EVA is the same material that Crocs are made of. The knee-high silhouette features a simple design, with a mid-cut one-piece upper donning a tonal red color scheme. The look is completed with a ribbed outsole featuring MSCHF branding at the center.

How much does the shoes cost? And where can they be purchased?

MSCHF’s Big Red Boots went on sale for $350. However shortly after their release, they went on StockX with a resell price of $1,400. The puffy shoes can currently be purchased on sneaker sites like Stadium Goods and GOAT. They are currently sold out on the MSCHF app, but you can sign up to be notified for when they are back in stock.

Is it possible to make your own version of the Big Red Boots? 

Yes, you can now print MSCHF’s viral Big Red Boots at home. TikTok user Danny Kabouni found a printable format of the boots online, sourced from BigOverEasy — which he then scaled to 700% and printed on his own 3D printer over the course of 12 days. The resulting product, printed with TPU filament instead of printers’ traditional rigid PLA filament, created a Big Red Boot that was flexible, squishy and soft.

What other shoes has MSCHF released? 

MSCHF’s Big Red Boots are just one of the brand’s many viral creations. The company has numerous sneaker drops under their belt like the “Satan Shoes” in collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X. Other notable drops include the Gobstomper “Jimmy Fallon Edition” that was designed in partnership with late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon. MSCHF also released a collaborative “Wavy Shoe” with rapper Tyga, which Vans accused the shoe of copyright infringement.

Celebrities Who’ve Worn MSCHF’s Big Red Boots

Ciara posed in MSCHF’s Big Red Boots on Instagram. The Grammy-nominated singer modeled the gigantic puffy style with a graphic Michael Jackson t-shirt and black and white striped socks.

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Dr. Martens is commemorating a decade of the iconic Jadon boot and its impact on culture as a landmark of youthful rebellion and bold authenticity. The brand takes its cult following on a walk down memory lane with a new short culture film titled “The Story Of The Jadon Boot: 10 Years,” which tracks the shoe’s trajectory from its alternative roots to its mainstream allure in fashion. Jadon boots are no basic combat boots – the style is the epitome of supreme construction with a touch of timeless angst.  

The genesis of Dr. Martens dates back to World War II, but it wasn’t until 1960 when its first manufactured boot, called the 1460, made waves in the UK, establishing signature brand motifs of yellow stitching and AirWair soles. The boots became known as a rebellious trademark and emblem of cacophonous expression in the punk movement of the ’70s and through the grunge styles of the ‘90s.

As a timeless statement shoe, Dr. Martens combat boots marked cultural progression, within social movements and alternative music, and became an archival reference point for re-emerging trends in the next century. “It’s just so synonymous with youth culture,” says Canadian photographer Tommy Ton in the film. “Instant cool if you had a pair on.” As Dr. Martens expanded its styles, the historied spirit of the shoe followed suit.

In 2013, Dr. Martens embarked on a mission to create a shoe that incorporated the DNA of the original 1460 boot, while forwarding its story through fearless design evolution. “People were starting to dress a little bit more extreme,” said Damien Wilson, who was Dr. Martens’ creative director from 2013 to 2022. “One thing I saw at the time was a kind of fusion between what was going on in the fashion world and what had been going on in the alternative world.” The Jadon boot was born with a bold Quad platform sole that elevated the combat boot style to an indomitable silhouette. These iconic Dr. Martens boots were beloved by only those who dared to stomp to new heights of punk-inspired styling, particularly during the grungy mid 2000s movement we now refer to as “indie sleaze.”

Top model Agyness Deyn personified the aesthetic of the early 2010s, where she was “a bit punk, a bit rock, a bit aristo,” said Filipino blogger Bryan Yambao, A.K.A Bryan Boy. “The Jadon boot is as iconic as her.” Deyn was one of the first trendsetters to style combat boots in haphazard and effortlessly genius ways, whether with a party dress or a House of Holland slogan tee. Deyn used the stoic boot to express her authentic, dauntless perspective — exemplifying and repackaging the very sentiment that colored Dr. Martens’ rich history in a modern era. Along the same time the Jadon boots were in development at Dr. Martens, Deyn’s first collection with the brand was in the works. The creative parallel proved to be the perfect storm, as her collaboration introduced the Quad sole in four striking silhouettes and catapulted the chunky platform into the Dr. Martens universe. 

As social media flourished in the 2010s, Docs began to circulate on blogs and off-center Tumblr feeds, and Jadon boots became an underground sensation for tapped-in fashion fiends. The trend seemingly trickled up to mainstream tastemakers in the latter half of the decade. By 2019, Jadon boots were seen on ‘It’ girls such as Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, Miley Cyrus, and Hailey Bieber, all of whom styled the boot in their own unique way. Celebrity sightings not only put Jadon on fashion’s radar, but also displayed its organic versatility across aesthetics and cultural associations. A new generation witnessed Jadon’s presence as the shoe of the people, for the people.

Jadon plodded from the streets to the runways in the early 2020s, as featured in a range of fashion shows that celebrate iconic identity, such as Jonathan Cohen fall 2020, Savage X Fenty spring 2021, Private Policy fall 2023, and Vogue’s ‘Vogue World’ 2023 presentation, to name a few. Also in 2020 and 2021, Dr. Martens and Hello Kitty teamed up in a limited-edition design of the Jadon boot that merged the style’s punk persona with the adorable iconography of the universal feline. In 2020, Dr. Martens also collaborated on a pair of Jadon boots with the alternative clothing brand X-girl in a natural joining of forces that played into both brands’ cultures of rebellious youth and fashionable freedom. Most recently in 2022, Dr. Martens and London jeweler The Great Frog updated the Jadon silhouette with strappy buckles and loud hardware to fuse their respective rock ‘n’ roll influences.

Cultural shifts can be hard to predict as the eras roll on, but you can bet that Dr. Martens’ Jadon Boot will always be at the forefront. 

No matter which decade inspires your personal style, a Jadon Boot will always fit. Throughout the 2010s, Dr. Martens combat boot styling expanded beyond tough, dark aesthetics to be paired with juxtaposed feminine silhouettes in the summer time, such as sundresses or slip skirts. Its durable leather dually serves as a boot for the rain or snow, while the rubber traction can hold up against rugged terrain. Jadon Boots are a wardrobe staple that look cool and function well year-round, and once you find your favorite pair, they’ll last you for years to come. In celebration of Jadon’s 10th birthday, shop different styles of the iconic boot below.