As the #Skinhead subculture emerged in Great Britain during the 1970s, its followers developed common styles of dress, including steel-toe work boots manufactured by Dr. Martens and other footwear companies.
The boots themselves became “weapons” used to kick people during fights, leading to the term “boot party,” which refers to incidents in which multiple Skinheads stomp on and kick a victim together.
Wearing such boots was and remains characteristic of both racist and non-racist Skinheads. However, racist Skinheads typically use red or white laces on their boots to identify themselves as White Skinheads. It is also traditional for them to lace their boots using “ladder lacing” patterns, so that the laces do not cross one another as they run up the boot.
Within some racist Skinhead circles, white or red laces are supposed to be “earned” as a reward for an act of violence, such as attacking an enemy of the White race. However, most racist Skinheads wear red or white laces not because they have committed an act of violence, but simply because the laces are part of their subculture.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES: Red Laces • White Laces
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