Rubber Rain Boots.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/2499m6d
Born out of… laziness?
The legend has it that rubber boots owe much to the laziness, willpower, and ingenuity of Native Americans. The Indians would, more out of boredom than out of scientific inquiry, carve out white latex sap from rubber trees and then put it on fire. Then they would rotate it ever so slowly, just like modern-day scouts roast their s’mores. Sometimes, the story goes, Indians would wrap their own feet in the rubber, and roasts them over the fire, until they could not stand the pain any more.
A few centuries and experiments later, Charles Goodyear, a native of Connecticut, invented a process known as vulcanisation (after the Roman god of fire) in which rubber, combined with sulphur and other additives would become hard and more solid.
From Trenches to Opera Houses
Rubber boots experienced their first big-scale manufacture during World War I. Deadlocked in flooded trenches, soldiers would find comfort in rubber, knee-high boots. The Wellingtons, or wellies, were named after Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington who stood at the beginning of what is now Hunter Boot Ltd, producer of Hunters, the most beloved brand of rubber boots.
Fast-forward into the 21st century, it is quite common to see fashionable women in miniskirts and black wellies in an opera house. Something has changed in the perception of rubber boots. They are no longer reserved for peasants, soldiers and hippie festival-goers. They are as much in vogue as Dansko Stapled clogs or woollen Bronte boots worn by teenage girls year-long. Unlike the latter two, rubber boots do look sexy and charming.
Rubber boots experienced their first big-scale manufacture during World War I. Deadlocked in flooded trenches, soldiers would find comfort in rubber, knee-high boots. The Wellingtons, or wellies, were named after Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington who stood at the beginning of what is now Hunter Boot Ltd, producer of Hunters, the most beloved brand of rubber boots.
Fast-forward into the 21st century, it is quite common to see fashionable women in miniskirts and black wellies in an opera house. Something has changed in the perception of rubber boots. They are no longer reserved for peasants, soldiers and hippie festival-goers. They are as much in vogue as Dansko Stapled clogs or woollen Bronte boots worn by teenage girls year-long. Unlike the latter two, rubber boots do look sexy and charming.
Wedge Wellies, a hit or miss?
Specifically made for the Glastonbury festival, Hunter introduces a new hit (or miss) shoe, Wedge Welly. A dedicated pink website announces that wedge wellies ‘have been designed with festivals in mind, the surface patterns are inspired by this season’s trends, and our wedge design acts as a cushion, offering extra comfort (we know only too well how painful it can be wearing your wellies all weekend’.
Well. Up to you to judge.
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