"Rain Boots" a brief history

For those of you that know my daughter Jillian you can attest to her love of rain boots. She wears them with everything, to put it plainly Jillian’s boots were made for walking and they have been a lot of places. Jillian’s love of rain boots and our upcoming “traveling rain boot” competition got me wondering. Where did thee ever so popular rain boot come from? Well I’ll tell ya......

The “rain boot” formally known as "rubber wellies" may not mean as much to more recent generations, but they were essential in transforming the way people now so effortlessly approach wet and muddy grounds. In the nineteenth century, Arthur Wellington, first Duke of Wellington, requested that his shoemaker modify a pair of Hessian boots. Hessian boots initially made of leather, eventually evolved into the effective form of rubber foot protection that we know today.

 "Wellies" soon became the practical choice during World War I because they were waterproof. They provided soldiers with suitable footwear for time spent in flooded trenches and other treacherous conditions. Both World War I and World War II sparked the creation of vast quantities of Wellington boots and soon after, men, women, and children of all ages were wearing, what we now refer to as, rain boots.

In the 1850s, a French footwear manufacturer, teamed up with Charles Goodyear to patent a rubber footwear product that would become an overnight success. Perhaps most logically, farmers took advantage of these technologically advanced shoes and traded in their wooden clogs for rubber boots.

Since their creation, rain boots have accumulated quite the collection of nicknames as they have found their place in countries and cultures all across the world. South African and New Zealand natives refer to rain boots as "gumboots". Older Australians refer to these boots as "Blucher boots" and "Gummies", while Irish statesmen have coined them "top boots".

In the United States you can still find a bright yellow version of "wellies", but most British residents typically don green-colored rain boots. No matter the color rain boots have become an essential part of the dress code for young children, as well as for fashionistas and trend-setters as they step out for a cup of coffee on a sunny day.

From practical protection to puddle jumping to surging fashion trends, rain boots have evolved into much more than a simple piece of footwear. Today, rain boots have effectively created and established a name for themselves that appeals to audiences ranging from parents to style gurus and everyone in between.

As you can see rain boots have traveled the globe, coming a very long way from where they started. Where will yours turn up?

I look forward to seeing all your rain boots in action ladies. Get those cameras ready; remember I’m looking for the most unusual/unique pictures of your boots!!!!

(portions of this post were taken from a paper written by Avand Amiri)