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Wellington Boots were created in 1817 by Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. He was a war hero, famous for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo, who later became the British Prime Minister.

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⤷ 1st Duke of Wellington 
[ A material shift ]

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The original Wellington boots were made of soft calf-skin leather. It wasn't until 1853, when Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process, that the American industrialist Hiram Hutchinson bought the patent and started manufacturing the boots out of rubber in France.

⤷ Charles Goodyear
A pair of black rain boots with water droplets on them, set against a black background.

Originally, Wellingtons came only in black. For over a century, rubber Wellingtons were strictly utilitarian and sold almost exclusively in one colour.

The famous green Hunter boot was not introduced until 1956.

⤷ Hunter Wellingtons

How times change…

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Wellingtons remained a working man's boot until 1980, when Lady Diana Spencer (the future Princess of Wales) was photographed wearing a pair of green Hunter boots while courting Prince Charles.

Sales skyrocketed immediately, transforming them into a fashion statement.

A young woman and man standing outdoors on a park bench, with a sports field and trees in the background.
A child wearing yellow and orange pants and black and white zigzag rain boots stomping in a puddle with fallen yellow leaves on the ground.
Black rain boots, a black shopping bag, and a pair of black jeans on a colorful patterned carpet near a wooden dresser and a wooden door.
A blonde woman wearing a black sleeveless vest, checkered shorts, and muddy rain boots walking on a dirt path at an outdoor event.

In 2005, this iconic image was taken of supermodel Kate Moss in her Wellingtons at Glastonbury.

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Nicknames

  • Gumboots

  • Gummies

  • Kirza boots

  • Rain boots, muck boots or galoshes.