Wellies are footwear favourites in all walks of life
The earliest wellington boot dates back to 1817. When an order was made by Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, for a pair of calf-length leather boots.
Today’s rubber version of the footwear had to wait until 1856 to be made. The Green Hunter and Royal Hunter styled wellingtons that are thought of as ‘classic wellies’ were introduced over a century later in 1958. Despite the boot’s modifications during its long and varied life, the name ‘Wellington’ has endured.
For over half a century, the wellingtons’ comfortable dry insides and tough exteriors have been a firm favourite among gardeners, farmers and all those making the most of outdoor life.
The trusty wellington ‘work boot’ has become a fashion statement in recent years. This has been brought about by an eclectic mix of real and fictional characters. It has also boosted the boot’s popularity far beyond the gate latches of Britain’s country gardens.
When Paddington Bear moved from the storybook to the toy store, he acquired his wellingtons to help him stand without toppling. As Paddington reveled in the puddle splashing moments of childhood, the rest of the world recognised him as the teddy with the wellies.
Madonna wore wellies in a music video. A few years later, Kate Moss showed up at the Glastonbury music festival in hers. Festival-goers responded by adopting wellington boots as the unofficial uniform for concerts.
Millions of readers learned that the Weasley family of Harry Potter’s wizarding world kept their wellington boots on steps by the back door. In the final book of the series, Xenophilius Lovegood ‘sat down, his wellingtoned legs crossed’ before asking Harry how he could help him.
Wellington boots are now known and loved around the globe. Wellies have become favourites for all functions, from royal regalia to farmers footwear, festival fashion to wizards wellies, they’ve even been used as wedding attire. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors for any reason, finds wellies are fun and functional footwear.
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Note the similarities between the names of Arthur Weasley (from Harry Potter) and Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington.