Of course it didn’t start with funky wellies… In the early 19th century Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington instructed his shoemaker to design a new boot. The resulting boot, dubbed the Wellington, has evolved from a soft calfskin leather boot into the modern PVC funky wellies of today.
The rubber version of the boot was made popular by entrepreneur Henry Lee Norris, who moved to Scotland in search of a suitable site to produce rubber footwear. After acquiring a block of buildings in Edinburgh, known as the Castle Silk Mills, the North British Rubber Company (much, much later to become the Hunter Rubber Company, makers of Hunter Rubber Wellington Boots) was created 1856.
In 1946 The North British Rubber Company moved to a larger factory in Dumfriesshire to deal with the rise in demand. This factory, known as Heathall, had been built in 1912 to manufacturer car and aeronautical engines. After going into admistration in 2006, the company is now trading as Hunter Boot Ltd as has re-established itself in a global market.
The original black wellies are still very popular in Britain today and are available in wide range of styles and designs to suit all budgets and requirements. However, among the upper-middle class the green welly remains the welly of choice. This preference for the green welly among those that participate in country pursuits such as fox hunting, riding and shooting has led to the creation of the term ‘the green welly brigade’, which is often used in a depreciatory context.
However, in recent years a new trend has developed for funky wellies. Funky wellies are now available in a huge number of colours, patterns and designs and are especially popular with children and ladies. From animal prints to flowers, spots to stripes, platforms to lace-ups, there are funky wellies out there to suit every taste and budget. A pair of funky wellies can jazz up any outfit and allow you to express yourself like no other type of footwear. Funky wellies are even becoming the must have accessory for brides and bridesmaids at Scottish beach weddings – a practical and fashionable choice I think you’ll agree!
Funky festival wellies have also seen a huge increase in popularity. We’ve all seen pictures of the mud rivers at Glastonbury, so what better festival footwear is there than a pair of funky wellies? At this year’s Glastonbury festival sales of funky wellies went through the roof as fans ditched less practical footwear. In fact the recent festival welly craze hasn’t escaped the celebrities either. Kate Moss, Keira Knightley and Gwyneth Paltrow to name but a few have all been pictured in the press donning a pair of funky wellies. Poor Gossip singer Beth Ditto, however, had to go without any shoes at all at the Glastonbury festival this year as the bands luggage went missing en route to the UK and the curvy singer told reporterss ‘wellies won’t fit over my fat calves.’
In fact, there are funky wellies to fit all shapes and sizes, even Beth!
Visit our Funky Wellies Stockists Directory for our recommended stockists of funky wellies.
