The Wellington boot, also known as a wellie, gumboot, topboot, or a rainboot was originally based upon Hessian boots. It was brought to life by the 1st Duke of Wellington who instructed his shoemaker, Hoby of St. James's Street, London, to modify the 18th century Hessian boot. The boot was designed of soft calfskin leather which stopped at mid-calf closely fitting around the leg proving hard-wearing for battle. The boots quickly caught on with the British gentlemen who idolized this war hero. They were considered fashionable and they remained the must have fashion for men right through the 1840's.

However in 1852 a French man named Hiram Hutchinson met Charles Goodyear, who just invented the vulcanization process of natural rubber. While Goodyear went on to manufacture the famous tyres, Hutchinson bought the patent to manufacture footwear. Hutchinson moved back to France his home country starting the company "Aigle" (Eagle). This introduction of a welly type boot was an instant success, 95% of the population in France were working in fields wearing wooden clogs.

In 1856 we are about to see the birth of Hunter Boots, with thanks to a Mr. Henry Lee Norris an American entrepreneur, who landed on Scottish soil in search of a home for his boot making company. That September after having acquired a block of buildings in Edinburgh, known as the Castle Silk Mills, the North British Rubber Company now known as Hunter Boots was registered as a limited liability company with only four members of staff.

The popularity of his Wellington boots were growing and by 1875 the team had grown to 600 members of staff. Production of Wellington Boots was dramatically boosted again with the advent of World War I. The company was asked by the War Office to construct a sturdy boot suitable for the conditions in flooded trenches. In total, 1,185,036 pairs were made to cope with the Army's demands. This fashionable boot was now a functional necessity.

At the outbreak of World War II in September, 80% of the North British Rubber Company's production was for war materials - from ground sheets to life belts and gas masks. By the end of the war rationing laborers began to wear the rubber boots for everyday work, this is how the Wellington had become popular among men and women for use in wet weather. This lead to the birth of Hunter's most famous Welly, the Original Green Wellington, made over 50 years ago in the winter of 1955.

By the 1980's a pair of Hunter Originals worn by Lady Diana Spencer in her engagement photographs, sparks a fashion spurge. Hunters were to see history repeating itself once again by becoming an essential item for those guided in upmarket country fashion.

The Welly has always been regarded as a "Symbol of British Country Life" and was now about to become a Style Icon. Hunters were launched back in to the spotlight with great force when Kate Moss was photographed at one of the world's largest music festivals known as "Glastonbury" wearing a set of Hunter Original Black Wellingtons. Market research showed that this had such an impact on Hunters that the Original Black welly went out of stock before the summer had even ended.

Hunters are continuing to change with the times and remain a symbol of british country life. To date they have expanded the Wellington Boots colour pallet, you can buy Silver, Gold, White, Midnight Sparkle and Fuchsia to just name a few. This is why they truly are "Outstanding in Every Field".