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Rubber boots are questionably fashionable; they have been around for such a long time, many saw them as a necessity as opposed to a fashion accessory. However, recently, with more and more celebrities wearing them and the increased styles of rubber wellingtons, they have become an incredibly popular item of footwear for both men and women.
The rubber boot began life in a less glamorous walk of life, becoming well-known in the trenches of both world wars, before becoming a useful item of footwear for farmers. The popularity of these boots rose during the 19th Century because of the invention of the vulcanisation process. In 1840, Charles Goodyear found a way of turning sticky rubber into a useful elasticated, waterproof material, ideal for footwear.
This rubber became a useful material for making rubber bands and gas masks, which gave rise to numerous factories across Europe producing these items as well as rubber boots. One factory and footwear firm that did rise is the increasingly popular Hunter.
The present glamour of the rubber boot is undoubtedly due to the celebrities that have been seen wearing them. For example, Kate Moss caused a stir when she rocked up to Glastonbury Festival in a pair of Hunter wellingtons and hot pants; closely followed in the next few years by Madonna, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Now that they have reached such a glamorous status, fashion trends look set to include the rubber boot in the Autumn/Winter 2011 with the trend expanding to new levels into 2012. People are looking for something unique, distinguished and altogether 'new'.
Newer trends include the thicker soled wellington and wider upper, nicknamed the 'boyfriend look'. This look somewhat mirrors that of the moonboot look, something Romika use with a mixture of materials in the upper. The thicker sole also allows for greater wear, reflected in the Hunter Balmoral collection.
However, to truly celebrate the popularity of the rubber boots, Lotus have released their own collection of Posh Wellies, decorating them in buckles, details and other ornamentation - a very important look for next season.
What is clear is that with rubber boots customers know what they are getting; rather like with jeans. The rubber boot has become a continuing fashion trend, looking set to just continue into the future.
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