If you subscribe to the Merry People newsletter, you may have seen over Christmas last year that we sent around some Gumboot Trivia to liven up the holiday break! (We also gave away a pair of Merry People Bobbi rain boots to one lucky trivia fan! If you don’t subscribe to our newsletter, you can do so here and be sure to stay in the loop for giveaways and other fun updates!)
We had so much fun writing the quiz, that it inspired us to share with everyone some FUN FACTS ABOUT GUMBOOTS!
So grab a tea, make yourself comfy, and get ready to learn some random trivia about rain boots - or gumboots as we call them in Australia!
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Prior to the gumboot, the Duke (well known in history for his victory at the Battle of Waterloo) wore soft calfskin boots called Hessians to battle. These were about calf high with tassels and a short heel. In the early-1800s, the Duke asked his shoemaker in St. James, London to modify the Hessian boot to increase its versatility. The cobbler removed the tassel, raised the boot to knee high for better protection, and waxed the leather for increased weatherproofing. These modifications made the Hessian boot suitable for battle and informal evening wear. So even at its earliest form, the gumboot was a quintessential everyday boot!
People loved this versatility and the new boot - Wellingtons - caught on fast quickly becoming a popular shoe of the aristocracy.
In 1852, Charles Goodyear (of Goodyear tyres) invented the sulfur vulcanization process for natural rubber to make it mouldable. He then licensed this process to Hiram Hutchinson, an American-born industrialist. Hutchinson took this process back to France where he set up a mill to produce rubber Wellington boots. The farmers in the surrounding area had been working in wooden clogs, so (as you can imagine!), waterproof rubber boots were a hit and wellies soon became a go-to staple shoe!
Read More: The Difference Between Natural Rubber and PVC Rain Boots
Originally only called Wellingtons, the nickname “gumboots” comes from the natural rubber - or “gum rubber” - that rain boots are made from.
Now, rain boots like our best-selling Bobbi boot, come in an array of colours like our sunny Mustard Yellow and vibrant Beetroot Red & Light Pink. What’s your favourite colour?
Not just one we made up because we love gumboots! Gumboot Day is held every year on the Tuesday after Easter in Taihape, New Zealand.
Also known as welly hoying and boot throwing, gumboot throwing is a sport in which competitors are required to throw a Wellington boot as far as possible. Originally from the UK, it is also popular in Taihape and you can compete during Gumboot Day!
Do you think you can break that record?
The Golden Gumboot can be found in Tully, Far North Queensland. It was built to commemorate the record 311 inches of rainfall the town received in 1950.
Also known as Isicathulo, gumboot dancing started in the gold mines of South Africa. Mine owners often forbade conversation among workers, so they in turn developed gumboot dancing as a means of coded conversation. By placing bells on their boots, they could sound out conversation to a person a short distance away.
At Merry People, our mission is to transform the humble gumboot from a practical necessity to your go-to, everyday boot. While beautiful design and high-quality engineering can make a product essential, knowing that the gumboot has such a FUN and rich history makes it even more merry to us!
Stay Merry everyone! xx
For more information industrial safety rubber boots, chemical proof work boots, Black PVC safety boots, please get in touch with us!