Tuesday 26 May 2009

Facts about Wellingtons

Hunter History


  • The Fist Duke of Wellington instructed his shoemaker, Holby 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.

  • In 1852 a French man named Hiram Hutchinson met Charles Goodyear, who just invented vulcanization process of natural rubber. Goodyear went on to manufacture the famous tyres while Hutchinson bought the patent to manufacture footwear. Hutchinson moved back to France starting the company "Aigle".

  • An American entrepreneur named Mr. Henry Lee Norris produced the first rubber Wellington boots in Scotland in 1856. Starting the company North British Rubber Company now known as Hunter Boot.

Just a Few Famous faces in Hunter Wellies

  • Diana Spencer Green Hunters at her engagement to Prince of Wales in Scotland

  • Kate Moss Black Hunters at Glastonbury

  • Lily Allen Fuchsia Hunters at Glastonbury

  • Kelly Osbourne Pumpkin at Glastonbury

  • Smantha Cameron wife of David Cameron "Tory Leader" in Aubergine Hunters after 2009 Oxs Run

  • Liz Hurley Black Hunters on her farm

  • Madonna Black Hunter on her English Estate

  • Angelina Jolie Red Hunters in film Mr & Mrs Smith

  • British Royal Family (Queen Green Hunters)

Wellington terms and quotes used

  • "Give it some Welly" (Football Chant to Stephen Gerrard)

  • "I didn't get where I am today by going on and on about gumboots" CJ in the "The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin"

  • " The Green Welly Brigade" (Describing the Countryside Alliance)

  • " Brilliant to the top of his army boots, those boots were leather Wellingtons." Lloyd George describing General Douglas Haig.

The Wellington Boot at War



  • The leather Wellington boot was worn by the North and South during the American Civil War. After the war the Wild West's greatest heroes such as Buffalo Bill always wore leather Wellingtons, the basis for the modern cowboy boot.

  • 1853-1856 during the Crimean War the Light Brigade wore Wellingtons

  • In 1917 a"Blighty" magazine produced by and for the troops writes about a game played by the troops in the trenches involving throwing a Wellington into a set of designated shell holes. This game is still played today now called "Welly Wanging."

  • The leather Wellington was the basis for the German jackboot. All the Axis forces wore the jackboot including Joseph Stalin. in 1918 Stalin the dictator, who was the son of a boot maker commissioned a shoemaker to construct a pair of black leather Wellingtons to his specification.

  • 1950's information booklet "Protection Against Nuclear Attack" reads, if you have to go outside put on a hat or headscarf, coat done up to neck, gloves and stout shoes or Wellington boots.

Wellington Boot in Fashion


  • 1850-51 American Reformer Ameila Bloomer wrote advocated women wear sensible coat-like frock worn over bloomers that should be tucked into soft leather wellingtons during the winter.
  • 1888 Playwright Oscar Wilde writes an article advocating women should wear Wellington boots to give them more freedom.

  • Princess Anne commissioned the Hunter boot company to make her a pair of bespoke Black Hunters.


  • 1980 Lady Diana Spencer was photographed in a pair of Green Hunters sparking a surge in sales.


  • 2009 Hunter have combined labels with Jimmy Choo producing the most elegant Wellingtons on earth.



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Thursday 21 May 2009

Festival Guide for Glasto


The Sunday Times published a Festival Guide on survival tips, including why you need a bicycle pump, read the full article by Rebecca Nicholson. Helpful hints to anyone planning to attend one of the major music even this Summer.

To anyone who has been to Glastonbury, taking a set of Wellies is sound advice. Even if the forecast is for sunny weather don't leave things to chance. Should you be one of the few who risk not taking your wellies, Glasto use a charity called Festival Medical Services who provide medical treatment and advice. Last year they saw up to 90 cases of Trench Foot a day. Most cases of Trench Foot involved a festival-goer who came in trainer, flip-flops, or walking boots, who got their feet wet and continued to wear their soggy footwear.


In 2008 Hunter launched their Festival Boot, designed with the British muddy festival-goers in mind. Hunters are worn by many stars and celebrities from catwalk queen Kate Moss who wears the Black to Lily Allen who prefers Fuchsia, from Kelly Osbourne in Pumpkin to pop star Wil Young in Green are just a few. So remember as long as your Hunter Wellies are packed, some sort of rain mac, and sun screen, you will be fine. Dry feet are happy feet.
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How to Hunter Wellie Wang




Wellie wanging or wellie throwing, is a popular British sport held in villages across Britain and is used as a fund raising event. Competitors are required to hurl a Wellington boot, (Hunter Wellingtons being top choice) as far as possible within the boundary lines. The winner is the one who throws their Wellies the furthest within these boundaries.

Here you can find some commonly used wanging techniques listed below:

The one-handed wang- This is the most common technique, by which the competitor attempts to propel the boot as far as possible with the use of a single hand. This can be attempted wither right or left-handed. Usually moved in a back-and-forth motion repeatedly until enough momentum is built up to send the released boot on it's path.

The double-handed wang- The method of choice for those who happen to be in possession of a particularly large welly, such that both hands can fit around the head leaving enough of a gap to generate optimum propulsion. There is also, the possibility of wanging from between the legs, bent over at an angle, extending the back and bringing the boot through for release.

The Blind wang- Here, the competitor attempts to wang over his/her Head, whilst facing away from the finish line. This technique enables a large back swing, but has disadvantages too. Having the finish line out of sight for the duration of the throw. The competitor must also take care, that the welly does not fly straight up into the air and dropping onto the head of another competitor, or worse still, someone in the crowd.

Donating your unwanted Wellies for a fund raising event like Wellie Wanging is a good way to recycle them. Remember your old unwanted items might be junk to you but could be useful for someone else even someone in another country. Contact your local charities for advice on how you can throw a Wellie Wanging Charity Fund Raiser!

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A White Wedding with Hunter Wellies



A White Wedding in your Hunter Wellingtons some of you may ask, every year Hunters and Target receive hundreds of calls from brides-to-be scouring the market for a pair of plain White Wellies suitable for under their wedding dress. Sometimes it's because they are getting married on a beach or in a field at a festival-sometimes it's because they are marrying into a farming family- and other times it's just because they can't live with out their beloved wellies and why not?
This year the problem of what to pair with a white wedding dress has at long last been solved with the launch of the Hunter Original Wellington in White. They are perfect for all weather conditions and guarantee dry happy feet for that special day.
Don't forget your bridesmaids and flower girl, Hunter Wellies are available in both Adults and Kids in a massive range of colours from Silver, Gold, Iris, Red, Fuchsia to name a few. So you will have no problem matching their dresses!


Would you like more information email us on sales@targetwholesale.co.uk

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Hunter Wellingtons and The Royal Horticultural Society

Hunter Wellingtons and Royal Horticultural Society

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) was founded in 1804 in London, England and granted a Royal Charter by Prince Albert in 1861. It is a charity and exists to promote gardening and horticulture in Britain and Europe. This is done through a series of flower shows at Wisley Garden, near the village of Wisley in Surrey; Rosemoor in Devon; Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The most famous RHS flower show is the annual Chelsea Flower Show, held each year on five days in May the most famous gardening event in the world and part of London's summer social season.






As every gardener knows the British weather can be temperamental at the best of times so it is no surprise about Hunters latest boot collaboration, which features a beautiful range of designs inspired by the society's botanical art archive. They feature fresh prints and patterns from artists including Lilian Selling (who was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1955), Georg Dionysius Ehret, Emily Sartain, and Augusta Innes Withers.


These boots have been made with the gardener in mind and designed especially for the Royal Horticultural Society. The RHS Hunters come in a Tall Original, Short, and Clog perfect for keeping at the back door for impromptu errands outside or a spot of light gardening whatever the time of year. Check them out on http://www.targetwholesale.co.uk/
Like to read about Wellies http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1566241

Sunday 3 May 2009

Hunter Wellingtons Giving Welly


Hunter Wellington Boots first launched their Original Hunters Wellingtons in the winter of 1954-1955, 36 pairs were sold. To help celebrate this 50th birthday, Hunter has launched the "Giving Welly" campaign - a unique initiative designed to help a consortium of 7 charities raise funds from the sale of 7 special coloured Hunter boots. Through buying this Hunter Wellington boot, you not only get to help these special charities but to experience the hand-made comfort the Hunter wearers have enjoyed for the past 50 years. £200,000 raised so far from the sale of these coloured wellington boots.

Here is a little information about the seven charities involved;

The British Lung Foundation is to benefit from the sale of the Red Hunter Wellingtons. Lung disease is the second biggest killer in the UK, killing nearly 3,000 people every week. British Lung Foundation is the only UK charity working for people with every kind of lung disease including asthma, COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), CF, lung cancer and RSV (which affects children). The charity provides information, offers support through its local groups and finds research into all lung diseases. For further information call 0207 6885555.

Breast Cancer Haven is to benefit from the sale of the Pink Hunter Wellingtons. Founded in 1997, Breast Cancer Haven is committed to creating a network of Havens for people affected by the illness. Any man or woman living with breast cancer and their families are welcome at a Haven where they will be offered free information, advice, counselling and a wide range of complementary therapies to help them through what is inevitably a difficult and often frightening time. For further information on Breast Cancer Haven call 0207 73840000.

The Countryside Foundation for Education is to benefit from the sale of the Green Hunter Wellingtons. The CFE is one of the country's leading educational charities with two key related aims: 'Bringing the Countryside into the Classroom' by producing high quality educational resource materials for primary and secondary schools, available free of charge from their web site www.countrysidefoundation.org.uk. The second aim is 'Bringing the Classroom into the Countryside' by an annual programme of one and two-day events taking place at over 40 locations throughout England.

The Woodland Trust is to benefit from the sales of the Aubergine Hunter Wellingtons. The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. For over 30 years they have been conserving, restoring and creating native woodland. The Trust currently owns and manages over 1,100 woods, all freely open to the public. In the last 10 years, they have planted over five million native trees involving local communities. In the next 5 years they will be giving every child the chance to put on their wellies and plant trees as part of a nationwide campaign, creating new woodland for future generations. For further information on the Woodland Trust call 0800 026 9650.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is to benefit from the sales of the lovely bright Yellow Hunter Wellingtons. Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing totally free, giving terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. There are thousands of Marie Curie Nurses nationwide, caring for patients in their own homes for a full working day or night shift. Their presence allows patients to remain at home when they might otherwise have gone into a hospital or hospice. For further information on Marie Curie Cancer Care, call 0800 716 146.

The British Horse Society is to benefit from sales of the Black Hunter Wellingtons. The British Horse Society (BHS) is the UK's largest and most influential equestrian charity. The BHS campaigns tirelessly in the areas of; equine welfare, horse and rider safety, access and off-road riding, training and education and riding school and livery yard approval. The BHS relies heavily on membership subscriptions and donations to fund its vital work and currently has membership of nearly 60,000. For further information call 08701 202 244.

The Rainbow Trust Children's Charity is to benefit from sales of the cheerful Powder Blue Hunter Wellingtons. The Rainbow Trust Children's Charity provides practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. Through their teams of family support workers and at their two respite homes in Northumberland and Surrey, they help over 1,000 families each year with individually tailored support. They are fully dependent upon voluntary contributions to maintain and develop their vital work. For further information call 0870 777 20 77.
The Game Conservancy Trust is to benefit from sales of the Navy Hunter Wellingtons. The Game Conservancy Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which conducts research on game, associated species and their habitats. It receives no statutory funding but has 22,000 members. The Trust headquarters are at Fordingbridge in Hampshire and it has a smaller base in Scotland near Perth. It also has research stations around the country and a demonstration farm in Leicestershire. For further information call 01425 652 381.
You can purchase any of these colours cheaper from http://www.targetwholesale.co.uk/