Materials and Making

Many of the plastic derivatives that we take for granted today like polythene, PVC and vinyl, were first introduced from the middle 1960s, and before that date, only celophane had been used, largely for packaging. In clothing, these new materials were admired for being modern, sleek and progressive, particularly suited to use for outerwear. PVC raincoats and handbags, plain or printed with striking patterns were an obvious feature of the later 1960s, as were vinyl boots. Half boots in cream or white vinyl were retailed by Mary Quant and Andre Courreges to be worn with space age mini-dresses; children got brightly coloured wellington boots instead of boring black rubber which had been used since the beginning of the twentieth century.

This pair of scarlet boots for a child aged about 4 or 5, and made by Dunlop, dates from the late 1970s, about ten years after the first vinyl pairs were introduced.

Full item descriptions:

"wellington boots" [1985.289], Dunlop

Related Themes:

Women's Boots
1970s Fashion