International holidays - Birthday of rubber galoshes

Every year on February 4, a very unusual holiday is celebrated all over the world - the birthday of rubber galoshes Why shoe covers are needed is known to every schoolchild Expensive boots, elegant shoes and boots are a pity to wear even today, in the era of excess consumption And when these shoes are the only ones in your wardrobe? Walking through dirty puddles in it is a sheer waste Unfortunately, paved walkways and storm drains are relatively new developments Even in megacities, during inclement weather, real horror was happening on the roads - and naturally, first of all, shoes suffered from moisture Therefore, the creation of galoshes became expected, or more precisely, a necessary event Controversies among fashion trendsetters about the history of their appearance continue to this day There are many versions, of which only two have the right to exist One says people should thank Americans The Indians used rubber that hardened on their feet as a kind of footwear The roofs of houses were also covered with molten tree sap with additives so that atmospheric phenomena would not interfere with everyday life After the discovery of America, European residents became interested in the unique qualities of rubber and soon organized the export of the ancestors of galoshes Adherents of another version believe that the creator of covers for protecting shoes is a British man named Radley, who lived in the early 19th century This man was a true book lover, and once saw in Caesar's work on the Gallic war a mention of convenient shoe cases called Galicae “Galiche” was used by the Gauls to escape bad weather on numerous campaigns The find inspired Mr Radley so much that in 1803 he filed a patent for covers made from coarse material soaked in rubber extract Such raw materials were not wear-resistant: the frosty air made them fragile, and the heat melted them When exposed to the sun's heat, the shoes began to emit a disgusting odor By the middle of the 19th century, the whole world became aware of the name of the American who created the method of vulcanizing rubber and invented rubber It was Charles Goodyear The enterprising businessman earned a huge fortune, and galoshes, which were not afraid of either severe cold or tropical heat, became incredibly popular in Russia At the same time, only wealthy people or peasants could purchase rubber cases from generous owners As Count Komarovsky said, galoshes placed on shoes “elevate the serf above the level of the rest of the villagers Thus, the myth of galoshes as shoes for ordinary people was successfully debunked - only city dwellers with good incomes used comfortable covers Often, galoshes were worn unnecessarily - simply to demonstrate one’s wealth and sense of excellent taste In the 1860s, joint Russian-American factories for the production of rubber products were opened in our country One of the enterprises (“Triangle”) survived until the 20th century During Soviet times it was called the “Red Triangle” It would seem that rubber galoshes, which had sunk into the past, unexpectedly even today attracted the interest of fashion historians, and then ordinary consumers Indeed, in some Russian regions the weather often brings “surprises”, forcing you to think about what shoes to wear Modern materials, innovative technologies and production methods make it possible to turn unsightly galoshes into a stylish, bright accessory And February 4th is an excellent occasion to pay tribute to their creators