Rubber barons: Weirdly fashionable and always functional rubber boots
Winter is the time of year when conversations turn to footwear with good traction on icy surfaces. Regardless of the season, however, rubber boots are popular with Southeasterners year-round. XtraTufs are now an emblem of belonging and identify the wearer as a bona fide outdoor Alaskan. The distinctive sole pattern, patented in 1972 by William Gottlieb of Davenport, Iowa, is believed to provide excellent stability on slick surfaces such as fishing boat decks, harbor docks and icy trails. Occasionally the boots are worn with the upper portion folded over to expose the liner and presumably make the wearer’s legs cooler. That interior exposure helped rubber boots become a fashion statement as well as essential footwear due to recent embellishment with designer linings. No longer just for working and playing, they have long been the preferred footwear for locals regardless of the weather. Occasionally they are worn in formal settings, even by brides on their wedding day. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:40
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