As the autumn equinox signals the official beginning of a new season, the UK begins its transformation. The air turns crisp, daylight slowly fades, leaves shift from green to shades of amber and gold, and familiar walking routes become scattered with fallen leaves and muddy puddles.
It is also the time of year when I always bring my Hunter boots back out for weekend walks. Both my ankle boots and short wellies are already waiting by the door, ready for dog walks, woodland adventures and the Halloween and Christmas trails that fill the months ahead.
The timing could not be more fitting, as few fashion pairings feel as instinctive as Kate Moss and a pair of Hunter wellies. Now, more than two decades after the model transformed the practical countryside boot into a festival essential, the two British icons have reunited to celebrate Hunter’s 170th anniversary.
Founded in 1856, Hunter has spent almost two centuries creating products designed for life outdoors. At the centre of its story is the Original Tall Wellington Boot: a functional design that has travelled far beyond the field to become a symbol of British style.
Moss played an unforgettable role in that evolution. Long before an official partnership existed, she made Hunter’s Original Tall Wellington Boots part of her off-duty wardrobe, inspiring countless festival looks in the process.
“I’ve been a loyal fan of Hunter for years, ever since the festival where I wore them with way too short shorts and a waistcoat,” Moss recalls. “I was just about to leave the house and heard it was already knee high in mud in the fields. I went to my trusted Hunter wellies in my closet. They were black and were tighter to the leg and they were waterproof. Bingo!”
Iconic by Nature
That relationship comes full circle with Iconic by Nature, Hunter’s new global Autumn/Winter 2026 campaign starring Moss.
Rooted in the landscapes and countryside culture that have shaped Hunter since its beginnings, the campaign brings the brand’s utilitarian heritage together with Moss’s unmistakably effortless style. The imagery celebrates individuality and instinct, honouring Hunter’s past while introducing its next chapter through a distinctly modern lens.
“Hunter has never had to choose between its heritage and cultural relevance. The two have always been connected,” says Stefani Fleurant, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Sport and Lifestyle at Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Hunter brand.
“Kate embodies that in a way few people can. Her relationship with Hunter began organically more than two decades ago and became part of the brand’s story. Bringing her into our 170th anniversary is both a celebration of that history and a statement about where Hunter is going next.”
Launching globally on 25 September across digital, social, retail and out-of-home platforms, the campaign anchors Hunter’s anniversary celebrations and sets the tone for the future of the brand.
A British Original Returns
The anniversary continues with Hunter’s Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, which brings together heritage icons, contemporary design and technical innovation.
Leading the European collection is the 170th Anniversary Original Tall Wellington Boot in Hunter Green. A faithful recreation of the first Original Tall, the commemorative design returns in the brand’s earliest green colourway and is finished with bespoke gold hardware and an original heritage badge bearing the words “Since 1856.”
The wider collection has been curated around three defining pillars: Heritage, Contemporary and Innovation. Represented through the Originals, Downpour and Elements collections, each one reflects a different chapter in Hunter’s past, present and future.
Alongside the anniversary boot, the European offering includes the Downpour Tall Boot and Elements Neoprene Chelsea Boot in black. The footwear is joined by outerwear including the Original Women’s Waterproof Tartan Jacket, Unisex Downpour Izzy PU Hooded Jacket and Elements Lemhi Sonic Welded PU Puffer Jacket.
In the United States and Canada, Hunter’s familiar design codes are reinterpreted through new textures and silhouettes. The Original Tall Wellington Boot in Black Croc appears alongside the Giania Chocolate Brown Waterproof Suede Tall Boot and the Maribel Puffy Snow Bootie in brown. Outerwear and sportswear, including the Bex Signature Hunting Jacket with PU Collar and Harrington Zip, extend the Hunter wardrobe beyond its famous boots.
After 170 years, Hunter’s appeal lies in its ability to remain unmistakably itself while continuing to evolve. With Kate Moss returning to the centre of its story at the beginning of autumn, Iconic by Nature celebrates the people, products and defining moments that transformed a practical outdoor boot into an enduring cultural icon.
Hunter’s Autumn/Winter 2026 collection is available now at hunterboots.co.uk.
