Guide Note

Ugg Boots are sheepskin boots that were originally popular in Australia and New Zealand, but have become a huge fashion trend in the United States. Made of Grade-A sheepkin, Uggs are known for their comfort and premium quality. Most recently the Ugg brand has ventured into leather boots and slippers.

Fast Facts

1. Created in 1978
2. Origin: Australia
3. Made of: Grade A Sheepskin and Poron memory foam
4. Early U.S. fans: Pamela Anderson, Kate Hudson, and Sienna Miller

History of the Ugg

In 1978 Australian surfer Brian Smith brought a bag of sheepskin boots to the states with the hopes of selling them. While surfers bought into the boot idea, it wasn't until 1995 that Deckers Outdoor Corporation helped create the Ugg Brand. By 1998, celebrities, as well as the mainstream, saw the boot as a high-end luxury item therefore becoming a hot sought after boot. The surge continued with Oprah Winfrey featured the Ugg Ultra Boot as one of "Oprah's Favorite Things" in 2000 and again in 2007, Oprah featured their latest Ugg Crochet Boots as a Hot Christmas item. For ten years the Ugg boot has remained a popular item in the U.S. with waiting lists to still purchase some of the more sought after styles.

Ugg-ly Controversy

In 2003 a trademark controversy unleashed itself when Deckers Outdoor Corporation launched legal threats against Australian manufacturers who used variant versions of the word Ugg to sell their products. Owners of a shop in Australia Uggs-N-Rugs fought the Decker company and won the removal of all Ugg Trademarks from the Australian Trademarks Registry. The Deckers company did not fight the decision, but still holds trademark in the U.S. and Europe. A 2006 documentary called The Good, The Bad, and the Ugg Boot covers the trademark issue.