The History of the Australian Ugg Boot Company
Stephanie Larkin asked:
The history of Ugg Shoes-Australia correlates with the long tradition of the Australian people depending on heavy duty sheepskin boots for their farming and rugged outdoor activities. For 200 years, Australians referred to their 100% merino sheepskin boots as “ugs”, short for “ugly.” By the early 1970’s, several sheepskin boot manufacturing plants had been constructed around the Australian city of Perth.
Located near this city were popular surfing beaches, where surfers adapted the Ugg boots for year-round use. The insulating properties of fleece kept feet warm in winter, and in summer, it absorbed perspiration. With a cozy feel and form-fitting style, Uggs provided sock-like comfort while walking over rough or slippery terrain. Gradually, Uggs reached from the West Coast to the surfing communities of Australia’s East Coast, and then were carried into skiing communities by surfers who enjoyed both sports. When Brian Smith, a native Australian surfer visited the U.S in the late 1970’s, he brought Uggs with him.
After realizing the popularity of Uggs within the California surfing community, he decided to develop and market the sheepskin footwear. His conceptual idea came to fruition in 1978. Mr. Smith obtained a trademark for the term Ugg-and it is believed that he also obtained variations on the spelling-such as Ug and Ugh.
In 1995, Mr. Smith sold all rights of Ugg Holding to a Californian company by the name of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Upon the purchase, Deckers acquired the Ugg trademark name for 24 countries and began utilizing the name of Ugg-Australia. However, the production of the sheepskin boots was transferred to China in a move to lower production costs.
Within a few years, the Ugg Shoes-Australia product line included a couple of boot styles and four models of slippers, as well as a few casual shoes. The concurrent marketing and advertising campaigns undertaken by Deckers positioned Ugg footwear as luxury items, and, as such, international celebrities were soon seen in them. When the rich and famous began donning Ugg sheepskin boots, worldwide sales were ignited. Nordstrom became a supplier for Ugg Shoes-Australia, supported by high-end fashion magazines. In 2000, Ugg’s Ultra boots were sent to television talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who purchased 350 pairs to for employees. She later focused shows around the Ugg Classic and Uptown boots, and her efforts and endorsements brought introduced the Ugg name to Middle America. Thus began an increased sales trend. Ugg Shoes-Australia received an award from Footwear News in 2003 as “Brand of the Year”, and became noticeable at designer fashion shows in major cosmopolitan fashion centers.
The boot that could have once been considered dowdy due to its bulk and shape is now viewed as sexy and fashionable. Uggs are no longer just a household name in Australia, but across the globe, and sales have tripled within the last two years. With some styles costing over $444 or 300 Euros a pair, Uggs appeals to those who wish to be known for their financial success and recognition of high quality and workmanship.
Unfortunately, some groups feel that the name Ugg should not be considered a brand name, but simply a generic term representing a boot, just as the words sneaker or trainer refer to an athletic or tennis shoe. This is currently the basis for some debate between Decker and other providers of sheepskin boots. The Australian sheepskin trade claims to have lost $20 million as a result of not being allowed to use the generic word Ugg in their media or internet advertising.
In fact, one group, the Sheepskin Association, enlisted a campaign termed “Save our Aussie icon” in its pursuit of having the trademark cancelled. It may be difficult. Even the Macquarie dictionary, which sets standards for Australian English, uses the trademark that Deckers acquired, in its definition of Ugg. By now, many lovers of Ugg boots equate the term with Ugg Shoes-Australia or Deckers, as well as the warm and comfortable features offered in their production. Unfortunately, similar footwear, knockoff styles and fake Uggs are becoming more numerous.
Yet it seems that the buying public is more concerned about the availability and selection of additional, authentic Ugg-Australia products. Since early 2007, Ugg’s share price has increased ten times, and it is estimated that 2008 sales will exceed $45 million. This is based on Ugg-Australia’s announcement that it will expand into a line of handbags as well as other leather goods. There is even speculation that Uggs may add a line of warm-weather styles, which will certainly cement Ugg Shoes-Australia’s position as one of the leaders in fashion footwear.
The history of Ugg Shoes-Australia correlates with the long tradition of the Australian people depending on heavy duty sheepskin boots for their farming and rugged outdoor activities. For 200 years, Australians referred to their 100% merino sheepskin boots as “ugs”, short for “ugly.” By the early 1970’s, several sheepskin boot manufacturing plants had been constructed around the Australian city of Perth.
Located near this city were popular surfing beaches, where surfers adapted the Ugg boots for year-round use. The insulating properties of fleece kept feet warm in winter, and in summer, it absorbed perspiration. With a cozy feel and form-fitting style, Uggs provided sock-like comfort while walking over rough or slippery terrain. Gradually, Uggs reached from the West Coast to the surfing communities of Australia’s East Coast, and then were carried into skiing communities by surfers who enjoyed both sports. When Brian Smith, a native Australian surfer visited the U.S in the late 1970’s, he brought Uggs with him.
After realizing the popularity of Uggs within the California surfing community, he decided to develop and market the sheepskin footwear. His conceptual idea came to fruition in 1978. Mr. Smith obtained a trademark for the term Ugg-and it is believed that he also obtained variations on the spelling-such as Ug and Ugh.
In 1995, Mr. Smith sold all rights of Ugg Holding to a Californian company by the name of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Upon the purchase, Deckers acquired the Ugg trademark name for 24 countries and began utilizing the name of Ugg-Australia. However, the production of the sheepskin boots was transferred to China in a move to lower production costs.
Within a few years, the Ugg Shoes-Australia product line included a couple of boot styles and four models of slippers, as well as a few casual shoes. The concurrent marketing and advertising campaigns undertaken by Deckers positioned Ugg footwear as luxury items, and, as such, international celebrities were soon seen in them. When the rich and famous began donning Ugg sheepskin boots, worldwide sales were ignited. Nordstrom became a supplier for Ugg Shoes-Australia, supported by high-end fashion magazines. In 2000, Ugg’s Ultra boots were sent to television talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who purchased 350 pairs to for employees. She later focused shows around the Ugg Classic and Uptown boots, and her efforts and endorsements brought introduced the Ugg name to Middle America. Thus began an increased sales trend. Ugg Shoes-Australia received an award from Footwear News in 2003 as “Brand of the Year”, and became noticeable at designer fashion shows in major cosmopolitan fashion centers.
The boot that could have once been considered dowdy due to its bulk and shape is now viewed as sexy and fashionable. Uggs are no longer just a household name in Australia, but across the globe, and sales have tripled within the last two years. With some styles costing over $444 or 300 Euros a pair, Uggs appeals to those who wish to be known for their financial success and recognition of high quality and workmanship.
Unfortunately, some groups feel that the name Ugg should not be considered a brand name, but simply a generic term representing a boot, just as the words sneaker or trainer refer to an athletic or tennis shoe. This is currently the basis for some debate between Decker and other providers of sheepskin boots. The Australian sheepskin trade claims to have lost $20 million as a result of not being allowed to use the generic word Ugg in their media or internet advertising.
In fact, one group, the Sheepskin Association, enlisted a campaign termed “Save our Aussie icon” in its pursuit of having the trademark cancelled. It may be difficult. Even the Macquarie dictionary, which sets standards for Australian English, uses the trademark that Deckers acquired, in its definition of Ugg. By now, many lovers of Ugg boots equate the term with Ugg Shoes-Australia or Deckers, as well as the warm and comfortable features offered in their production. Unfortunately, similar footwear, knockoff styles and fake Uggs are becoming more numerous.
Yet it seems that the buying public is more concerned about the availability and selection of additional, authentic Ugg-Australia products. Since early 2007, Ugg’s share price has increased ten times, and it is estimated that 2008 sales will exceed $45 million. This is based on Ugg-Australia’s announcement that it will expand into a line of handbags as well as other leather goods. There is even speculation that Uggs may add a line of warm-weather styles, which will certainly cement Ugg Shoes-Australia’s position as one of the leaders in fashion footwear.
How to Recognize Fake Ugg Boots?
Clara Havisham asked:
A huge problem faced by many ugg lovers is to identify the perfect and best pair of uggs. Many small brands are imitating the real uggs because of their increasing popularity. Also many unauthorized brands are set to manufacture the fake uggs designed with cowhide or pig skin that may harm your skin. Therefore, you have to be careful while shopping for sheepskin boots. This article will help to save your dollars from shopping fake ugg boots.
Quality or real Ugg boots are designed with double-faced sheepskin that will ease your feet with comfort. Double faced sheepskin is a single layer of sheepskin maintaining its thermostatic nature with the inner as skin (plain) and the outer as fleece that keeps your feet warm in winter and cool in summer.
In order to lessen the price of uggs, some manufacturers are using single-faced material / pigskin instead of double-faced sheepskins. This will ultimately reduce the quality of ugg boots. But by looking closer you can find some tiny holes on the boot which states the boots are made of pig skin.
Be Careful while buying uggs:
• Usually, the stitching quality and the finishing design of the fake uggs is very meager when compared to the real ones. You can identify counterfeit boots by looking at the soles and logos. Soles of fake uggs are extremely rigid while the soles of the real ones are highly flexible.
• Genuine ugg boots are featured with much sheepskin fur inside the boots for fluffy appearance and warmth. Where as utility of ‘fur’ is quite less in fake ones and sometimes the fur seems to be slightly dull grey in color.
• The heel portion is much narrower in replicas than the genuine sheepskin boots.
• The shape of the front portion of the counterfeits is bit shorter while the front part of the real sheepskin boots has a rounder and longer finish.
• One can find UGG label on the back of the real ugg boots. The printing styles of letters on the label may differ or may have some gap in between the letters. In authentic boots, the letters will slightly overlap each other.
• Real ugg will have few Registered trademark symbols ® on its outsole whereas imitates lack this.
• If your elite choice is ugg classic tall / classic short, you should look at the bottom of the boot that contains the symbol ‘UGG’
• Authentic ugg boxes are strong and sturdy. Usually, the words “UGG Australia” are printed in the middle of the lid (top portion of box). Recent 2007 ugg’s boxes come in a flip top box.
• You can easily identify the replicas knowing its price. The cost of real boots is at least £140 (approx.). The price of ‘UGGS short’ and tall is at least £70 and £85 respectively.
A huge problem faced by many ugg lovers is to identify the perfect and best pair of uggs. Many small brands are imitating the real uggs because of their increasing popularity. Also many unauthorized brands are set to manufacture the fake uggs designed with cowhide or pig skin that may harm your skin. Therefore, you have to be careful while shopping for sheepskin boots. This article will help to save your dollars from shopping fake ugg boots.
Quality or real Ugg boots are designed with double-faced sheepskin that will ease your feet with comfort. Double faced sheepskin is a single layer of sheepskin maintaining its thermostatic nature with the inner as skin (plain) and the outer as fleece that keeps your feet warm in winter and cool in summer.
In order to lessen the price of uggs, some manufacturers are using single-faced material / pigskin instead of double-faced sheepskins. This will ultimately reduce the quality of ugg boots. But by looking closer you can find some tiny holes on the boot which states the boots are made of pig skin.
Be Careful while buying uggs:
• Usually, the stitching quality and the finishing design of the fake uggs is very meager when compared to the real ones. You can identify counterfeit boots by looking at the soles and logos. Soles of fake uggs are extremely rigid while the soles of the real ones are highly flexible.
• Genuine ugg boots are featured with much sheepskin fur inside the boots for fluffy appearance and warmth. Where as utility of ‘fur’ is quite less in fake ones and sometimes the fur seems to be slightly dull grey in color.
• The heel portion is much narrower in replicas than the genuine sheepskin boots.
• The shape of the front portion of the counterfeits is bit shorter while the front part of the real sheepskin boots has a rounder and longer finish.
• One can find UGG label on the back of the real ugg boots. The printing styles of letters on the label may differ or may have some gap in between the letters. In authentic boots, the letters will slightly overlap each other.
• Real ugg will have few Registered trademark symbols ® on its outsole whereas imitates lack this.
• If your elite choice is ugg classic tall / classic short, you should look at the bottom of the boot that contains the symbol ‘UGG’
• Authentic ugg boxes are strong and sturdy. Usually, the words “UGG Australia” are printed in the middle of the lid (top portion of box). Recent 2007 ugg’s boxes come in a flip top box.
• You can easily identify the replicas knowing its price. The cost of real boots is at least £140 (approx.). The price of ‘UGGS short’ and tall is at least £70 and £85 respectively.
Uggs Boots are for Everybody
Peter Clark asked:
Uggs boots are fast becoming a hot fashion item in the US and Canada, and for good reason. Ugg boots are wonderful Australian footwear that is making their presence felt in the worldwide fashion footwear arena.
Uggs boots are what are known by some as sheepskin boots. These boots have been made in Australia for tens if not hundreds of years, and are well known all over Australia. However now they are making an impact on foriegn markets.
An Ugg boot is made from the skin of an Australian merino sheep most commonly. The wool part of the skin faces into the inside of the boot and so lies against the leg. This results in a warm soft feel to the boot that is found only from wearing Uggs boots. The Ugg is unique in the level of comfort it offers to the wearer, and devotees of Uggs will maintain tenaciously that Uggs are the most comfortable boot on planet, unsurpassed by any other form of footwear.
The Ugg boot has the soft pliable skin of the sheep facing out as it has the woollen part of the skin facing in. This results in a soft outer or exterior skin to the boot that means that Uggs can be a little prone to damage and wear when used in wet weather or inclement, dirty or muddy conditions. The boot is not the most hard wearing of footwear, and so wearers of Uggs boots learn quickly that they need to use some discretion when selecting which day to wear their Uggs outdoors.
The sheepsking is usually sewn onto a plastic sole, and so the boot is not entirely waterproof. Water can enter around the sole, and although it is possible to buy Ugg waterproofing it is not a total solution. If you own a pair of Uggs it’s better to treat your boots with care and respect and understand that even the best Uggs are not ideal for hard outdoor use and will wear out and get dirty quite quickly if treated too harshly.
However once the limitations of the boot are recognised and the owner of a pair of Uggs learns to use some discretion for just when they are worn, a pair of Uggs will last quite well.
Ugs can be the most comfortable boot you will ever wear. The unique qualities of the sheepskin mean that they will keep your feet warm in even the coldest of weather, but that if you wear them in summer they will not overheat your foot. The sheepskin breathes extremely well and the air spaces formed next to your leg by the looseness of the wool means that your lower leg and foot will be comfortable in the boot even in warm weather.
And Uggs are great indoors where waterproofness isn’t an issue, and make wonderful house slippers. They can be bought in various lengths, so that you can get Uggs that come right up your lower leg to just below your knee, or ankly length Uggs that come up just above the ankle making ideal indoor slippers.
Over the last few years Uggs have become fashion footwear. They now come in all sorts of colors, styles and designs and are very popular in the US and Canada. Unfortunately this has resulted in Uggs becoming extremely expensive, with prices up to or over $500 a pair in some cases for the best of the best fashion boots.
It is possible to find cheaper Uggs but you need to be a canny online shopper to do so.
Anybody, from the very young to the very old, can enjoy a pair. It is quite possible to buy baby Uggs and they are ideal for the elderly who may suffer from poor circulation and cold feet. In both of these cases it may not matter so much about whether these wonderful sheepskin boots are fashionable or not, but in each case the wearer will love them.
Uggs boots are great footwear for anybody. From the very young to the very old a pair will be comfortable and enjoyable to wear, and for the fashion conscious they look great. Consider a pair of sheepskin boots for your next footwear purchased.
Uggs boots are fast becoming a hot fashion item in the US and Canada, and for good reason. Ugg boots are wonderful Australian footwear that is making their presence felt in the worldwide fashion footwear arena.
Uggs boots are what are known by some as sheepskin boots. These boots have been made in Australia for tens if not hundreds of years, and are well known all over Australia. However now they are making an impact on foriegn markets.
An Ugg boot is made from the skin of an Australian merino sheep most commonly. The wool part of the skin faces into the inside of the boot and so lies against the leg. This results in a warm soft feel to the boot that is found only from wearing Uggs boots. The Ugg is unique in the level of comfort it offers to the wearer, and devotees of Uggs will maintain tenaciously that Uggs are the most comfortable boot on planet, unsurpassed by any other form of footwear.
The Ugg boot has the soft pliable skin of the sheep facing out as it has the woollen part of the skin facing in. This results in a soft outer or exterior skin to the boot that means that Uggs can be a little prone to damage and wear when used in wet weather or inclement, dirty or muddy conditions. The boot is not the most hard wearing of footwear, and so wearers of Uggs boots learn quickly that they need to use some discretion when selecting which day to wear their Uggs outdoors.
The sheepsking is usually sewn onto a plastic sole, and so the boot is not entirely waterproof. Water can enter around the sole, and although it is possible to buy Ugg waterproofing it is not a total solution. If you own a pair of Uggs it’s better to treat your boots with care and respect and understand that even the best Uggs are not ideal for hard outdoor use and will wear out and get dirty quite quickly if treated too harshly.
However once the limitations of the boot are recognised and the owner of a pair of Uggs learns to use some discretion for just when they are worn, a pair of Uggs will last quite well.
Ugs can be the most comfortable boot you will ever wear. The unique qualities of the sheepskin mean that they will keep your feet warm in even the coldest of weather, but that if you wear them in summer they will not overheat your foot. The sheepskin breathes extremely well and the air spaces formed next to your leg by the looseness of the wool means that your lower leg and foot will be comfortable in the boot even in warm weather.
And Uggs are great indoors where waterproofness isn’t an issue, and make wonderful house slippers. They can be bought in various lengths, so that you can get Uggs that come right up your lower leg to just below your knee, or ankly length Uggs that come up just above the ankle making ideal indoor slippers.
Over the last few years Uggs have become fashion footwear. They now come in all sorts of colors, styles and designs and are very popular in the US and Canada. Unfortunately this has resulted in Uggs becoming extremely expensive, with prices up to or over $500 a pair in some cases for the best of the best fashion boots.
It is possible to find cheaper Uggs but you need to be a canny online shopper to do so.
Anybody, from the very young to the very old, can enjoy a pair. It is quite possible to buy baby Uggs and they are ideal for the elderly who may suffer from poor circulation and cold feet. In both of these cases it may not matter so much about whether these wonderful sheepskin boots are fashionable or not, but in each case the wearer will love them.
Uggs boots are great footwear for anybody. From the very young to the very old a pair will be comfortable and enjoyable to wear, and for the fashion conscious they look great. Consider a pair of sheepskin boots for your next footwear purchased.
