fotocommunity Blog COM

UGG BOOTS

Ugg boots，This article is about the type of footwear. For the brand known as “UGG”, see UGG Australia.

Ugg boots (sometimes called uggs) are unisex sheepskin boots, made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside and with a tanned outer surface, often with a synthetic sole. Ugg boots are believed to have been first developed in New Zealand or Australia, although the exact date is uncertain.

There has been a dispute between manufacturers of ugg boots, as to whether “ugg” is a generic term and thus ineligible for trademark protection, especially in the region of origin. Deckers Outdoor Corporation holds the UGG trademark in more than 100 countries worldwide. Notable exceptions are Australia and New Zealand where the term is considered generic.

History：ugg boots cheap

The origins of the ugg boot style are disputed, with both Australia and New Zealand claiming to have been the origin of the footwear. Nevertheless, it appears that “fug boots” (thought to be a shortened form of “flying ugg boots”) were used by aviators during World War I, and that they were present in rural Australia during the 1920s. While it is not clear when manufacturing started, by 1933 ugg boots were being manufactured by Blue Mountains Ugg Boots, and Mortels Sheepskin Factory were making the boots from the late 1950s.

In regard to naming, it appears that ugg boots, ugh boots and ug boots have been used as generic terms for sheepskin boots in Australia and New Zealand since at least the 1970s, although individual accounts have suggested that the terms (or variations thereof) were employed earlier. The 1970s saw the emergence of advertising using the names, but Brian Smith, (who founded Ugg Holdings Inc), has stated that the boots were referred to as “uggs” long before the word was trademarked, The Mortel Skeepskin Factory has been making ugg boots since 1958 with Frank Mortel claiming he named them Ugg boots after his wife commented that the first pair he made were “ugly”.

In the 1960s, ugg boots became a popular option for competitive surfers, who used the boots to keep their feet warm after exiting from the surf. Surfing helped popularise the boots outside Australia and New Zealand, when surfer Brian Smith started selling the boots in the United States through the company Ugg Holdings, Inc. in 1979. After this was sold to Deckers Outdoor Corporation in 1995, ugg boots emerged as a fashion trend in the United States through Deckers’ promotion of their brand, with celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Pamela Anderson wearing the boots, (although Anderson renounced ugg boots in 2007 upon realising that they were made from animal skin). Deckers’ actions to promote their product “led to an exponential growth in the brand’s popularity and recognizability.” Deckers has reported sales of US$689 million under the UGG brand in 2008, an increase from US$14.5 million in 1995.

Design：Ugg boots are made from sheepskins with fleece attached. The fleece is tanned into the leather and the boot is assembled with the fleece on the inside. The soles of the boots are made from rubber, and the stitching is often prominent on the outside of the boot. The fleece draws away moisture, keeping the feet dry and at body temperature. Today they come in a variety of colours, including black, pink, blue, chestnut, and fuchsia. They are available in both slip-on and lace-up varieties and their height can range from just above the ankle to above the knee.

Ugg boots often have a synthetic sole, although this is not universal. They are available in a range of different colours as both slip-on and lace-up varieties, and they are produced by a number of manufacturers. The natural insulative properties of sheepskin gives thermostatic properties to the boots: the thick fleecy fibers on the inner part of the boots allow air to circulate and keep the feet at body temperature. This means that ugg boots can be worn without socks even in relatively cold weather.

Some variations of ugg style boots have also been made from kangaroo fur and leather. There are also synthetic boots. Although derided as “fake” by some in the industry, their lower price made them appealing to large retail chains such as Myer.