A History of the Ugg Boot: When Comfort Meets Trendiness

There still are fashion people that will call the Ugg the industry’s “fat and ugly uncle”: you’re ashamed to be seen with him, but you miss him terribly when he’s gone. That alone is proof that this boot is one of the most comfortable, even if less stylish, piece of footwear ever to go mainstream.

The Uggs, contrary to what some fashionistas may believe, have been around for centuries. In fact, photos show pilots in WWII wearing something called “fugs,” as in “flying uggs.”

Originating from Australia and New Zeeland, the Uggs (brand name UGG in the US), is a sheepskin boot, usually with visible stitching, and fleece on the inside, which is precisely what makes it so incredibly popular.

Its name seems to derive from “ugly,” but there are also some who suggest it comes from the way it “hugs” the leg, keeping it at just the right temperature.

It goes back, as noted above, for a couple of hundred years and was initially used by people doing outdoor activities (like shepherds), because, besides being very comfortable, it’s also perfect for almost all types of weather, bar heavy rains.

In Australia, for instance, it became very popular with competitive surfers in the ‘60s, as they used it to keep their feet warm when not in water.

The amazing thing about the Ugg is that it keeps temperature constant regardless of weather conditions, which means the foot remains perfectly warm on blistering cold and scorching heat.

Worn with socks in the winter and without socks in the summer, it’s perfect, though the latter option can lead to bad odors with time.



This would also explain why countless celebrities have been spotted wearing Uggs at the beach or in the sunny California weather, while out running errands and wearing close to no clothes.

However, until the ’90s, the Ugg was just a generic term by which this traditional boot was known in the above-mentioned two territories.

It was in 1979 when Australian surfer Brian Smith took the Ugg over to America, which prompted Deckers Outdoor Corporation to buy it and state that the term was to be used no longer without violation of copyright.

As of now, by UGG, we understand the boot made in the US, while Uggs are all sheepskin boots made by the traditional design in Australia and New Zeeland.

Once Smith brought the boot to the US and it was picked up by Deckers, celebrities were all wearing it – and it went mainstream.

Suddenly, this ugly boot that no one had even considered for a more formal outing, was popular.



Pamela Anderson was actually the first to sport a pair, being now considered (much to her chagrin) the one who set the trend, when she was photographed by the paparazzi in her trademark “Baywatch” suit and a pair of Ugg boots.

It wasn’t until many years later that she learned that animal skin was used in the making of the boots, which is when she decided to renounce it – or call for a version that would not see any animals harmed to make it.

Anderson is not the only one to have jumped on the Ugg bandwagon either: stylish celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Megan Fox (among many others), have also been seen wearing it.



What’s even better, the Ugg is not just for women, which virtually makes it the strongest competitor in the footwear market. Because it’s basically shapeless, it’s unisex – and has proved it’s just as popular with men as it’s with women.

In recent years, though, the Ugg has strayed from tradition a bit in order to become appealing to a wider range of consumers.

It no longer comes just in neutral colors, since more “girlie” shades of blue, pink or green have also been added. The Ugg also comes with patterns now, or more sophisticated stitching.

Moreover, the length can vary as well, which, again, makes it extremely versatile and suitable for all types of weather and dressing styles.

The only thing that must be remembered when buying a pair of Uggs is never to settle for less. Counterfeit boots that are not actually Uggs do not have the same qualities as noted above and can even cause health issues, as we also noted a while back.

In conclusion, men, women, children – everybody and their mother – wear Uggs. Fashion critics may still frown upon it when it comes to how stylish these boots are, but nothing of what they say can outweigh their amazing popularity – and it’s all down to how comfortable they are.