Pretty much everyone can identify a pair of UGG boots from a mile away with their classic silhouette and bold colors. It's probably safe to assume that you've even owned a pair of UGGs at one point or another. They are comfortable and functional, so what's not to love? Scroll through to learn some interesting facts about one of the world's most popular boot brands.
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Although UGG boots are closely associated with cold weather, their story began on a beach in Southern California. In 1978, Brian Smith arrived in California with a bunch of sheepskin boots and began selling them under the branded name UGG. By the mid-1980s, you could find UGG boots in just about every surf shop along the coast. Before long, they were appearing even after summer was over in ski shops and lodges.
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The UGG brand became all about the active and lifestyle brand. Those who wore UGG boots embraced sports, yet they knew how to relax. By the end of the 90s, UGGs were being worn by celebrities and people were truly seeing UGG as a symbol of a “casual lifestyle.”
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In 2000, UGG Sheepskin boots were featured for the first time ever on Oprah’s Favorite Things. Once Oprah declared how much she loved her UGG boots, the world began to love them just as much. Since then, UGGs have been featured on Oprah's list eight times!
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By the mid-2000s, UGG was taking the fashion world by storm. UGG advertisements were now in the pages of Vogue magazine and celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Sarah Jessica Parker, Blake Lively and more were seen pictured wearing UGG boots in their downtime. Because of this, UGG released the first-ever color variations on their classic sheepskin boots and slippers.
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UGG only uses sheepskin from farmers who raise sheep primarily for their meat. “According to the American Sheep Industry Association, about 90% of the value of a sheep is the meat with about 10% of the value in the sheepskin. UGG believes that no sheep should ever be raised for their sheepskin alone,” it states on the company website.
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Counterfeit UGGs are a huge problem for the company. A pair of counterfeit UGG Classic boots will sell for an average of $100. In fact, the problem is so large that UGG has acted against 60,000 counterfeit websites and law enforcement has seized over 1 million UGG products globally from 2011-2014.
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UGG is recognized as a premium luxury brand selling more than $1 billion annually. Although UGGs are known for boots, the company also sells home products, outerwear, handbags, and more.
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