Ugg Boots - AKA Ug, Ugh and Uggs!

Ugg boots are beautiful sheepskin boots that originally became popular in Australia and New Zealand. They are often lined in wool and have either a leather or a synthetic sole. They can be worn in the house as slippers, or worn outside.

In recent years they have attained haute couture status and have become "de rigeur" for A list stars of film and TV including Britney Spears, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alesha Dixon (Strictly Come Dancing), Oprah and Mel Gibson.
Did you know?
  • Ugg boots are called "googoougha" in aboriginal.
  • Ugg boots are made of sheepskin and have been popular in Australia and New Zealand since before the First World War.
Where can I buy Uggs / Ugs / Ughs ?

Uggs / Ugs / Ughs / Ug Boots and Slippers (phew!) are available from a number of stores in the UK.

Do you want to go shopping online for Uggs? Do you want to see hundreds of different pairs from sites in the UK, all categorized by brand?

Oh go on then, click Ugg Boots Datafeed to see the huge range that are currently on sale from a variety of UK based websites. You really can't beat a lovely pair of designer jeans tucked in to a pair of Uggs for a stylish look this Winter. You can also buy designer shoes.

 
Who makes Ugg Boots?

There are several manufacturers and retailers of Ugg Boots. These include:

The brand "Ugg Boots" was trademarked but this trademark has been disputed - see below.
 
 
Ugg Slippers
  • Ugg slippers are beautifully warm and cosy. There are styles of Ugg slippers for men, women, and children so the entire family can be very comfortable in them. They also offer a wide variety of styles so you can be sure to get something you like the look and feel of.
  • Some types of slippers tend to fall apart as they aren’t well made. You won’t have that experience with any pair of Ugg slippers though. They are very well made so you can always expect them to last a very long time. In fact, most children end up outgrowing a pair of Ugg slippers before they wear them out!
  • One of the many complaints people have about slippers is that they don’t offer enough support for the feet. Many brands of Ugg slippers feature backs on them so you can get the support you are looking for. Other pairs are open in the back so that you can just slip them on and off.
  • There are basic types of Ugg slippers offered as well as some that are very dressy. Some people like to look good even when they are relaxing at home. If you often have company then a nicer pair of Ugg slippers will likely help you to feel more at ease around them in your pajamas when morning rolls around.
  • You will find Ugg slippers featured at many great shoe stores around the world. They aren’t just found in Australia where they originated from. You can also buy them from several sites online. This is very convenient if you don’t have a shoe store in your area that sells Ugg slippers. I will warn you though it can be very difficult to decide on which pair you want. You may have to buy two of them just so you can’t keep yourself happy.
  • They are much more affordable than you might think so give them a try. You won’t be disappointed when you place your feet into a pair of Ugg slippers. They will offer you plenty of comfort and if you need support as well this is the brand of slipper for you.
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The Ugg Boot Trademark War

Originally, the trademarked term "Ugh-Boot" and similar terms were trademarked by Shane Stedman in 1971. These trademarks were subsequently sold to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, a large company based in the United States, who subsequently also registered terms including "Ugg Austalia".

At the same time, Deckers started to take legal action against the Australian companies for using their (newly) trademarked term. The irony of this was that the Deckers "Ugg Australia" boots were actually manufactured in China!

Following retaliatory legal action by Uggs-N-Rugs, an Australian company, the terms ug, ugg and ugh boots have all been removed from the register of Australian trademarks, and their generic use is allowed once more. Ian Thomson, the Delegate of the Registrar of Trade Marks in Australia stated "the evidence overwhelmingly supports the proposition that the terms UGH BOOT(S), UG BOOT(S) and UGG BOOT(S) are interchangeably used to describe a specific style of sheepskin boot and are the first and most natural way in which to describe these goods which should innocently come to the minds of people making this particular style of sheepskin boot."

It is interesting to note that Deckers have taken to cybersquatting by registering the domain uggsnrugs.com for themselves.

Whilst Deckers have allowed this decision to stand in Australia, they still hold the associated trade marks in the US and EU. However, holding the trademark to a generic name is something that I believe would be difficult to uphold in a court. As indicated by the Registrar of trademarks in Australia, when people refer to Uggs they are usually referring to a style of Australian sheepskin boot, not a Chinese import!