What is an Ugg Boot?

There is a lot of confusion over the origins of Ugg boots (also spelled Ug and Ugh), how they got their name and what the definition is. We hope to clear up some misconceptions!

There is no denying that Ugg boots are a uniquely Australian icon. In fact Australian sheepskin boots are rated second as the top Aussie icon, behind Kylie Minogue and ahead of Steve Irwin (ref. ninemsn.com).

The Definitions

• The Macquarie Dictionary (1981) defines the term ug boot as being a fleecy lined boot with an untanned upper.
• The New Shorter Oxford Dictionary (1993) defines the term ugg as indicating a kind of soft sheepskin boot.
• The Dinkum Dictionary (1988) defines the term ug boot as indicating a boot made of sheepskin with the fleece on the inside lining. The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English (1982) defines the terms ug boot and ugg boot as a fleecy-lined boot with untanned upper.
• The Oxford English Dictionary Online (2004) gives ug, ugg and ugh as being a proprietory name for a type of soft sheepskin boot.

There are a few ideas as to the when the first Ugg boots appeared. Some suggest that during WWI and WWII, pilots would use sheepskin boots to keep warm in cold, non-pressurized aircraft. It has been said that these boots may have been called “Fug” boots. The boots used at this time had a very different appearance.

According to Australian folk law, the first Ugg boot made it’s appearance in the Bells Beach area in Victoria, Australia (about 1.5 hours from Melbourne), during the 1960′s. It was a group of young surfer boys looking for a purely practical solution to cold feet after surfing. They had access in the local region to sheepskins and so they very roughly sewed together these sheepskins to construct primitive looking, but very comfortable and warm footwear. The sheepskins had a natural “wicking” effect to remove moisture, as well as anti-bacterial properties, which no doubt would have helped the smelly surfer boys!

Australians are known for giving nick-names and then shortening and contorting those names beyond recognition. The Ugg boot was first given the nickname Uggly Boots, because their appearance was considered undesirable. This was soon shortened to Uggs and since then the name “Ugg” has become a familiar term in Australia and New Zealand.

Today sheepskin boots are manufactured by many companies from small tanneries, to surf companies, to large corporations. Most have improved synthetic soles to make them a comfortable walking shoe, extending their use beyond slouching at home or on the beach after a surf. The popularity of sheepskin boots has also vastly increased in the last decade; in particular due to celebrities and fashion labels finding favour with our beloved Ugg boot. Personalities who are known to wear sheepskin boots include Paris Hilton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pamela Anderson, Drew Barrymore, Sienna Miller, Britney Spears, Jessica Biel, Kate Winslet and many more (visit our Celeb Spotting Blog to see Celebrities wearing Ugg Boots).

A company called Deckers purchased and registered various trademarks referring to Ugg, Ug, Ugh and Ugh-Boot. Deckers sells a brand called “Australian Ugg’s”, which are manufactured in China. Deckers, an American company recently threatened legal action against various Australian manufacturers for using the trademarks which they own. A legal decision was reached, which allows Australian businesses to sell boots using the terms Ugg, Ug and Ugh. It was confirmed that these terms are generic in Australia.

Technically, many sheepskin boots have similar properties. What separates the highest quality boots is that they are made with Australian merino sheepskins. Poorer quality products may use cow hides with fleece lining. These can still have fantastic benefits, but our opinion is that the cream of the crop is the puritan sheepskin boots, made in Australia.

So, you may see some web sites and other shops selling “sheepskin boots” rather than Uggs and this is probably for legal reasons. At our shop, Made For Walking, we often refer to our boots as “Sheepskin Boots”. But, because we are an Australian company, selling authentic Australian Uggs, we are entitled to refer to them as Ugg Boots. We predominantly call them Sheepskin Boots by choice. We don’t think they’re ugly!

Disclosure
We have a web site selling EMU Sheepskin Boots, which are made in Australia from Australian sheepskin. So that makes us a little impartial!

10 Tips for Caring For Your Sheepskin Ugg Boots

Sheepskin boots (often referred to as ugg boots in Australia) are fairly durable, but with a little bit of love they can last a long time.  If you have quality sheepskin ugg boots (we will post a blog related to the difference between boots shortly), then they will have natural antibacterial properties to reduce smells AND they will also breathe naturally.  You love sheepskin footwear and ugg boots because they are comfortable and fashionable, lets keep them looking great!  The following are a few tips to help you maintain their natural beauty and functionality:

1. Store your Ugg boots in a dry dark place.  Just like any natural product, moisture can cause problems and they can bleach in extreme sunlight.
2. Avoid the temptation to wear your boots in the rain or extreme wet weather (including fresh snow).
3. If your footwear does become dirty, first try to clean the exterior with a light, dry brush.  Just softly.  Treat them nice, like they treat you!
4. If their exterior condition requires more attention, you can use a small amount of cold water on a soft brush or cloth.  Gently brush, trying not to saturate the sheepskin with water.  Always brush in the same direction.
5. If needed, you can use a small amount of wool detergent, or sheepskin approved cleaning product, but do carefully read the instructions.
6. Never use a washing machine or dryer, this will cause problems with shrinkage and can adversely change the shape of your beloved boots.
7. Dry in an airy warm spot.  Not in direct sunlight or too close to the heater!  This can again affect the shape of your shoes.
8. A great idea is to stuff your boots with paper towels while drying.  This serves to maintain the shape of the boots, as well as sponging excess moisture.  Depending on how wet your boots are, you may need to change the paper towels.
9. Once dry, brush the boots lightly with a soft brush to clear any excess detergents and revitalise the soft feel.
10. Some advise protecting your boots with a fabric protection such as Scotch-Guard.  This wont affect the breathability, but will add protection against stains and water damage.  Apply after cleaning.

Bottom line, if you love your sheepskin boots, they will love you right back for many years!

We recommend the EMU Care Kit.  Click here for details.
To see our catalogue of sheepskin/ ugg boots, click here.
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Horsing (Or Should We Say “Sheeping”) Around.

Here’s a bit of fun with sheep from the Baaaa-Studs in this clip named Extreme Sheep LED Art.

Holly Willoughby Spotted in Snowjoggers

Cute UK TV personality Holly Willoughby (The Xtra Factor and Celebrity Juice) has been spotted wearing our favourite little Rubber Duck Snowjoggers.  Nice look Holly!  As well as having fabulous taste in fashion boots, Holly is also expecting her first baby!

Holly Willoughby in Snowjoggers

You can buy the exact same Rubber Duck Snowjoggers here.

Hilary Duff and Sheepskin Stuff

Striding out and making those sheepskin boot’s look amazing!

Hilary Duff in Sheepskin Ugg Boots

She’s come a long way since Lizzie McGuire!  Our Hilary is also quite the entrepreneur – she has her own clothing line Stuff by Hilary Duff, which is sold through Target (US) and KMart (Australia).

Hilary Duff in Sheepskin Ugg Boots

Hilary is very enthusiastic with charity, she has donated more than 2.5 million dollars to various causes relating to Hurricane Katrina!

Check out Sheepskin Boots at MadeForWalking.com.au

Celebrities Wearing Ugg Boots

A fun little movie we found on YouTube, posted by UGGsBOOTs.

What Is Twin-Face Sheepskin and Why Is It The Best For Ugg Boots?

There are varying degrees of quality between sheepskin, wool lined and leather products. Over the next few weeks we’ll do our best to blog easy to understand information about the key differences.

Today we will describe the term “Double-face”, AKA “Twin-faced”.

If sheepskin is used for a product where both sides of the skin (ie the smooth side and the woolly side) are visible, this is known as Twinface/ Doublefaced sheepskin. Most sheepskin rugs are Twinface as well as some Ugg/ Sheepskin boots.

If you are researching sheepskin/ Ugg Boots, you need to be wary of some manufacturers who will describe their product as made with sheepskin, but it is not twinfaced. This is a very different product to twinfaced sheepskin, because it has had wool attached as a lining to either cows or sheeps leather. This product may still be a fair quality, but you should be aware of the differences.

Wool-lined/ non-twinface product should be cheaper because it costs less to manufacture, and it will have inferior qualities such as less breathability. These products will have sheep wool attached (usually glued) to the lining of the leather.

So we hope that keeps you in the know. Be sure that you know what you’re buying and please send questions to us via email.

We are not un-biased on this subject – At Made For Walking we sell both Twinface (we call this sheepskin on our site) and wool-lined product. From us, both product groups use the highest grade of Australian Merino sheepskin or wool.

See our Twinface/ Doubleface/ Sheepskin collection here.

See our Wool-lined collection here.

What Does it Mean to be Australian Made?

Some of the products that we sell at our Made For Walking Shop are officially regarded as Australian Made.  But what does that mean?  We thought you may be interested to know.

By legal standards, for a product to be labeled as made in a particular country, the goods have to be

1. substantially transformed in that country; and
2. 50 per cent or more of the cost of producing or manufacturing the goods attributable to production or manufacturing processes that occurred in that country.

If a product reaches these requirements in Australia, the company producing the product can apply for a license which gives them the right to display this logo with their product:

Most of the Emu footwear that we sell all carry this logo. They are made from Australian sheepskin, and they are manufactured in a town called Geelong, by nice friendly Aussies!

Buying Australian made in general can give some people assurances of quality.  For others it gives an assurance that the manufacturing process has adhered to strict environmental controls.  And others appreciate the strict and humane labour laws enforced in Australia.  For us, these things are important, but also like the idea that our mates down the road took part in producing some of the finest sheepskin boots available!

Here are some pictures we took on our last visit to the Emu factory in Geelong.

All of these products are made in that factory and are all available from Made For Walking

More information about Australian made products can be found here.

We are very proud to say that currently almost all of the sheepskin boots/ uggs sold on our site are not only made for walking but they are also made in Australia!