by: Brian Fong
The origin of the Australian ugg boot has a variety of stories as to how and when the ugg sheep skin boots were actually invented. One of the versions has the sheep skin footwear as the boot worn by pilots during World War One. These boots were referred to as “Fug Boots” denoting their use as ugg boots used for flying. In the 1930’s, Blue Mountain Ugg Boots were commonly worn by sheep shearers for their added warmth over regular footwear. “Apache Ugh Boots” were fashioned by Mortel’s Sheepskin Factory in the 1950‘s. By the 1960’s surfers were wearing their own version of the boot, finding them an easy and comfortable way to warm up after surfing the cold Australian waters.
The original ugg sheep skin boots were made with two pieces of sheepskin attached in the front and a soft sole. Most Australian’s believe the name “Ugg” derives from the word “ugly”, therefore coining the term “Ugg Boot”, as uniquely Australian as “Joey’s “ and “mate’s”. Given the ugg boot’s various stories of origination, it would be impossible to pinpoint who made the first sheep skin boots and when. Truth be told, they were probably reinvented many times satisfying a variety of uses based on the specific need of the person.
In the 1970’s, in Western Australia, some people saw that with some basic changes, the ugg boot had real potential and began their own company called Uggs-N-Rugs (tm). They implemented some basic style changes such as replacing the center seam with a patterned braid down the back and a more substantial sole designed for added comfort. Eventually a fully molded heal counter was added to these boots. This design created three layers to the boot; the sheep skin, the molded heal, and the suede that is used as the outer layer. This type of manufacturing helps the boot to retain its original shape and allows for maximum support. Although the ugg sheep skin boots boot were to be the core-selling product of Uggs-N-Rugstm, many companies throughout the world have copied and produced their own version of the sheepskin boot.
Since the success of Uggs-N-Rugs as one of the longest running producers of sheep skin boots in Australia, many other manufacturers and retail businesses from all over the world have attempted to copy their success. Although there are many stories found on the Internet, one Australian named Brian Smith lays claim to being one of the first to introduce the ugg boot to the American market.