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 ™. 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.