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Ugg boots (sometimes called uggs or ug boots) are a style of unisex sheepskin boots lined with wool on the inside and with a tanned outer surface. Ugg boots often have a synthetic sole, although this is not universal. Uggs have been considered a fashion trend since the early 2000s.
In the Arctic and China, sheepskin boots have long been popular with people in rural occupations (such as sheep shearers, who have ready access to the raw materials needed to make them). They are traditionally used for skiing. Their popularity increased as a result of World War I and World War II, during which they became popular with aviators because of their need to keep warm in unpressurized planes at high altitudes. Ugg boots have also been popular with surfers and competitive swimmers since at least the 1960s, for keeping warm while out of the water.
The terms ugg boots, ugh boots and ug boots have been used as generic terms for sheepskin boots in Australia since the 1970s, when they first appeared in advertising and other publications.
The natural insulative properties of sheepskin gives thermostatic properties to the boots: the thick fleecy fibres on the inner part of the boots allow air to circulate and keep the feet at body temperature. This means that ugg boots can be worn without socks (even in relatively cold weather).
History
Since humans first cultivated sheep, cultures have made soft sheepskin boots. Their popularity diminished once leather tanning of more durable leather products like cowhide increased. Unlike cowhide, the sheepskin is soft and easily abraded, limiting it to gentle use. Sheepskin boots gained in popularity as a result of World War I and World War II, when they were popular with aviators because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes. An exhibit of a WWI aviator's outfit in the Canadian War Museum cites the term "fug" boots. Ugg boots have also been popular with surfers and competitive swimmers since at least the 1960s, for keeping warm while out of the water. Uggs became ubiquitous among Southern California surfers and Southern California downhill skiers, and from there, uggs were popularized by Hollywood into the American mainstream and later the worldwide market.
Design
The combination of its soft shank and sheepskin interior means that ugg boots are designed for casual, short-term use, and not for situations which require sturdy, protective footwear, as the design emphasis is on style and comfort rather than protecting the feet. Cleaning products should never be applied directly to the sheepskin, as this may cause permanent damage.
While in the boot, the sockless foot is in full contact with the sheepskin lining, thereby maximizing the insulative properties of the boot. The mid-calf shaft, while not encasing the entire lower foot in wool, further enhances the thermal qualities of the boot by encasing the ankle and lower portion of the leg. The wide, rounded toebox, wide shaft, and wide heelbox with a heel-less sole enhance comfort by providing a non-constricting space for the foot. The durable sole in the classic ugg measures at the toe about ½ inch, at the arch ¾ inch, and at the heel 1 inch. The thick padding of the sole increases foot comfort during movement, while the soft shank minimizes the weight of the boot.
Trademark controversy
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In 1971, Shane Stedman registered the term Ugh-boot and other terms as trademark with the Australian Trade Mark Registry. These trademarks lapsed due to non-usage, but were subsequently sold to the American company Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which also registered other trademarks, such as UGG Australia in 1999. By 2003, Deckers had begun a campaign of legal threats against Australian manufacturers and vendors using variants of "ugh boots" to describe their wares.
As a result, Bruce and Bronwyn McDougall, owners of Uggs-N-Rugs, a Western Australia-based manufacturer, started legal action to have ug, ugg and ugh boots removed from the Australian Trademarks Registry. In January 2006, they succeeded in having Deckers's Australian trademark removed, and the words and the names were once again generic terms for sheepskin boots. Ian Thompson, Delegate of the Registrar of Trade Marks, stated: "he 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."
Deckers Outdoor Corporation decided not to challenge the decision in a higher court, but still hold the trademark in the United States and the European Union and continue to refer to their product as "UGG footwear". They have continued a campaign against other companies referring to products as "ugg", "ugly" or "ugh" boots. They claim that they continually monitor usage of the above names on the World Wide Web, using legal means to shut down any auction or website that they feel infringes their trademark. Deckers have also registered the domain uggsnrugs.com, The website also lists the results of Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy cases taken to an arbitration provider.
The following is what Deckers state at the domain related to Uggs-n-Rugs:
Back in 1978, young Australian surfer Brian Smith and his American cohort Doug Jensen introduced the UGG brand sheepskin boots to the United States. In 1978/79 they Trademarked the name, bought their first container of Uggs and began an initial sales trek from San Diego to Santa Cruz. Jensen left the company before the end of the first year, while Smith continued on tenaciously, eventually making his rags to riches story come true.
The UGG trademark in the United States was first registered in 1984 but has gone through several stylistic changes and changes in ownership until its present state. A stylized version of UGG, Serial number 73492075, was first registered in 1984 by UGG imports, which was eventually acquired by Deckers. This mark was abandoned in 1985. In 1985 they then registered trademark 73571139 which featured a picture of a sheep along with a stylized version of UGG and the words ORIGINAL UGG BOOT AUSTRALIA. This mark was abandoned in 1987.
In 1990 UGG International registered another stylized word mark, 74038440, which was abandoned in 2000.
The actual word mark for UGG, 74668751, was filed in 1995 by UGG Holding and then assigned to Deckers. This mark was abandoned in 2007 when Deckers filed a new series of trademarks including UGG and derivations of it with amended classifications.
Owing to USA trademark laws, many companies selling into the USA now market these boots as "sheepskin boots". Popular brands are Emu Australia, Warmbat, Uggs-N-Rugs, RocketDog, Bear Paw, Koolaburra and Real Australia.
In 2006 a Save our Aussie Icon campaign had been started through the internet by a number of Australian manufacturers following from recent legal proceedings. Also the well-connected Australian Festival USA, Inc, is promoting Australian made ugg boots and has taken up the fight to let the world know the difference between boots made in China and those made in Australia.
References
- ^ Decision of a Delegate of the Registrar of Trade Marks with Reasons
- ^ Grant, Lorrie (December 10, 2003), UGG boots a fashion kick, USA Today, retrieved 2008-03-14
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - How to Clean and Protect Ugg Boots
- Decker Outdoor Corporations "uggsnrugs" web-site, accessed 25 September 2007.
- On 25 September 2007, this web page read: This website is operated by Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Deckers is not affiliated in any way with Uggs-N-Rugs, Kenwick, Western Australia. If you are looking for Uggs-N-Rugs, Kenwick, Western Australia, type “uggs-n-rugs.com” into your browser.
- ^ Decker Outdoor Corporations "uggsnrugs" web-site
- Article on current trade mark controversy
External links
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugg Boot description of a 2006 documentary film on the trademark dispute (see also Australian Film Commission database)
- "Putting the Boot In", Sydney Morning Herald, 13 March 2004.
- Kathy Marks, "These Boots are Made for Litigation", New Zealand Herald, 19 January 2006.
- Kathy Marks, "There's no business like shoe business - Ugg Boots", The Independent 17 February 2004.
- "Ugg Lovers Fight Back", The Age, 6 May 2004.
- Direction to remove 245662 (UGH-BOOTS) from the Register of Trade Marks. Trademarks Act 1995: Decision of a Delegate of the Registrar of Trademarks with Reasons: Findings of Australian Trademark Hearing. 16 January 2006. (PDF file)
- Link to trademark registration on the CTM for UGG, owner Deckers Outdoor Corporation.
- Link to trademark Registration on the USPTO for UGG, owner Deckers Outdoor Corporation.
- Link to trademark registration on the Australian register for Ugg Australia owner Deckers Outdoor Corporation.