When they burst onto the fashion scene just less than a decade ago, thanks to the likes of Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss making them a staple in their off-duty wardrobes, demand was unrivalled. Fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen likened Ugg boots to Air Jordan, Nike's famed sneaker brand that rose to prominence around basketball legend Michael Jordan during his heyday in the '80s and '90s.uggs cyber monday The shoes have thrived through endless fashion cycles, representing an urban style that has developed its own following. UGG Australia brand director for Asia-Pacific Paul Tinkler discusses the UGG brand’s new summer collection and expansion in Asia UGG, the sheepskin boot that began in 1978 as a foot-warmer for surfers coming out of cold water, is now a leading fashion brand.Paul Tinkler, brand director for Asia-Pacific, says that the brand is expanding into Asia where new categories are seeing the most growth.
Meanwhile, unlike the rubber and nylon used to make Teva sandals—easily copied by Nike and Reebok—sheepskin was expensive and in limited supply. Flush with capital after Deckers’ 1993 IPO, Otto took the idea to his colleagues. Rishwain, then Deckers’ newly hired vice president of merchandising, was in the office when Otto first suggested the acquisition to the company’s managing corps. “We agreed it was a great product and a great company, and I liked the counter-season aspect,” she says. “But it hadn’t really reached any potential at all. It seemed like such an underdeveloped thing.”uggs cyber monday 2014 Sheepskin isn’t flammable, so you have to burn them at incredible temperature which is terrible for the environment and extremely expensive.” For years, Celtic worked with a tannery in Bridgewater, the last remaining factory of its kind in the UK, to treat the skins. The boots are a favourite with Pippa and Kate Middleton, as well as Tess Daly – “her whole family wears them,” says Kath. And now Celtic is keen to extend their brand beyond the traditional “outdoorsy” demographic and tap into a global market, to steal market share from UGG. Celtic’s relationship with UGG is a complicated one.
Twenty years ago, the Cornish business was called the Original UGG Company and the Whitworths owned the UGG trademark in the UK. “I bought it for ￡500,” says Nick. “That was a lot of money back in the nineties but it was the best thing I ever did. There are still surfers walking around the town in the original boots featuring the old label.” When Deckers bought UGG Australia from Brian Smith in 1995, it began registering the trademark all around the world. But when its lawyers tried to take the name in this country, its application was blocked. The Whitworths agreed to license the trademark to the American company, with the option to buy it wholesale after seven years. These include men's non-footware such as bags, and boat shoes that come with both leather and sheepskin liners, enabling entry into the spring market.
I was trying to get a Nordstrom customer to say, ‘I want those!’ ” Though it would be years before Otto would consider buying Smith’s company (by this time Smith had purchased the “ugg” trademark), he was impressed by what he called “an authentic brand that fulfilled a need that hadn’t previously been met.” The UGG brand may be synonymous with its ubiquitous sheepskin boot, but its making a bid to return its roots - the sandy shores of Australia's surfing paradise.It's likely that if you're reading this you either own a pair of UGG boots or know someone that does. uggs cyber monday sale Since the mid-2000s, the sheepskin boot's impact has been so far-reaching it's now almost impossible to walk down any high street during the chilly seasons without seeing at least a handful of women wearing them. It's likely that if you're reading this you either own a pair of UGG boots or know someone that does. Since the mid-2000s, the sheepskin boot's impact has been so far-reaching it's now almost impossible to walk down any high street during the chilly seasons without seeing at least a handful of women wearing them.
Waiting lists were drafted, queues snaked around blocks and shelves were cleared within minutes. Never before had we been presented with something that was both in vogue and practical - a magical equation if ever there was one. They had their nay-sayers too, of course. As with everything - and especially in the fickle world of fashion - what goes up must eventually come down. On the whole, fashion publications turned up their noses, citing the slipper-like boot's inelegance as its downfall and labelling them a faux pas. Their popularity spawned countless high street versions that met neither the aesthetic nor comfort values of the original. A ferocious market for fakes was formed (UGG is said to be the world's second most-counterfeited brand, just behind Louis Vuitton). But nevertheless the brand prevailed, and to this day remains as popular as ever.
It's all down to one thing, they say: comfort. Last February's blizzard-hit Fashion Weeks saw the likes of fashion journalist Lynn Yaeger, US Vogue 's Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley (who has his monogrammed) and stylista Alexa Chung turn to the signature boot to keep their tootsies toasty. Kate Moss still regularly sports hers, too. Hailing from the beaches of Byron Bay, Australia, the boot which made the UGG brand famous never really meant to become a fashion icon. Created purely out of practicality, the style kept the feet of surfers warm pre- and post-session. They were brought to US shores by the UGG brand's founder Brian Smith, a keen surfer himself, in the mid-80s. They fitted in nicely with the laid back Californian style and eventually trickled through to the east coast where they hit the big time thanks to many a famous wearer. Sell-out collections for Jil Sander's +J at Uniqlo and round-the-block queues for Giles Deacon's Gold at New Look have become fashion-news norm.
