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It is often said that success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. Such is the case with UGG boots, which have been a popular style of boots for over a decade now. Though there origins are in dispute, we do know that they were developed in either Australia or New Zealand. In fact, manufactures of UGG-style boots from both countries were embroiled in bitter disputes with an American company that owned the trademark to the name UGG. The locals claimed that "UGG" was a generic term and therefore was ineligible for trademark protection. Who was right? Let us take a moment to examine the puzzling history of UGGs. What's in a name? If you want to trace Moncler the history of anything, it is often best to start with its etymology. What are the origins of the word UGG? While some surmise that it is simply a shorter, catchier way to say ugly, there is ample evidence that UGG boots were once called fug boots. Worn by aviators during the First World War, flyboys called them "flying UGG boots," or "fugs," for short. When the boys got their feet back on the ground and civilians started following the fashions of their heroes, the boot were known simply as UGGs. A small company called Blue Mountains UGG Boots began manufacturing the new style in the early 1930s, and by the 1950s there were several makers of UGGs in both Australia and New Zealand. One reason local companies claim they should be able to use the word UGG to promote their brands is that the term appears to be a generic one. Closely related terms like ug, ugh, and UGG have all been used to describe sheepskin boots made in either Australia or New Zealand since the early 1970s, at the latest. While the exact origins are in doubt, we do know the name of the man who was responsible for taking UGGs global. In 1979, Brian Smith established UGG Holdings, Inc. in the United States. The former Australian surfer had been using UGGs for years, as they were a popular form of footwear with surfers Down Under. Soon after Smith sold his company to Deckers Outdoor Corporation in 1995, the boots became a fashion trend. They first appeared on the famous feet of fashionable-conscious celebrities like Kate Hudson and Pamela Anderson, which meant they were also appearing on the covers of countless magazines. Before long, it seemed like every teenage girl in America was wearing them. In the blink of an eye the trend spread to Europe Moncler Homme and then around the world. Sales of UGGs went from a respectable $14.5 million in 1995 to an incredible $689 million dollars in 2008, making them more than just a fashion fad. They were a trend.
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