Damon Mcknight
Ugg boots have been an Australian icon for nearly a century, with Australians cherishing their comfort and natural health benefits. However, it is a common misconception that all Ugg boots are made in Australia. The term ugg has been used generically in Australia for decades to describe sheepskin boots, and many manufacturers have been producing high-quality sheepskin boots since the 1970s with no affiliation with Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which owns Ugg Australia, has trademarked the term ugg in the US and other countries outside Australia, and their Ugg boots are mass-produced in China. While it is possible to buy genuine, Australian-made Ugg boots, they are not easy to find. To identify authentic Australian Ugg boots, look for a sew-in label that says Made in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Trademark | Ugg |
| Trademark owner | Deckers Outdoor Corporation |
| Place of manufacture | Majority of Ugg boots (about 96%) are made in Asia (China, Vietnam, and the Philippines) |
| Authenticity | Sew-in label that mentions 'Made in Australia' |
| Materials used | Sheepskin |
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What You'll Learn
'UGG' is a product, not a brand, in Australia
In Australia, "UGG" is a product, not a brand. This means that any company in Australia can make and sell UGG boots, and they do not necessarily have to be made in Australia. In fact, the majority of UGG boots (around 96%) are made in Asia, in countries like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. If you want to buy Australian-made UGG boots, look for a sew-in label that says "Made in Australia". Australian manufacturers typically proudly display the place of origin of their products, so a missing label likely means the boots were not made in Australia.
The term "UGG" has been used generically in Australia for decades to describe sheepskin boots. Many Australian manufacturers have been producing high-quality sheepskin boots since the 1970s and have no affiliation with Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the company that owns the "UGG Australia" trademark in the US and other countries outside Australia. Despite the "UGG Australia" branding, Deckers' UGG products are mass-produced in China and exported worldwide.
The controversy over the UGG trademark highlights a growing tension between intellectual property rights and cultural sustainability. While Deckers has aggressively pursued legal action against Australian sheepskin manufacturers over their use of the term "UGG", the term has been used generically in Australia for a long time, with evidence dating back to World War I. Thousands of references to "UGG" and similar spellings have been found in newspapers, magazines, and telephone directories in Australia, the US, and the UK.
Australian-owned brand UGG Since 1974 has announced it will change its name to "Since 74" for sales outside Australia and New Zealand due to the legal battle over the rights to use the name "UGG". While Deckers has won the legal right to the UGG name outside Australia, Australian manufacturers continue to defend their cultural legitimacy through local production and connection to the product's heritage.
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UGG Australia is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers owns the UGG trademark in the US and over 130 other countries. In Australia, "ugg" is a generic term for a style of sheepskin shoe, first popularised by surfers in the 1960s or 1970s. In Australia, 'UGG' is not a brand but a product, so anyone can make and sell Ugg boots, and they don't necessarily have to be made in Australia.
Despite the 'Ugg Australia' branding, Deckers' Ugg products are mass-produced in China and exported worldwide. Deckers has sent legal threats to numerous Australian sheepskin manufacturers over their use of the term "ugg", claiming to own the ugg trademark and similar terms. In 2016, Sydney-based small business Australian Leather was hit with legal action after selling 12 pairs of ugg boots to US customers and lost, with owner Eddie Oygur ordered to pay $3 million in penalties and legal costs.
In 2025, Australian Ugg-boot maker Ugg Since 1974 was forced to rebrand as Since 74 outside of Australia following a lawsuit from Deckers. Despite this, the company's owner, Todd Watts, stated that nothing would change except the name, and that their products would remain Australian-made.
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Deckers Outdoor Corporation does not make UGGs in Australia
It is a common misconception that all Ugg boots are made in Australia. In reality, only about 4% of the world's Ugg boots are made in the country. The remaining 96% are manufactured in Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the company that owns Ugg Australia, does not make its Ugg boots in Australia. Instead, they are mass-produced in China and exported worldwide. This is despite the company's claims to the trademark of the term "ugg" in the US and its purchase of the unused trademarks "ugh" and "ugh boots" in Australia in the 1990s.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation's use of the term ""Ugg Australia"" and its threats of legal action against Australian sheepskin manufacturers over their use of the term "ugg" have caused confusion among consumers. The term "ugg" has been used generically in Australia for decades to describe sheepskin boots, and many Australian manufacturers have been producing high-quality, Australian-made sheepskin boots with no affiliation with Deckers.
While Deckers Outdoor Corporation does not make its Ugg boots in Australia, there are still Australian companies that produce and sell genuine Australian-made Ugg boots. These companies take pride in their Australian heritage and the quality of their products, which are crafted from real sheepskin. To identify a genuine pair of Australian-made Ugg boots, look for a sew-in label that says "Made in Australia."
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Australian manufacturers display the place of origin on their products
It is a common misconception that all Ugg boots are made in Australia. In reality, about 96% of the world's Ugg boots are made in Asia, with China, Vietnam, and the Philippines being the top manufacturing countries. While it is possible to purchase genuine Australian-made Ugg boots, they are difficult to come by. This is because, in Australia, ''UGG' is not a brand name but a product, allowing anyone in the country to make and sell Ugg boots, regardless of where they are made.
Australian manufacturers proudly display the place of origin on their products. For example, a sew-in label that says "Made in Australia" indicates that the Ugg boots are indeed made in Australia. On the other hand, if the label reveals a different country of origin, such as China or Vietnam, then the boots were not made in Australia. The absence of a sew-in label also suggests that the boots are not of Australian origin. This is because Australian manufacturers are known to showcase the country of origin of their products, so a missing label has likely been removed.
In Australia, the Australian Consumer Law governs the country of origin claims for non-food items. While this law does not require non-food products to have country-of-origin labelling, manufacturers must ensure that any representations made about their products are not false, misleading, or deceptive. For instance, the kangaroo logo is a registered trademark for Australian-made products, and its use is governed by strict guidelines.
For food products, the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 applies. This standard requires most food products for retail sale in Australia to carry country-of-origin information. Food manufacturers must understand the specific terminology, such as ''grown in,' 'produced in,' 'made in,' and 'packed in,' to make accurate claims about their products. For instance, a loaf of bread labelled "Made in Australia from at least 80% Australian ingredients" indicates that it was baked in Australia using a minimum of 80% locally sourced ingredients.
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Sheepskin boots have been called 'UGGs' in Australia for decades
Sheepskin boots have been called UGGs in Australia for decades. The term "UGG" is used generically in Australia to describe sheepskin boots, and many Australian manufacturers have been producing sheepskin boots since the 1970s with no affiliation with Deckers Outdoor Corporation. These companies take pride in their Australian heritage and the quality of their products, which are crafted from real sheepskin and made in Australia.
The origin of UGG boots can be traced back to Australian surfer culture, and they gained popularity in California in the 1970s. Despite the ""Ugg Australia" branding, Deckers' UGGs and slippers are not made in Australia. Instead, they are mass-produced in China and exported worldwide.
In most countries outside of Australia, the word "UGG" is trademarked by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and the company has threatened legal action against Australian sheepskin manufacturers over their use of the term "UGG". However, Australia and New Zealand are two of the few places that can freely use the term "UGGs" to describe sheepskin boots.
It is a common misconception that all UGG boots are made in Australia. While the majority of UGG boots are made in Asia, it is possible to buy genuine, Australian-made UGG boots, although they are not easy to find. Australian manufacturers typically display the place of origin of their products, so buyers can look for a sew-in label that says "Made in Australia" to ensure they have purchased a genuine pair of Australian-made UGG boots.
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Frequently asked questions
No, only about 4% of the world's UGG boots are made in Australia. The rest are made in Asia, in countries like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
If your UGGs have a sew-in label that says 'Made in Australia', they were made in Australia. If the label reveals a different country of origin, like China, they were not. If there is no sew-in label at all, your UGGs were likely not made in Australia.
The term "UGG" is used generically in Australia to describe sheepskin boots. However, in most countries outside of Australia, the word "UGG" is trademarked by the US-based Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which manufactures its "'UGG Australia' brand boots in China".
You can buy Australian-made UGGs from various companies, including UGG Since 1974, UGG Boots Made in Australia, and UGG Australia. These companies sell their products online and ship worldwide.
UGG boots have been an Australian icon for nearly a century, with Australians cherishing their comfort and natural health benefits. The style originated in Australia and was popularized by surfers in California in the 1970s, adding to the brand's global appeal.
