WTF Is The Difference Between Ugg and Ugg Since 1974?
If you’re not on TikTok or an Australian local you probably haven’t heard of the brand Ugg Since 1975. Not to be mistaken with the Ugg brand we’re all familiar with in North America.
Creators on TikTok have started claiming that the Ugg brand we all know and love was bought out, resulting in poor-quality products and less-than-pleasant customer service. They claim that the boots we were rockin’ in the early 2000s are still available from the “original” Ugg brand - Ugg Since 1975.
If you grew up in the early 2000’s you remember the chokehold that Uggs had on every tween and teenage girl. Owning a pair of Uggs was a symbol of status, fashion, and popularity. We begged our parents for a pair every Christmas despite needing a small loan to afford them.
However, many are reporting a decline in the quality of Ugg and have now sparked debate online that the Australian-based brand Ugg Since 1975 is the real Ugg brand. However, that’s not entirely true (ok, it’s not true at all), but let’s dive into why creators are coming to this conclusion, and why there’s such confusion around the Ugg brand.
History of the Ugg Boot
Let’s get one thing straight first - Uggs are traditional Australian Ugg boots made from sheepskins with fleece attached.
However, the Ugg BRAND has now become synonymous with this distinctive style of sheepskin boots. The history of Ugg boots intertwines Australian heritage and American marketing success.
The Ugg Brand Origins:
The Ugg boot, characterized by its sheepskin design, has roots in rural Australia. Originally, these boots were a pragmatic form of footwear used by surfers and farmers due to their insulating properties. They were popularized among Australian surfers in the 1960s and 1970s, who appreciated the warmth they provided after getting out of the cold ocean.
The infamous Ugg brand that has held us captive since the early 2000s only began to take shape in the late 1970s when Australian surfer Brian Smith brought the boots to the United States. In 1978, Smith established UGG Holdings Inc. in California, tapping into the local surf culture and gradually expanding the market for the boots.
Growing Popularity in the 2000s:
The turning point for Ugg came in the early 2000s. The brand blew up, becoming a must-have fashion accessory among young women.
Their popularity is partially due to their presence in popular culture and endorsement by celebrities. During that time it felt like every celebrity on the front page of People Magazine was wearing a pair of Uggs.
Ugg’s Acquisition by
Now this is the important stuff that has caused this massive online stir.
In 1995 UGG Holdings Inc. was acquired by Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Under Deckers, the Ugg brand expanded globally and diversified its product range to include other types of footwear, clothing, and accessories.
Despite some TikTokers claiming the quality and customer service of the brand has gone downhill since the early 2000s, the Ugg brand has been under Deckers since 1995.
AKA the acquisition happened long before we were all on the playground rocking our favourite pair of Uggs.
So the Uggs you were wearing back then (whether you were rocking the Bailey Button, the Bailey Bows, or the Kiddy Uggs) are from the same Ugg brand you would buy today.
Image via The Department World
What is the Ugg Since 1975 Brand?
Now let’s talk about the Ugg Since 1975 brand. I’ll start by saying that it is in no way affiliated with the Ugg brand we’re all familiar with. It is a standalone family-owned brand, completely separate from the American Ugg brand your parents despised in 2010.
Origins of the Ugg Since 1975 Brand:
The brand started in the shearing sheds of New South Wales, Australia, as a family-owned business. It was founded by Arthur Springthorpe, who had extensive experience with sheepskin and wool from working in Australian woolsheds.
Arthur, along with his wife Faye, began handcrafting sheepskin and kangaroo products in the early 1970s. As the Ugg boots gained popularity on the east coast of Australia, they initially targeted the growing Australian tourism industry.
By the late 1990s, when Brian Smith brought Ugg boots (under the Ugg brand) to America, Ugg boots were being featured in billboards and magazines worldwide, gaining international fame.
Ugg Since 1975 used the growing popularity of Ugg boots to collaborate with luxury and pop-culture brands, further expanding its reach, though its market remained mostly in Australia and they didn’t see the same success that Ugg did.
Is Ugg Since 1975 the Original Ugg Brand?
Nope! Remember, the term Ugg was originally used to encompass a distinctive style of sheepskin boots.
In the 1990s global demand for genuine Australian-made Ugg boots soared to unprecedented levels as the Ugg brand saw massive success overseas.
In response to Uggs’ rising popularity, in 1999, the American company Deckers Outdoor Corporation (who acquired the American Ugg brand) trademarked "UGG", leading to a multitude of legal battles over the use of the term.
Recently, in 2021 the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition for review of the Ugg trademark that had been supported by the Australian government. The Australian government argued the term was used as a general style of Sheepskin boots.
Australian courts eventually ruled that UGG could not be trademarked by Deckers in Australia and New Zealand, recognizing it as a generic term for sheepskin boots.
Despite these international trademark issues, Ugg Since 1974 has remained a third-generation family business, committed to producing authentic Australian-made Ugg boots.
They emphasize the importance of Australian manufacturing for the local economy and the authenticity of their products, but again, they have no ties to the Ugg brand we’re familiar with in North America.
The video below, from the Ugg Since 1975 brand explains their business and product in more detail, reiterating their separation from the US-based Ugg brand.
So, What Actually is the Difference Between Ugg and Ugg Since 1975?
Let’s sum this up all nicely.
Ugg is commonly associated with the U.S. company Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and Ugg Since 1974 is a brand that has been an Australian family-owned business since 1975.
Completely separate businesses and brands.
Ugg (Deckers Brands):
This is the brand more globally recognized, especially here in North America. It’s often associated with the Ugg-style boots that have become a worldwide fashion trend.
Deckers is an American company that owns the brand and acquired the trademark rights to the Ugg name in various countries.
Ugg Since 1974
Ugg Since 1974 is an Australian company, completely distinct from the U.S. brand we have become familiar with.
It is a family-owned business that has been crafting Ugg boots since the 1970s in Australia. They do not and have never had ties with the Uggs you begged your parents for in 2010.
Should You Support Ugg Since 1975?
Personally, I haven’t owned a pair of Ugg boots in quite some time so I can’t speak directly to a diminishing level of quality among the products. However, it seems that many creators on TikTok are annoyed by the increase in price and decline in quality of Ugg boots.
Choosing to purchase from Ugg Since 1974 instead of Ugg boots may be a better option for several reasons. The brand is Australian-made and values authenticity, craftsmanship, and supporting local industries
The brand maintains its production entirely in Australia, using Australian materials with a commitment to local manufacturing that supports the Australian economy and ensures the authenticity of the product, adhering to traditional methods of making Ugg boots.
So, despite not being the same Uggs you may be used to, they could be the saviour to all your Ugg-related issues! Plus, you’d be supporting a family-owned business that gives back to their local community.