page_title: UGG (brand)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: UGG (brand) / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Cropped version of original photo by User:TexasDex Ugg brand boots.
context_page_description: UGG is an American footwear company and a division of Deckers Brands.
  UGG is a registered trademark in the United States and over 130 other countries for footwear, as well as bags, clothing, outerwear, home goods and other products. Deckers is headquartered in Goleta, California with an e-commerce division located in Flagstaff, Arizona.
  The UGG brand is best known for its distinctive "Classic" sheepskin boots for both men and women. With roots in traditional Australian ugg boot design, the boots have developed over the years to become what is now known as the UGG "Classic" style. UGG brand boots have been identified as a fashion trend for women and men since the early 2000s. The range has expanded to include various styles of footwear, including leather, canvas and other materials, handbags, clothing, outerwear, hats, gloves, home products such as blankets and pillows, and other goods. Deckers has reported sales of US$689 million under the UGG brand in 2008, an increase from US$14.5 million in 1995. The company’s profits have consistently increased over the years, with sales consistently exceeding $1 billion since 2011.
context_section_description: UGG was founded in California in 1978 by Australian surfer Brian Smith and Doug Jensen. Smith was living in Santa Monica, California after studying at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Smith and Jensen first applied to be the United States distributors for the Western Australian sheepskin boot manufacturer, Country Leather. Unhappy with the brand, Smith trademarked UGG. Later, family friends invested $20,000 into the venture and the group set up Ugg Imports. In their first season in business, Ugg Imports sold 28 pairs of boots. Due to other business commitments, in 1979 Jensen handed over his share of the company to Smith. Sales steadily grew and Smith set up Ugg Holdings Inc. and in 1985 registered a US trademark on a rams head logo with the words "Original UGG Boot UGG Australia". By 1994, 80 percent of UGG's sales were in southern Orange County, but the company gained international attention after the boots were worn by the U.S. Olympic team in Lillehammer for the 1994 Winter Olympics.
  In 1995, Deckers Brands acquired Smith's business for $14.6 million and continued to expand it. During the late 1990s, UGG began experiencing double-digit sales growth as Deckers developed the company into an international brand. In 2003, UGG boots were included on Oprah Winfrey's show as part of "Oprah’s Favorite Things." Afterwards, the brand received an unprecedented surge in sales. In 2006, UGG opened its first brick and mortar store in New York's SoHo neighborhood. The company opened its first international store in Japan later that same year.
  UGG partnered with designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo in 2009 to launch a capsule collection combining the brands' styles. The following year, UGG debuted a collection of boots designed in collaboration with Swarovski. The company launched its first men's advertising campaign in 2011 featuring New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in 2011. The first UGG for Men stand-alone store opened in New York in 2012. UGG reported over $1 billion (U.S) in sales for 2012. UGG products are manufactured in a number of countries, primarily China. Deckers continues to source most of its sheepskin from Australia. Its collection of home goods launched in 2013 and included products such as rugs, blankets, pillows and other home pieces. In June 2015, Ugg has announced a collaboration with Pixar. The company launched a capsule collection reflecting Pixar’s film Inside Out, and have produced Disney-themed boots featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Tinker Bell.
caption: A pair of UGG boots
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