Ever wonder why these are called “Ugg?” So’s everyone else.
The origin of the term “ugg” is unclear. Stedman registered the trademark “UGH-BOOTS” in Australia in 1971, and in 1982 registered the “UGH” trademark. Frank Mortel claims that he named his company’s sheepskin boots “ugg boots” in 1958 after his wife commented that the first pair he made were “ugly.” Some accounts have suggested that the term grew out of earlier variations, such as the “fug boots” worn by Royal Air Force pilots during World War I.
The 1970s saw the emergence of advertising using the UGG and UGH terms both in trade names and as a generic term in Australia. The Macquarie Dictionary of the Australian language first included a definition for “ugg boot” as a generic term for sheepskin boots in its 1981 edition.