The UGG® Australia story began in 1978, when Brian Smith, a young surfer from Australia, took a trip to the United States with a bag full of sheepskin boots. After finding a new home amongst California surfers, the UGG® Australia brand began to take shape.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation acquired UGG® Australia in 1995. By 1998, the product line had grown to include two boots, four slippers and a few casuals. It was in 1998 that the critical repositioning of UGG® took place. The brand was positioned as a high-end luxury footwear brand, made evident by a premium distribution strategy and high-end fashion marketing and communications.

The luxury and comfort of UGG® Australia proved to be a perfect fit for the high-end footwear world and soon Nordstrom had become the destination for UGG® Australia.

From humble beginnings to global success and notoriety, the UGG® story reads like a fairy tale. In 2003, UGG® was named Footwear News' "Brand of the Year" and was responsible for the creation of an entirely new category of footwear. From then on, sheepskin footwear could be seen on the runways in Milan, Paris and New York; and it all began on the beach in Australia. The future is limitless for UGG® Australia, introducing product extensions and warm-weather footwear, all while maintaining the position as the world leader in luxury and comfort.