People often confuse ugg boots with sheepskin boots, which have been in production in Australian since 1933. The ugg evolution birthed an entirely new genre of product that in the last 20 years has become a global phenomenon. A lesser known fact is that Charlie Spencer, a South Australian surgical boot-maker, designed the first rudimentary ugg boot for his daughter Sandra who just wanted to keep her feet warm. Charlie�??s three surfer sons Graham, John and Brad (known by many in the surfing community as Speed) wore the same boot to warm their feet after getting out of South Australia�??s cold surf.
At the time Charlie made the boots using only three pieces of sheepskin and no sole. Essentially it was a hand-sewn ugg sock. The sheepskin Charlie used was poorly tanned and riddled with seed marks and scars. The boot truly was ugly. But John Arnolds Surfboards (Est. 1958, at 142 Gawler Place, Adelaide) had so many customers asking for them John Arnold�??s himself approached Charlie to supply him. The boots were gaining notoriety among Adelaide�??s small surfing community. Mr Arnolds came from a family of boot-makers, and they soon introduced a flat tread sole - using old car tyres - to Charlie�??s ugly boot. Demand then soared.
From the late 60�??s John Arnolds Surfboards was a city hangout for young Adelaide surfers. The new line of boots was so well received that John Arnolds needed a name for his new product. It wasn�??t until one of his customers, a young lady, came into his store and remarked, �??They�??re ugly�?? that John went and registered the name Ugg Boots. This happened in 1971.
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