In the 1970s, a young surfer had the idea to launch a company based on an Australian tradition. After a chilly morning session in the waves, surfers would don cozy sheepskin slippers. The entrepreneur Brian Smith took this idea to California and turned it into a brand.
Smith began by selling his slippers from the back of his van in Malibu. The shoes quickly became a craze that caught fire in the retail world. After celebrities started wearing these UGGs, the brand grew into what it is today: a company with over 130 stores and a market value of nearly $2.25 billion.
The UGG brand was acquired by Deckers in 1995. Additional Deckers-owned brands include Teva, Hoka, and more. Deckers is headquartered in Goleta, California, and rakes in almost $4 billion in revenue each year. Similarly, the UGG brand is headquartered in the same city.
From hocking slippers out of a van to a multi-billion dollar company, UGGs has come a long way. So, where are these cozy shoes being manufactured…here in the US, back in Australia, or somewhere else?
Verdict: Are Uggs Made in the USA?
No, UGG shoes are not made in the United States. Their products are manufactured in Vietnam and China. Most materials are sourced from the United States and Australia.
The majority of UGG-branded products are produced in China and Vietnam. However, the global production footprint is spread relatively wide. Additional manufacturing origins include Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines. This information was sourced from Deckers’ Sustainability Report, as shown below.
After the page shown above, there are another 20+ pages of location detailing for all the Deckers brands. The company certainly spares no expense to keep the consumer informed, if you know where to look, that is. Although this information is thorough, you won’t find it on the retail website or under products for sale. We had to search through the Deckers library of investor documents to learn more about the company’s manufacturing practices.
Much of the sheepskin used in UGG footwear is sourced from the United States and Australia. These materials are byproducts of the meat industry, and UGG reports a 100% traceability for leather, sheepskin, suede, and hides.
The company reports that it engages in sustainability efforts with local farmers in Australia to promote environmental health.
A quick look at the labels inside UGG shoes will verify our findings from above. Thankfully, this is a very easy way for the average consumer to verify manufacturing location. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to do when shopping online.
Here is a pair of Uggs shoes made in the Philippines:
And another pair made in China:
Are UGGs made in the USA? As popular as they are here in America, no, these shoes are not manufactured here. What began as an Australian cultural quirk, transformed into an American fashion rage, now continues with a steady beat of continuity from fashions past. Australian sheepskin, sewn in East Asia, and shipped back to the feet of the American people.
Popular American Made Uggs Shoes
- None
Popular Uggs Shoes Not Made in the USA
- Women’s Classic Ultra Mini Boot
- Classic Micro Boot
- Classic Mini Reflective Boot
