CNewStyle

It’s thought that Australians were wearing some sort of sheepskin-lined footwear for decades (and that the term “ugg” evolved from “ugly boots”), but if you’re looking for someone to blame — or thank — for the U.S. invasion, consider Australian surfer Brian Smith, who started the ugg Australia footwear company in 1978. Seeking to increase sales of his fur-lined boots, Smith came to the U.S. with about two dozen pairs of the footwear, selling them to California surfers and, eventually, to the Hollywood set.

The sheepskin is twin-faced, meaning that the wool is still attached to the suede during the construction and dying process. That makes the fur very porous. So, if you’ve always wanted to know why Angelenos wear sheepskin footwear with shorts in the summer, it’s because the material is naturally thermostatic. The boots will keep feet cool in 80-degree weather and warm when it’s 10 below. Breath-ability is key.

In 1995, Smith sold his company to the Goleta-based Deckers Outdoor Corp., which decided to expand from its basic “heritage” line to include a handful of new styles; a few years later, the company opted to reposition Ugg Australia as a luxury brand.

In the late 1990s, Deckers switched the primary focus of the footwear company to the international market. What started as a small enterprise to clad the feet of Australian surfers now seems intent on world domination. Or, at least, boot domination.