UGG Holdings, Inc. is an American footwear brand and division of Decker’s Outwear Corporation that manufactures and distributes footwear. Their classic boots are known for an upscale yet casual look, premium quality, and comfort. The brand has taken the same formula -- the mixture of creativity, quality, and craftsmanship they poured into those boots – and applied it to new apparel, accessories, and homeware lines.
UGG was founded in 1978 in Goleta, California, by surfers Brian Smith and Doug Jansen. The footwear brand grew a loyal customer base among Southern California surfers and was a household name in surf shops in the 1980s and 90s. After a while, the widespread influence of surfer culture spread the footwear’s popularity inland to ski resorts. Then in 2003, the brand went national and international when Oprah Winfrey purchased 350 pairs for her “Favorite Things” segments, gifting them to her staff and audience on air. As sales increased, the company started opening physical locations. In 2006, UGG opened its first store in New York's SoHo neighborhood and its first international store in Japan. In 2010, the company hit $1 billion in annual sales. The brand’s iconic women’s boots are a staple across the world to this day.