20 January, 2009
How Do They Make Ugg Boots?
Nobody saw it coming, but Ugg Boots have certainly taken the world by
storm and become a huge fashion craze. Everybody whose anyone is
wearing them! Austrailians know that Ugg means “ugly” but these woolly
sensations are still everywhere. Wondering exactly how Ugg Boots are
made and just what makes them so comfortable?
Genuine Ugg Boots are made from the highest quality materials,
including sheepskin hide. You can buy knockoff Ugg Boots almost
anywhere, but only the real deal provides the comfort and durability
promised by Ugg. If they are not made in Australia then they are not
authentic. Ugg Boots are just not made in China, so don’t be fooled.
Buying Ugg-style boots that are not genuine will leave you with boots
that are far inferior in quality. Translation: uncomfortable and
smelly.
Warm in the winter and cool in the summer, genuine
Ugg Boots
are made from Australian double-faced sheepsking, usually Australian
Merino Sheepskin. The highest quality around! Saving a couple of bucks
will get you some synthetic fiber that’s not the same.
Some folks wonder if any animals are harmed during the making of Ugg
Boots. The short answer is, the sheep is slaughtered. BUT, that sheep
was going to be slaughtered for meat to feed people—it is never
actually slaughtered to obtain the sheepskin. Sheep farmers obtain a
secondary profit for selling the hides in addition to the meat. So,
understand that the making of Ugg Boots doesn’t directly harm the
sheep.
Sheepskins have to be preserved properly before they can be processed
into boots. Tanneries use large vessels called paddles, that hold
anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 liters of salt water and slowly swish the
skins around inside. This is a gentle process that takes about 10 days
to get the hides properly tanned and ready to be cut for
Cheap Uggs
boots.
Step 1. Tanning/ Processing
The first step in tanning or processing of sheepskin is “Soaking,”
which takes about 16 hours to complete. During this process, the skins
are thoroughly rinsed in cold water to remove any excess salt or dirt
from the wool and pelt. This soaking process is done overnight in a vat
of fresh cold water.
The next step in the tanning process is called “Fleshing.” This part of
the process uses a fleshing machine which removes any excess fat and
muscle tissue from the underside of the sheepskins. This part of the
process is essential for allowing more rapid and complete penetration
of chemicals in the later stages of processing, particularly during the
pickling and tanning stages.
After Fleshing comes “Scouring.” This 30-45 minute segment of the
process uses surfactants at high temperatures (around 38 degrees
Celsius) and takes care of removing dirt and lanolin (grease) from the
wool.
“Pickling” of the sheepskin then takes about 16 hours. Before the
sheepskin can be tanned, they have to be ) pickled. Pickling means
soaking the skins in a solution of acid and salt. Adding salt prevents
any potential swelling of the skins because of the acid. It’s important
to lower the internal pH of the skins to somewhere between 2.8-3.0,
which will allow the tanning agent to properly penetrate the skin.
The 16-hour “Tanning” step involves using chromium salts which form
cross-links with the collagen, thereby helping to stabilize the skin
structure and preventing putrefaction or rotting. This step is
performed at room temperature, around 25 degrees Celsius, and around a
pH of 2.5-3.0. Once the tanning agent (the chromium) penetrates the
skin, the process is stopped, and the chrome is fixed to the collagen
by raisng the pH to 3.6 using sodium bicarbonate and heating the skins
to between 35-40 degrees Celsius. In doing so, the shrinkage
temperature of the skin is raised to anywhere between 60-100 degrees
Celsius.
Next comes “Wool Dyeing” or “Fatliquoring.” This takes anywhere from
3-4 hours to complete. After the skin is tanned, the wool may be dyed
any of a variety of colors. Wool dyeing needs to be done at about pH
4.5-6 and at 60-65 degrees Celsius. Special "pelt reserve agents" must
be added to keep the wool dye from staining the pelt. Once the dye is
stable, the pH is lowered to about 4.0 to fix the dyes to the wool, and
fatliquor (emulsified oil) is added to the solution. Fatliquors are
part of leather manufacturing that help to lubricate the collagen fiber
and allow them to move flexibly and freely once the skin is dried. This
is what makes the leather feel soft.
Drying of the skins then takes 4-24 hours. Forced air dryers are used
with the skins stretched across a frame. Drying occurs at 50-80 degrees
Celsius.
Drycleaning must then take place over the following 4-24 hours. Either
a white spirit (high boiling petroleum fraction) or perchloroehtylene
is used to remove any natural fat or grease that remains in the skins.
Following final removal of the pelt grease, “Pelt Dyeing” or
“Syntanning” comes next. Back in the paddle (the soaking vessel), the
pelts are dyed in cooler temperature dyes (less than 30 degrees
Celsius). This minimizes staining of the wool. After the pelt dyeing is
completed, syntanning involves using synthetic tanning agents to make
the pelts added fullness and firmness. Finally, the skins are dried
once more.
Step 2. Finishing
After the lengthy tanning process is complete, the final finishing is
done so the skins may be used to make
Ugg Boots Sale.
The
skins must be conditioned to approximately 20% moisture content.
Staking is the process by which the skins are softened and stretched,
and a “nappy” surface is added to the pelt.
Final “Combing,” “Ironing,” and “Clipping” then takes place to remove
any tangles, burrs, or grass seeds that may be remaining in the wool.
The wool is straightened using an iron to remove the natural crimp.
Lastly, a clipping machine creates a uniform wool pile at a desired
length (usually 12-15 mm).
Step 3. Manufacturing
A “clicking press” is used to cut individual panels from the skins.
After being cut to the right size, the panels are then sewn together
using special industrial sewing machines. The soles are then glued to
the boot upper, and, finally, the Ugg Boots are ready for you to
purchase.
15 January, 2009
What Do You Wear With Ugg Boots?
The question is not “What to wear with
Ugg Boots?”,
it’s more like, “Is there anything you can’t wear with Ugg Boots?” This
popular style of boot is so versatile and can be worn with just about
anything. Few fashion rules apply when you are considering
Cheap Ugg
Boots. Ugg Boots start out by breaking just about every fashion rule
you can think of, then creates a whole new set of fashion rules!
Part of what makes Ugg Boots so versatile and popular is having so many
styles and colors to choose from, the enormous selection is key. Styles
range from super casual classic mid-calf height boots in a natural tan
color to the tall, funky, furry pink boots. And, Ugg Boots can come in
dyed sheepskin that’s any color in your imagination.
Nobody saw this trend coming, and now people wear Ugg Boots to work,
out to clubs, at restaurants, on the ski slopes, and on the beach. With
any look, Ugg Boots can work. Every type of person is wearing Ugg
Boots, too, from men to women to children to celebrities. Anyone can
find a great pair of Ugg Boots in their size.
Can’t imagine wearing Ugg Boots to the beach? Yes, it sounds crazy, but
this is really how these odd-looking woolly wonders really got started
as a craze. In the 1970s, Aussie surfers wore the sheepskin boots to
keep their feet warm after they got out of the cold surf. Those
Australians already knew about the great features of Uggs, and they
became an essential part of every surfer’s gear, just as critical as
the surfboard itself. With the onset of global interest in surfing, Ugg
Boots just rode that wave, and were soon in the United States, too,
gaining popularity. The rest is, well, history.
Because Ugg Boots are made from genuine Australian Merino sheepskin,
they can be worn in all types of weather. Although most people think of
cold weather when they think about wearing boots, and it’s true that
Uggs will keep you super cozy and warm, the sheepskin allows your feet
to breathe and can be worn in warmer temps as well. The natural fibers
have a wicking action that draws moisture away from the skin, keeping
your feet dry.
Not only are they cozy, but very comfortable, too.
Ugg Boots
fit like a second skin. And, the comfort is really why people keep
wearing them. Whether you prefer tall or short style; boots, clogs or
slippers; or anything in between, you’ll find Ugg Boots to feel great
on your feet. With the details that range from tie laces to
top-stitching to buckles to snaps, anything goes with Ugg Boots. From
ultra-feminine to rugged male, Ugg has the look.
Time to think outside of the regular fashion box and use your
imagination. Find some Ugg Boots and start wearing them everywhere.
Work, dinner, or just hanging around, Ugg Boots are the answer. You
don’t have to be a surfer, a shepherd, or a celebrity to enjoy Ugg
Boots—everybody’s doing it, why not you? And because you can wear them
with just about anything, Ugg Boots make a great wardrobe investment.
07 January, 2009
The History of the Australian Ugg Boot Company
The history of
Ugg Shoes-Australia
correlates with the long tradition of the Australian people depending
on heavy duty sheepskin boots for their farming and rugged outdoor
activities. For 200 years, Australians referred to their 100% merino
sheepskin boots as "ugs", short for "ugly." By the early 1970's,
several sheepskin boot manufacturing plants had been constructed around
the Australian city of Perth. Located near this city were popular
surfing beaches, where surfers adapted the Ugg boots for year-round
use. The insulating properties of fleece kept feet warm in winter, and
in summer, it absorbed perspiration. With a cozy feel and form-fitting
style, Uggs provided sock-like comfort while walking over rough or
slippery terrain. Gradually,
Cheap Ugg
reached from the West Coast to the surfing communities of Australia's
East Coast, and then were carried into skiing communities by surfers
who enjoyed both sports. When Brian Smith, a native Australian surfer
visited the U.S in the late 1970's, he brought Uggs with him. After
realizing the popularity of Uggs within the California surfing
community, he decided to develop and market the sheepskin footwear. His
conceptual idea came to fruition in 1978. Mr. Smith obtained a
trademark for the term Ugg-and it is believed that he also obtained
variations on the spelling-such as Ug and Ugh. In 1995, Mr. Smith sold
all rights of Ugg Holding to a Californian company by the name of
Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Upon the purchase, Deckers acquired the
Ugg trademark name for 24 countries and began utilizing the name of
Ugg-Australia. However, the production of the sheepskin boots was
transferred to China in a move to lower production costs. Within a few
years, the
Ugg Boots On Sale
-Australia product line included a couple of boot styles and four
models of slippers, as well as a few casual shoes. The concurrent
marketing and advertising campaigns undertaken by Deckers positioned
Ugg footwear as luxury items, and, as such, international celebrities
were soon seen in them. When the rich and famous began donning Ugg
sheepskin boots, worldwide sales were ignited. Nordstrom became a
supplier for Ugg Shoes-Australia, supported by high-end fashion
magazines. In 2000, Ugg's Ultra boots were sent to television talk show
host Oprah Winfrey, who purchased 350 pairs to for employees. She later
focused shows around the Ugg Classic and Uptown boots, and her efforts
and endorsements brought introduced the Ugg name to Middle America.
Thus began an increased sales trend. Ugg Shoes-Australia received an
award from Footwear News in 2003 as "Brand of the Year", and became
noticeable at designer fashion shows in major cosmopolitan fashion
centers. The boot that could have once been considered dowdy due to its
bulk and shape is now viewed as sexy and fashionable. Uggs are no
longer just a household name in Australia, but across the globe, and
sales have tripled within the last two years. With some styles costing
over $444 or 300 Euros a pair, Uggs appeals to those who wish to be
known for their financial success and recognition of high quality and
workmanship. Unfortunately, some groups feel that the name Ugg should
not be considered a brand name, but simply a generic term representing
a boot, just as the words sneaker or trainer refer to an athletic or
tennis shoe. This is currently the basis for some debate between Decker
and other providers of sheepskin boots. The Australian sheepskin trade
claims to have lost $20 million as a result of not being allowed to use
the generic word Ugg in their media or internet advertising. In fact,
one group, the Sheepskin Association, enlisted a campaign termed "Save
our Aussie icon" in its pursuit of having the trademark cancelled. It
may be difficult. Even the Macquarie dictionary, which sets standards
for Australian English, uses the trademark that Deckers acquired, in
its definition of Ugg. By now, many lovers of Ugg boots equate the term
with Ugg Shoes-Australia or Deckers, as well as the warm and
comfortable features offered in their production. Unfortunately,
similar footwear, knockoff styles and fake Uggs are becoming more
numerous. Yet it seems that the buying public is more concerned about
the availability and selection of additional, authentic Ugg-Australia
products. Since early 2007, Ugg's share price has increased ten times,
and it is estimated that 2008 sales will exceed $45 million. This is
based on Ugg-Australia's announcement that it will expand into a line
of handbags as well as other leather goods. There is even speculation
that Uggs may add a line of warm-weather styles, which will certainly
cement Ugg Shoes-Australia's position as one of the leaders in fashion
footwear.