UGG or UGG Australia, what's the difference?

A "UGG Australia" label on an old pair, a site selling "UGGs made in Australia" for less, a store that only talks about UGG. You might well wonder if they are referring to the same brand. In France, the difference between UGG and UGG Australia is quickly summarized: both names refer to the same brand, that of the American group Deckers, which simply removed the word "Australia" from its logo. But in Australia, "ugg" is a common noun, and several local manufacturers use it. That is where all the confusion comes from.

Key takeaways in 30 seconds

·       UGG Australia is the former name displayed by the UGG brand. The word "Australia" was removed from the logo, but the brand remained the same.

·       The UGG brand belongs to the American company Deckers, which acquired it in 1995 and declared it the official brand in over 130 countries, including France.

·       In Australia and New Zealand, "ugg" is a generic term for sheepskin boots, which can be used by any manufacturer.

·       A pair sold in France under the name "UGG Australia" is either an old authentic pair, a pair from an Australian manufacturer, or a counterfeit.

UGG Australia is the old name for UGG

On its Australian website's help page, the brand explains that the logo with the intertwined U-G-G letters has been used for 36 years, and that this logo previously included the word "Australia," which was removed to simplify the design. Older pairs therefore have "UGG Australia" on the heel, the label, and the box, while recent ones only show "UGG."

There is no manufacturing difference behind this logo change. A Classic Mini stamped "UGG Australia" a few years ago and a Classic Mini UGG from today come from the same company. If you find an old pair at the back of a closet, it is neither fake nor from another brand.

An American brand born from an Australian boot

The story of the sheepskin boot is indeed Australian. Surfers wore them as early as the 1950s, over 70 years ago, and they became widespread throughout the country in the 1970s. In 1981, the word "ug" entered the Australian Macquarie dictionary as a generic name for these boots.

In the late 1970s, Australian Brian Smith brought the model to California and registered the name as a trademark. The American shoemaker Deckers bought the business in 1995, registered the "UGG Australia" trademark that same year, and later dropped the word "Australia." That is why the brand now emphasizes its Californian heritage. The sun logo engraved on the soles of the Classic line represents, according to them, the sun on the Pacific coast.

Why you can still find "UGG Australia" boots made in Australia

The status of the name depends on the country. In Australia and New Zealand, "ugg" is recognized as a generic term, so any local manufacturer can name its boots this way. Everywhere else, Deckers holds the rights to the UGG trademark.

Two Australian companies often appear in search results.

·       UGG Australia, a family business in Melbourne founded in 1981, which has been tanning its own skins and manufacturing locally for over 40 years. For international customers, it directs them to its international label, Sheepskins Downunder.

·       UGG Since 1974, which announced in January 2025 that it would henceforth sell outside of Australia and New Zealand under the name "Since 74."

These boots are not fake UGGs. They are simply not shoes from the UGG brand sold in France. They are sold through their own networks, under other names as soon as they leave Australia.

UGG or UGG Australia, a guide to keep track

How do you know if a pair is a real UGG?

The brand itself provides some marks of authenticity on its official page. These apply to both recent pairs and those that still bear the "UGG Australia" logo, and counterfeits are often betrayed by irregular stitching.

·       The logo with the three intertwined letters, with the middle G thicker and positioned in front of the other two.

·       The "license plate," the framed rectangle with the UGG logo sewn onto the heel.

·       The sun logo under the sole of the Classics, with the Sun Tread tread pattern.

·       A quality box with a label showing a product image, size, and security labels.

·       Authentic UGGs are never delivered in a simple bag.

Price remains the best warning sign. A brand-new Classic Mini listed at a price far below the usual rate on an unknown site is very likely to be fake. We apply the same verification logic as we do for sneakers, detailed in our article on how to spot a fake Air Jordan 1.

Which pair to choose?

If you are looking for the models everyone loves to wear in France, such as the Tasman, Tazz, Ultra Mini, or Lowmel, the brand you need is UGG, with or without the word "Australia" depending on the age of the pair. At The Last Step, every pair is inspected and authenticated by our experts before shipment, and the entire range can be found in our UGG section.

Sizing is the other common question that comes up before a purchase, because sheepskin packs down as it is worn. Our guide on how UGGs fit provides the size to choose for each model.

To make a pair last longer, our method to clean UGGs without damaging them prevents water spots on the suede.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are UGG and UGG Australia the same brand?

In France, yes. UGG Australia is the former name displayed on the logo of the UGG brand, owned by Deckers. The word "Australia" was removed, but the brand did not change.

What is the real UGG brand?

Outside of Australia and New Zealand, it is the brand from the American Deckers group, which presents itself as the official UGG brand in over 130 countries.

Where are real UGGs made?

Boots sold as "made in Australia" come from Australian manufacturers who use the word "ugg" in its generic sense, such as UGG Australia in Melbourne. The UGG brand sold in France is the one owned by Deckers, which claims a Californian heritage.

What are UGGs?

Boots made of sheepskin, with suede on the outside and wool on the inside, originated in Australia. The word refers to both this type of boot in Australia and the Deckers brand everywhere else.

How do I know if my UGGs are real?

Check the logo with the intertwined letters, the UGG plaque on the heel, the sun logo under the sole of the Classics, and the security labels on the box. A pair delivered in a simple bag or sold far below the usual price should be a warning sign.