From Surfer to Founder: The UGG Brand Story | UGG

Step into Brian Smith’s world as he shares how he started the UGG brand in 1978 from the back of his van in Southern California. In the late 1970s, Brian Smith was a hardworking accounting student living in Australia with a deep passion for surfing, music, and meditation. One day, he decided to move to California to look for the next big thing. After noticing his surfer friends didn’t wear sheepskin boots, his idea for the UGG brand was born. Brian went door to door to over 150 shops in SoCal and eventually gained traction from word of mouth based on the quality of the products. From there, he was off to races to build the brand throughout the late 70s, 80s, and early 90s. After almost 20 years building the brand, Brian officially sold the UGG brand to Deckers in 1995. We’ve taken the brand to new heights worldwide ever since, while maintaining Brian Smith’s same dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Feat. Brian Smith Nene White #UGG