There have been some major stages in the evolution of the ugg boot. You would have to have lived through this era to describe what happened to this humble appendage of the foot. The following are some of the major improvements that were made in order for us to have the high quality ugg boots we have today.

The Chrome Tanning Process

The quality of sheepskin tanning offered its own set of problems. Probably most people wouldn’t remember the era of the alum tanned skins, but those of us who made sheepskin products remember it well.  Before the chrome (cadmium) tanned process came into vogue, there were all sorts of problems when sheep leather came in touch with water over an extended period.  The skin would gradually get really crusty until finally it just fell apart.

Fortunately, at least for the ugg, science came up with the new process described above which made the use of sheep leather in footwear, practical and serviceable at last.  Wearers would not have to worry about getting their uggs soaked in water, apart from the obvious discomfort this would bring.  But when the boots dried out, as long as they were cleaned up a bit with some detergent, they were pretty well unharmed.  If they really got dirty, they could even be soaked in lukewarm water with wool detergent before rinsing and hanging out to dry.  This process, while not really recommended, would not hurt the skins.  However you would have to be careful about the contact cement giving way and releasing the sole from the boot.

The Leather Heel Piece

Another major improvement to the stability and serviceability of uggs was the addition of the leather heel piece. Up until this addition, sheepskin, being quite a soft malleable leather unlike cowhide, would allow the boot to flop to one side and wear out of shape.  Not only was this unsightly but it took away from the security of the boots, creating the risk of ankle sprains.  The heel piece stabilized the rear section of the boot and was a great improvement that has been retained to this day.

The Binding Machine

The early boots had no binding. The edge of the boot was just sewn to an inner sole on an overlocker without binding, and later cemented to the sole.  This meant that the sewing was exposed to the elements and subject to scuffing which at times would break the cotton and cause the boot to fall apart.  The introduction of binding machines to the manufacturing process insured that this problem was all but eliminated.  The binding was then applied to other parts such as the top of the boot and around the edges of tongue shaped boots as well.

The Leather Toe Piece

Then there was the introduction of the toe piece, which was a strong leather strip that protected the front of the boot as well as the rear. Not so many boots have this feature today as a lot of attention has been given to style rather than just practicality.  And who would have imagined back in those days that the humble ugg would evolve from being just a wonderful foot warmer to the fashion statement that they are today.

Evolution of the Ugg Boot By Peter Brusaschi