^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Several illnesses were reported across the U.S. this month including the Ugg Boots Virus (UBV), Chihuahua Owner Disease (COD), and Oversized Sunglesses Syndrome (OSS). Though many of them are well-known issues that began early in the decade and have begun to trail off, the Ugg Boots Virus continues to reign terror on the nation and is approaching alarming levels. Experts are now urging friends and families to do everything they can to prevent the virus from further outbreaks.

Last year, 6,527,220 new Ugg Boots Virus cases were reported. Many of these cases involved repeat victims who were unable to change their stale fashions in time to prevent contracting the virus again. Even more alarming is that many of the new cases reported contain a transformed version of the virus that has helped speed the spread the virus. This new string has been linked back to Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and Target which has allowed new classes of Americans to contract the virus — not just trophy wives at upscale shops.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

The Ugg Boots Virus became a household name to the everyday American in 2003 when dozens of A-list celebrities contracted the virus from a fashion-risk lifestyle. But it wasn’t until Oprah introduced the virus to millions of Americans that it truly hit the Center for Disease Control’s radar. In December of 2003, NPR reported:

In the world of high fashion, the most unlikely styles become fads. This season, the must-have accessory is a pair of Uggs… cloddish sheepskin boots from Australia first popular with surfers in the 1970s. Now all of Hollywood seems to be wearing them. And it’s not just a Southern California trend, either. Retailers are selling out as far away as Toronto.

As NPR’s Elaine Korry notes, “Ugg mania” may have been pushed over the edge when Oprah Winfrey gave a pair to everyone in her audience. Before that, celebrity sightings: Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts were spotted wearing them, and Sarah Jessica Parker ordered a special pair in ruby red.

Though unsure of whether Toronto represents the northern or eastern limit, the virus had actually spread as far as the shores of the Atlantic. It spread like wildfire and by February of 2009, the number of women who have contracted the virus is staggering. UBV has affected over 50% of women under 40, 80% of women under 25, and 98% of girl’s under 18. It has literally ruined the sex appeal of women across the country.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater of the Center for Disease Control has never seen anything like it.

This virus kind of began with a bang and women weren’t ready to accept the consequences of their decisions. It was a different time back then. Women weren’t aware of how ugly they’d become if they contracted UBV. But now we find ourselves, 5 years later, seeing young women continue to contract this virus — and their behavior is unacceptable. It is very well known that this virus can be avoided by changing simple patterns in shopping behavior, but these young girls continue to ruin their looks. It’s appauling…I have no idea how to resolve this.

However, the recent downturn in the economy may prove heroic in killing this horrible virus. On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the maker of the virus, expects unchanged or decreased profits in 2009. This is the best sign in 8 years that the UBV may eventually disappear sooner rather than later.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater sees this as good news.

You know I saw something similar to this in the 60s and 70s. The Nehru Jacket Disease (NJD), which affected millions of Americans in the late 1960s, wouldn’t die off until there were economic factors that wiped it out of existence. I can see how this might happen to UBV, but I’m skeptical. These chicks are looking pretty fugly.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Did you know that Australian Sheepskin Ug boots have always been called Ug, Ugh or Ugg boots and have been made in Australia for almost 200 years? “We always called them Uggs, Smith says, “long before it was a trademarked brand.” Brian Smith, Founder UGG Holdings, Inc. Los Angeles Magazine October 1st, 2001.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Ug Boot Story

The original Ug Boot. “Ug,” (also spelled “Ugg” and “Ugh” in Australian dictionaries) is not a brand name but an age old generic term for this style of Australian-made sheepskin boot. In Aussie slang, the Ug name is short for “ugly.” In terms of comfort, however, the Ug Boot is a thing of beauty. The softness of the Australian Merino sheepskin produces a boot with a snug, cozy, form-fitting feel that’s more like a sock than a shoe, yet it’s rugged enough for outdoor wear. The fleece lining has the astonishing property of providing year-round comfort. In cold weather, the plush fleece provides an insulating layer of warmth by trapping your body heat, much like goose down does. But in the heat of summer, the natural fibers of the fleece actually cool your feet by wicking away perspiration.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Growing Up in Ugs

By the 1970s, in Perth, the largest city on Australia’s West Coast, Ugg boots were being manufactured by several small companies in the area. Perth has much the same climate as Southern California and is also a haven for surfers, whom Aussies call “surfies.” And it was the community of surfies at the great surfing beaches at Margaret River near Perth who first adopted Ug Boots as their footwear of choice and made them a symbol of the Aussie surfing lifestyle.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ug Fever Spreads

From the beaches of Western Australia, Ugs were soon seen on the feet of East Coast surfers from Brisbane to Sydney. And it wasn’t long before some of these surfers — the ones who traded their surfboards for skis in the winter — found that their Ug Boots were just as at home in the ski resort areas of the Snowy Mountains as they were on the warm sands of Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

It was Aussie surfers, traveling the world in search of the perfect wave, who first introduced their mates in Southern California to the pleasures of the Ug Boot. Ugs soon became a cult fashion among those L.A. surfers who could depend on a buddy ‘down under” to send them a pair of boots.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ug Essentials

Today the Ug “secret” is out. You’ll find these versatile boots to be in fashion on beaches from San Diego to Santa Cruz and in ski resorts from Tahoe to Vail. And today, you don’t have to “know someone” in Australia who will send you a pair, since there are now a number of companies importing boots of this type. But, if you want the genuine article, you do have to know what you’re looking for because, no matter how they spell it — Ug, Ugg or Ugh — there are several importers with look-alike products that fall short of being the real thing.

If you want genuine Ug Boots — well-made boots with all the qualities that made the original so desirable — you’ll want to make sure that…..

The boots are made from 100% Australian Merino Sheepskin. This will ensure your purchase is made of the finest Sheepskin hide avaliable.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note Below:

Beware of very cheap imitations… quite a few boots on the market are made of cow suede with sawn on sheepskin inner fleece off cuts…. Don’t take the chance and purchase these boots…. the external cow suede does not breath like 100% sheepskin does and will leave you with a smelly sweaty boot… But I must say these boots do look like the real thing but just don’t cut the mustard when compared to authentic ugg boots.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

===============================

1) The bottom of the boot is recessed with the UGG insignia in a Classic tall or short Authentic Ugg. A fake is flat.

2) The seller says they are made in New Zealand or Australia for a Classic Tall or Classic Short. UGGs are Manufactured by Deckers Inc. They have been making them in China for the past 2 years. They used to make them in Australia and New Zealand but have not for 2 years or more. The uggs that are advertised as made in Australia or New Zealand are FAKES. They are not from Deckers Inc. They have copied the label and insignia but they are not from Deckers Inc.

3) They are subject to copywright infringment as only Deckers is allowed to use the word UGG. They have also copied Deckers labels and boxes.

4) The ones that are fake do not have a raised insignia on the bottom of the soles.

5) You can report to UGG Australia any fake ones you see on ebay at [email protected] or at the bottom of an auction of a Fake Ugg click on Report this Item.

6) UGG Australia has required any Authorized Ugg Dealer to promise and sign an agreement not to sell on ebay. If the price is below retail then it is most likey a fake as only Ebay sellers who buy the boots retail are allowed to sell on Ebay. So if theya re buying them retail with tax and having to pay ebay and pay pal fees and they are not seconds and are grade a boots they will be selling for more than retail. Any boots you see being sold less are usually fakes. The price of the boot is a good indicator for a fake.

7) The quality of the stitching on the fakes is very bad.

8 ) The box is different: Genuine UGG Box is one piece with a flip open lid attached. It is a strong sturdy box. The words “UGG Australia are wrten in the middle of the lid. The Ugg Logo is a starbust orange sun. It is not big but small. Ugg now as of May 2007 has a new box. It is a flip top box.

9) The Care Booklet that comes with the boots is in white. It has the words “Ugg Australia” embossed and it is square. Fake ones are badly printed and in silver. The pictures in the booklet are sharp and clear. The fakes ones are not. They have been scanned and printed in color and appear fuzzy or unclear. The colors are exaggerated.

10) Fake Uggs do not run a size larger as the real uggs do.

11) Fake Uggs are smaller with a wider ankle.

12) Fake Uggs are taller than real uggs.

13) The heel of a fake Uggs is much narrower than a authentic UGG.

14) Some fakes are not sheepskin but wool dyed and will smell of the dye. it smells of paint/lacquer which comes from the dye used on the synthetic materials.16) The UGG label on the rear of the boots is higher up on a fake and the lettering is different from the genuine Ugg. The letters may have gaps between them in the fake in the real they are overlapping.

15) The shape of the front part of the fake ugg is shorter and goes up at more of an angel than the genuine UGG which has a rounder longer finish.

16) The Black Uggs have a black Sole and a Black Label with Ugg in white. The fake have tan soles and a brown label.

17) The sole in a real ugg is flexible. The fakes are rigid.

18) The sole in a real ugg is about a half inch or more, the sole of a fake ugg is very very thin maybe 1/4 inch

19) The height can be either taller or shorter than the authentic Ugg. One classic tall received recently from a fake was 10 inches tall for a size 6 US compared to 12 1/2″ 6 US for the authentic UGG. This means that the fake is not much taller than a classic short.

20) The box is different: Genuine Ugg Box is one piece with a flip open lid attached. It is a strong sturdy box. The words “UGG Australia are written in the middle of the lid. The Ugg Logo is a starbust orange sun. It is not big but small. As of April 2007, Ugg is not making the box with a seperate lid. The top of the box is no longer attached to the bottom. There is a big sunburst on top and ‘ugg australia’. The side of the lid has www.uggaustralia.com.

21) The fake may have a blue label pinned to it or a brown cloth protection bag which says “Snow Boots” - these are not provided with Authentic Uggs.

22) The font of the inside label on a fake is different from a Genuine UGG. and the outside label will have the ‘australia’ in a bolder font on the fake . The label inside should say made in China. If it says made in New Zealand or Austraia it is a fake.

23) The selller leaves out any mention of Deckers in his description. He is selling Australian Uggs but not Deckers Uggs. Don’t be fooled by this if you want Deckers Uggs. The box used is similar and copies Deckers Box and Logo, but they are not Deckers Uggs. If you email the seller he will tell you that he does not sell Deckers Uggs. An unsuspecting buyer sees authentic and thinks they are getting Deckers . The seller i is sellling “authentic” australian uggs and leaves out any mention of Deckers.

24) Follwoing is a wonderful guide with pictures sent to me by an ebayer who had purchased fakes for his daughter.

25) There are many fake UGG boots circulating on eBay. Whilst the term UGG is not protected, the UGG boots which are made by Deckers ARE protected. These are the boots which are being faked. Some of the fake UGGS are exceedingly good and even when placed next to genuine ones will take some spotting! This guide will hopefully help you to spot them as many people are being duped.

26) Most of the fakes are sold from sellers (with either low or zero feedback) in The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Greece, Italy, Australia and the Czech Republic. The boots are actually in China and they also charge a lot for shipping and normally only accept Paypal. They will also have lots of them for sale. There are however some fakes that are being sold quite innocently in the UK because they were bought from the organised fakers via eBay and they are found to be too small. The fact is the fake UGGS are indeed too small and this is why they are then resold. A fake size 5 (US size 7) is about 1 cm smaller in foot size.

27) The smell of a fake UGG is a give away - it smells of paint/lacquer which comes from the dye used on the synthetic materials. The fake will often have a blue label pinned to it and also a brown cloth protection bag which says “Snow Boots” - these are not provided with the genuine ones!!

28) A genuine Deckers UGG boots have real sheepskin fur on the interior. Its fluffy looking and also thicker and a rich cream colour. The fake uses synthetic ‘fur’, is slightly grey, thinner and also small pieces of the ‘fur’ come away when rubbed. Here’s the genuine fur on the left and the fake fur on the right.

29) Believe it or not, genuine Deckers UGGS are made in China. The fake Decker UGGS always say made in New Zealand or sometimes Australia. Here’s the genuine label (for a classic short) on the left and the fake on the right. Also note how the font style for ‘australia’ is different.

30) Where the sole joins the heel, the genuine UGG has a flush join. On the fake there is a solid line clearly visible. Genuine on the left, fake on the right.

31) A genuine Deckers UGG will have an R in a circle next to the UGG on the sole. A fake UGG will not have the R in the circle on the sole. Genuine on the left, fake on the right.

32) The outside labels are subtly different. Note how ‘australia’ is in a bolder font on the fake - which is shown on the right.

33) To my knowledge and indeed from the official UGG website, UGG do not make a CAMEL colour - if your label says ‘CAMEL’ chances are they are fakes.

34) Finally the price is a huge clue. Genuine UK sourced Decker UGGS are at least ￡140 - anything substantially less and they are probably fakes. US sourced short UGGS are at least ￡70 and tall UGGS ￡85 - again anything less and they will probably be fakes.

===============================