Back from the early 2000s, the Australian shoe brand known by the name UGGS has made a comeback, teenagers flock to malls and outlets in hopes of getting their hands on a pair of the expensive shoes. Foran students haven’t been made an exception to following this trend.
The shoes are iconic for their design that includes both sheepskin and fleece on the inside and leather on the outside. Its design had been popular with surfers in Australia, and it would end up being a surfer that would one day find the revolutionary brand.
Surfer Brian Smith would seek help from his friend, Doug Jensen, in order to bring Australian shoe design to the United States. Smith was convinced that the world would one day share the love he had for sheepskin in shoes. It would be in 1978 on the beach shores of Southern California in where UGGS would make their debut in America.
It would be in the 1980s that the UGGS shoe brand would become synonymous in America as a look for relaxed, southern California culture. It would be in the late 2000s in which the brand would become a global phenomenon, with stores popping up in England, France, Japan, China, etc.
Gen Z has managed to uncover the old hidden gem that is the UGGS shoe brand now in the 2020s and Foran students have been more than receptive to the trend, hurriedly rushing to malls and making online purchases in search of the perfect shoe that will keep them both warm while also managing to stay stylish.
Senior Isabella Abreu states, “I think they’re so popular with teen girls right now because they are so comfortable and practical. They just slip right on, unlike a sneaker which you would have to put on and tie as well. Now more in the winter times because they help keep you warm.”
Another factor that has managed to make UGGS so popular resides in the designs of each individual shoe Although all UGGS shoes are made with sheepskin: the color, stitching, and form differ in each pair. The UGGS company works to create a design for everyone – allowing the company to keep flourishing from countless sales from everywhere.
Senior Mia Iacono states, “I think that people at Foran are wearing them [UGGS] more than ever because they have so many different types of shoes, making them a very electric brand while also being super comfortable. With the mix of fashion and comfort, they seem to have caught on very quickly with the girls at Foran.”
However, through this trend, it is important to remember that a topic as broad as style is not in fact excused from being subjective.
Junior Filippo Montanaro states, “I would say that opinions on material items (such as shoes) are subjective and that you can’t base a general idea on a demographic.”
There are people who simply don’t find interest in a brand that follows the same formula as any other good shoe company.
Senior Teresa Lin states, “I personally think that UGGS are not really my thing because I don’t think they are really fashionable and a bit unattractive in a sense, but that is my opinion. [They’re] Not really overrated as there are benefits to wearing them such as keeping your feet warm but there are other ways of designing shoes to keep feet warm….”
Despite the different views on the shoes, it’s undoubtedly to note the great rise of girls wearing them at Foran. A vast majority seem to be indulging in the trend. Yet, the question remains in regards to if the brand will remain a staple to Foran’s wardrobe.
With uncertainty, freshman Aishwarya Gantasala states, “It’s probably a seasonal thing…. So it’s here to stay I guess.”
