The footwear market is full of counterfeit products, and since the emergence of the Internet, "fakes" have become ever more frequent. Unfortunately, UGG is among the most widespread brands that fall victim to this counterfeiting due to the popularity of their boots and slippers among a diverse demographic.
There is a crucial difference between alternative and counterfeit UGGs. Countless brands have jumped on the fur-lined suede-slipper boot trend offering more affordable alternatives. They might have lesser quality material, but these boots are not claiming to be UGGs and are, therefore, legal.
On the other hand, a counterfeit product relates to any item sold as a fake or imitating a genuine, branded product. These counterfeits work hard to look like genuine UGGs but lack authentic materials and craftsmanship, often resulting in a less durable and quality boot. As expected, the counterfeit will look very similar to the real deal, which can be incredibly difficult to distinguish unless you know what to look for.
A way to verify you have genuine UGG boots is by using the UGG Authenticity guide. The official UGG website details how to spot genuine and fake UGG Australia products. You can also browse a gallery of convincing counterfeit products to make you aware of what to look for.
One surefire way to identify genuine UGG products is by looking for the security sticker or label with every official product. You can find the QR code that takes you to the UGG website or the reflective holographic logo on the outside of the shoebox or sewn into the footwear.
When checking UGG boots for sewn-in security labels, you'll find them inside the left boot, shoe or slipper.
Move the holographic UGG security sticker at a 90° angle to see the sun logos changing from dark silver to light silver. You will also notice that the UGG® logo is duplicated in mini versions, appearing faintly on the strip when moved from side to side.
Another way to check the authenticity of an UGG is to look at the "Made In" label. Genuine UGG manufacturing happens in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, The Dominican Republic and the U.S. So, if an UGG claims to have Australian or New Zealand manufacturing, it is a fake.
UGG uses high-quality materials for the slipper and boot soles, making them sturdy and flexible. So, if you have an UGG boot that has a stiff sole, it is a fake.
UGG never displays hanging tags on their products, so if you see one of these, it is a counterfeit.
UGG packaging is very definitive. For example, they will never arrive in a bag, only a box. Also, the box packaging will feature a QR code that will link to a UGG webpage to verify the boot's authenticity. The label on the box will also feature an accurate image of the product inside, whereas counterfeits don't have these.
UGG uses authentic sheepskin in all their boots and slippers, so they are fake if you have a pair of UGGS with a polyester lining. Furthermore, the sheepskin lining adheres to the suede outer, so you can't pull them apart. You can identify a counterfeit UGG boot if you find a gap between the fur lining and the suede outer.
You can also tell a fake UGG boot from a genuine one by looking at the stitching. The fake will have lower-quality stitching and a double-stitch pattern, whereas genuine UGG Boots have a single-stitch.
The logo on the back of a boot is also a good indicator of counterfeit UGGs. Look for misspellings, slight variations in logo design or fraying stitching.
Even if you know how to spot fake UGG boots, shopping online is different. Although some website content, imagery and branding may look legitimate, it's important to remember that scam websites are designed to fool you.
One way to establish whether the website is a listed UGG retailer is to check for website reviews and browse social media pages, particularly Instagram and Facebook, for cross-referencing. People will talk, and it is usually relatively easy to pick up on a trail that online audiences have left to warn any potential buyers.
At Daniel Footwear, we take pride in our verified Trustpilot reviews from our legitimate customers, which are free to view.
Always check the name, address and other contact information of any suspicious website and cross-reference it with UGG's list of genuine retailers. Does the website look legitimate? Check for spelling and grammar errors or use a plagiarism check to detect if they have copied another retailer's product descriptions. They might also use genuine UGG images stolen from another website, so you can't check if they're genuine. Instead, use a reverse image search to check for stolen product images.
Also, be aware of people selling fake UGGs on sites like eBay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. UGG boots have a specific price because of their quality materials. So if they are wildly underpriced, be weary of counterfeit.
We want to reassure our customers that all UGG products sold online at Daniel Footwear are 100% genuine. Browse our collection of genuine UGGs online today.
