So you love UGG boots. They’re cute, comfortable and look great over a pair of leggings.
Although you may have heard some rumors about UGG boots, such as whether they are animal-friendly or not.
If you’re an animal lover like me, this would certainly be an important question to ask as you no doubt want a solid, reliable answer.
Well, that’s what I’m here to do for you today, to answer the ever-popular question: Are UGG boots vegan?
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Are UGG Boots Vegan?
In short, the answer is: No UGG boots are not vegan because they are typically made from sheepskin. Sheepskin is the treated hide of sheep that have been raised for food or wool. Very similar to how leather is made from the treated hide of a cow.
If you’re looking for some more information on how they obtain these sheepskins please watch the video produced by UGGS themselves.
But isn’t that cruel?
That is where there is a lot of controversy today.
However, it is important to note that UGG doesn’t raise sheep for the sole purposes of killing them for their hide. Rather, they buy the hides from suppliers that abide by their very strict animal welfare policy
What does vegan actually mean?
In simple terms, when a product is labeled as “vegan”, it is stating that it was not made with animal products in any way.
In other words, the wool, leather, fur, glues etc. that were used (in this case) on the shoe, is faux, not made from animal skin.
You can best find this out by first off reading the label of the shoe. This usually can be found on the inside tongue, but sometimes it’s placed as a sticker on the bottom as well.
Most companies these days are required to list all of the materials used in making the design, specifically what the upper, outsole, lining and sock are derived from.
If it’s still not quite clear to you, look out for words like leather, suede, fur, coated leather and the like. These words would indicate that the shoe was made from animal skin.
On the other hand, be on the watch for anything listed as ‘man-made materials’, things like PVC, rubber, fabric or faux (meaning fake) before such words as fur and shearing.
This would be a great clue that those beloved boots are indeed vegan. However, keep in mind that it is important to do your investigating beforehand, and to do it well.
Mixing real and faux materials these days is a common occurrence and something that could easily be overlooked if someone was not “paying attention.”
(You might also enjoy reading: 7 Boots Like Uggs But Cuter)
Reasons UGG boots are not considered vegan
The reason UGG boots are not considered vegan is quite simple, They are made out of real materials- (materials that are produced from animals) thus not making them animal-friendly.
The main material that is used in their boots is sheepskin, or in other words the hide from a sheep.
The UGG brand has actually had a lot of backlash in recent years due to the way they are making their very popular boots.
Many vegans and animal activists in themselves have been very outspoken about the brand and their alleged treatment of animals.
UGG themselves have also spoken out about the issue, and as they do admit to using sheepskin (the treated hide of a sheep), they have been very adamant about only buying sheepskin from those that meet their animal welfare policy.
Learn more about how they obtain these sheepskins in the following video:
If you’d like to read UGG’s faq page, explaining their process in more detail, check it out here.
To purchase or not to purchase, that is the question
The truth is, this is a hot topic in the footwear and clothing department and has been for years.
Some people are fine with purchasing materials made from animal skin and the like, while others feel very strong in their opinion of cruelty-free products.
Here at 10 toes, 2 feet, we certainly have an opinion, yet I don’t think it’s right for me to sway you one way or another.
I wrote this article to put the facts out there, to let the reader make an intelligent, personal decision after seeing both sides of the story.
However, I hope that this article was not only informative but helpful in deciding whether to purchase those sheepskin UGGs or not.
If you ultimately decide against purchasing those real-fur boots, don’t worry. There are plenty of options out there that will still give you the same look and feel as a UGG boot, without sacrificing your conscience.
If you fall into that category, check out my post on 7 UGG boots that are animal-friendly. You’ll see that you can still be stylish and warm at the same time.
You may also enjoy reading: Can You Wear UGG Boots In The Show?
