You only need pick up a copy of Heat magazine or any other quality fashion magazine to see a huge number of the celebrity female population donning a wide range of these brands.

However, with the rise in the new brands of sheepskin boot, we can also see a huge amount of imitation boots being sold across the internet who have completely copied patented designs and are selling them as their own.

LFA Lovers will know that the beautiful designs are often copied by both the high street and other sheepskin boot brands. Last season, the Nomad had to be the most copied boot of all time! Very flattering for LFA but at the same time, a bit sad that other brands can’t come up with their own designs…

To help you sift through the copies from the real, you should always check to see the labelling on the boot. Make sure it is the logo that you are expecting. Most imitations will not sport a logo at all. This would then not only be an imitation boot but a counterfeit brand which would land them in a much bigger problem area. Check out the soles, on the new LFA range available from September 2007, they will sport a new durable patterned sole with the script logo in the centre as well as the heel label.

Always support the genuine article and keep the little guys in business. If LFA boots are out of your budget – go to an authorised seller of clearance stock and samples: www.lfaboots.com donate 10% to charity and have some amazing bargains on last season’s styles and slightly damaged stock.

In this study, I have only really highlighted one brand but no doubt this is happening across the whole of the industry. The same rules apply for which ever boot you are interested in. Is the price too good to be true? Not all the time because some sites are offering genuine boots but because they may be from 2005/2006 they are able to offer great discounts. If they are offering half price on the latest range, you have to start thinking there is a problem. Check out the website you are buying from, normally the genuine discounts are offered from affiliates of the brand and would normally have a direct link from the brands webpage.

Common sense is the key to success, if you are in any doubt at all, ask the seller directly “are, these boots genuine? Can you prove it to me?" Most genuine resellers would only be too happy to help

*ugg and ugg boot are generic terms in Australia describing a pull on sheepskin boot with eva sole. In the UK, UGG is also a brand of sheepskin boot, the use of this term throughout the article is in no way connected to the UGG brand.