UGG boots are made of the finest natural sheepskin, but what exactly does that mean, and how does it benefit the wearer? Why is sheepskin such a perfect material for footwear? Sheepskin is exactly what it sounds like - the tanned hide of a sheep, with wool on one side and skin on the other. In New Zealand and Australia sheepskin has been the material of choice for outerwear, seat coves, baby sleeping pads and footwear for generations. Here are some of the reasons that sheepskin and sheepskin boots are so popular around the world:

-Sheepskin is a Natural Product

Unlike synthetic materials used in many other boots, sheepskin is 100% natural. Because it is not manufactured, every sheepskin has its on unique markings that make every pair of UGG sheepskin boots one of a kind. These small imperfections in the skin are your assurance that the material you are wearing is real sheepskin and not some attempt to manufacture the same comfort and beauty.

-Sheepskin is Water Resistant

Sheepskin keeps a sheep dry, and it can do the same for you. Suede sheepskin, the most commonly used kind for boots, is naturally water-resistant. The skin and the lanolin in the wool is another natural water resistor. Sheepskin boots are ideal for keeping your feet dry, even in the damp cold of winter. You can add even more protection with a coat of a good waterproofing spray and stain resistor.

-Sheepskin Keeps Moisture Away From Your Body

Irish fisherman sweaters are made of 100% natural wool for a good reason. Sheep's wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in moisture before it even starts feeling wet. Wool fibers are hollow, allowing wool to literally draw moisture away from the body. That keeps your feet warmer in winter and reduces sweating and heat in the summer. Sheepskin boots, slippers and casual shoes by UGG keep your feet warm, comfortable and dry in a way that synthetic materials just can't.

-Sheepskin is Warm and Breathable.

In addition to the moisture wicking properties of wool, the hollow structure of wool fibers also makes wool a great natural insulator. Sheepskin keeps heat in and cold out to keep your feet toasty warm. In a surprising natural twist, the same thing that keeps your feet warm, also keeps them dry, which means more comfortable, cooler feet in the summer.

-Sheepskin is Resilient and Durable

Sheepskin wool wears like iron, but feels like fleece. In durability tests, sheepskin wool can be bent 20,000 times without breaking the fibers, giving you an incredibly long lasting material for shoes. By contrast, a manmade fiber like rayon breaks after as few as 75 bends.

-Sheepskin is Biodegradable.

The environment is a serious concern for many people. Shoes and boots made with synthetic materials will be with us all for a long, long time. Plastics and chemical materials do not degrade naturally. These materials will stay in landfills for centuries. Sheepskin is 100% all natural, and like many things which are natural, the material will decompose back into soil.

-Sheepskin Is a Sustainable Byproduct

Unlike most furs and skins, sheepskin is a byproduct of the food industry. Tanning the sheepskin and using it for clothing makes environmental sense and avoids wasting a valuable natural resource. Wearing sheepskin does not threaten any endangered species.

Sheepskin boots have been made and worn in Australia and New Zealand for decades. The tanned hides are turned skin side out to take advantage of the natural waterproofing and put the snuggly warmth of natural wool next to your feet. It is the perfect material for winter boots, keeping your feet warm and dry in the nastiest weather.

Natural sheepskin is also ideal for children's and baby shoes. Baby booties made of natural sheepskin keep baby's feet warm and dry without constricting them. When your little one starts to walk, the natural suppleness of the skin makes it easy for little toes to grip and flex the way they need to in order to balance during those precarious early months.

These days, UGG Australia has turned UGG boots of natural sheepskin into a high fashion statement. UGG Australia boots, slippers and casual shoes are featured in the pages of the world's biggest fashion magazines and touted everywhere as the ultimate in luxurious comfort.