New Zealand: Source of hot imports like the kiwi fruit, actor Russell Crowe, and America's latest fashion sensation: Ugg boots.

Made by Canterbury Leather International, based in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, Ugg boots are 100 percent sheepskin with a wool fleece liner. They are meant to be worn without socks or tights and were originally designed to warm the feet of chilly surfers in New Zealand and neighboring Australia.

However, I doubt that those surfers were paying the high prices that Ugg boots command today. They usually cost around $150 to $170 a pair.

In the last couple of months, Ugg boots have suddenly become the trendy footwear statement among celebrities. Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, and Kate Hudson have all been photographed wearing the boots, and now they are spreading to the general populace. Last month Oprah Winfrey featured the sheepskin boots (in baby pink and powder blue!) on her show, and that really helped searches to skyrocket.

Since the beginning of October, searches for Ugg boots have risen steadily and they are now 300 percent higher than they were six weeks ago. Last week they received as many searches as NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. or country singer Kenny Chesney.

TOMORROW: Guitar heroes.