14 Sustainable Vegan Shoe Brands for Cruelty-Free Fashion
Image: Bhava
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through & make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thanks for supporting the brands who are working to make the fashion industry a better place!
The Best Vegan Shoes That Are Also Sustainable
They’re the last thing we put on before heading out the door and yet they can make or break an outfit. Shoes are something that we put a lot of thought into before buying, and choosing the right brand to shop with is the first step in the process.
We’re all trying to be more conscious about what we wear, and for some people, opting for vegan shoes instead of animal-based ones is the compassionate and environmentally friendly way of doing that. In this post we’ll take a look at what vegan shoes are made of, why they may be the more sustainable choice, and which brands are the ones to check out when you’re next shoe shopping!
Why should you shop vegan shoes?
The main reasons why people opt for vegan footwear are ethical and environmental. Animal welfare is a big issue in the fashion industry and choosing vegan alternatives is the best way to ensure you’re not contributing towards unnecessary cruelty towards animals. Cows, pigs, goats and sheep are commonly used to make leather shoes, and most of the leather produced today comes from countries with less or no animal welfare protections.
The environmental impacts of using leather for fashion is also a key driver for people who are switching to animal-free alternatives. From the toxic chemicals used in tanning leather, to the high amounts of water and land use required to raise the animals, the damage caused to the planet by leather is no longer deniable.
What types of materials are used for vegan shoes?
The main material used for footwear is leather, and so the vegan alternative to this would be any synthetic or natural-based leather that doesn’t include any animal ingredients. There are more vegan leathers coming into the fashion industry all the time, such as fruit waste leathers and bio-based materials, as well as some more traditional materials like cork, natural rubber and cotton. Even the glue used in footwear is sometimes made with animals, so vegan shoes will always use an alternative adhesive.
our top picks for sustainable vegan shoe brands
1. Nae Vegan Shoes
Materials: Piñatex, AppleSkin, Cork
Price: $39 - 248
Portuguese vegan footwear brand Nae Vegan Shoes (standing for No Animal Exploitation) was founded in 2008 and is well known for their beautiful animal-free footwear. Their sandals, sneakers, boots and heels, all with European-inspired designs, are made with Piñatex, AppleSkin, cork, rPET, and On Steam Bioeco, the first ecological microfiber obtained partially from corn and recycled polyester.
2. Thousand Fell
Materials: Natural Rubber, Coconut Husk, Aloe Vera
Price: $125 - 135
Find your next pair of vegan sneakers with Thousand Fell. Created in different styles such as lace-up, slip-on, & court for both women and men, these shoes are known for their comfort as each sole is made from recycled yoga mats. Thousand Fell only sources materials that can either be biodegraded, recycled to make new shoes, or upcycled into materials for new projects.
3. Matt & Nat
Materials: Recycled PU, AppleSkin, Canvas
Price: $18 - 250
Canadian-based vegan brand Matt & Nat has specialized in footwear, bags and accessories since it was founded in 1995. You can find every style of shoe here, from sandals and heels to sneakers and boots. Most of their styles are in black, cream or neutral tones, making it easy to pair them with nearly everything in your wardrobe.
4. Native
Materials: Bloom, Sugarlite
Price: $39 - 132
Native creates lightweight shoes and sandals in simple styles perfect for summer and boots that will keep you going through winter. Native uses innovative materials such as Bloom, made with algae and Sugarlite, a bio-based EVA made from sugarcane. You can even recycle your Native shoes and they’ll be turned into playground flooring!
5. Vivo Barefoot *
Materials: Bloom, rPET
Price: $120 - 230
Vivo make barefoot style shoes for both performance and lifestyle, including sneakers, hiking boots and even amphibian shoes - made for adventures along the shore! Vivo use animal-free materials in their vegan collection including Bloom (made from algae) and Vamp (made from rPET).
*Vivo Barefoot has a vegan collection but is not wholly vegan
6. Stella McCartney
Materials: Alter Mat, VEGEA
Price: $550 - 1,895
Famously known for pioneering vegan fashion developments, British designer Stella McCartney has a huge range of vegan shoes if you’re looking for a touch of glamour. Check out their flats, sneakers, boots, wedges and heels in bold designs made with Alter Mat, a biobased vegan alternative to leather, and VEGEA, made from grape waste.
7. Bhava
Materials: Italian Vegan Leather
Price: $95 - 289
Committed to protecting the victims of the fashion industry (the animals, the planet and the people), Bhava only uses animal-free leather for their boots, clogs, heels, sandals and flats. Their shoes are handmade in Portugal and each pair is tested for durability on the streets of New York.
8. Rothy’s
Materials: Natural Rubber, Algae-Based Foam
Price: $119 - 189
Rothy’s creates shoes for women, men and children using various vegan materials, including natural rubber, algae-based foams, rPET, and TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane). Discover their flats, sandals, loafers, sneakers and mules in bright, colorful prints and versatile neutral tones.
9. Will’s Vegan Store
Materials: Bio-based vegan leather
Price: $58 - 124
The online vegan department store that makes shopping vegan shoes as easy as anything! Find classic brogues and sleek loafers, perfect for office wear or special occasions. Will’s Vegan Store uses a vegan leather made from bio oil sourced from organic cereal crops grown in Northern Europe in a carbon-neutral process.
code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC10 for 10% off
10. Veerah
Materials: Apple Peel, Bamboo, rPET
Price: $100 - 498
Veerah uses sustainable vegan materials to create its shoes, including alternatives using apple peel, bamboo, and recycled plastic bottles. Shop their sandals, pumps, flats, mules, and boots in gorgeous prints, bright colors and unique styles. We adore the bridal collection they’ve put together to help you find the perfect pair for your special day!
11. Oka-B
Materials: Bio-based Material
Price: $38 - 78
For the cutest sandals and ballet flats, look no further than Oka-B. Originally made as a spa shoe, they feature arch support and massage beads to keep your feet pampered 24/7. All Oka-B shoes are made with a bio-based material that contains 45% soy by weight and is BPA, latex, rubber, and phthalate-free. Oka-B shoes are made in the USA & when you return your well-loved & worn shoes, they recycle them & send a 15% off coupon toward your next purchase.
12. Etiko
Materials: Natural Rubber, Organic Cotton
Price: $20 - 95
Australian brand Etiko specializes in organic, vegan, feel-good fashion and has a range of footwear, including sneakers, flip-flops and flats. Using natural rubber and 100% organic cotton, they create Fairtrade footwear that you can feel good knowing your footprints are that much lighter on the planet!
13. Okabashi
Materials: Bio-based Material
Price: $24.99 - 35.99
Okabashi makes vegan flip-flops, sandals, and ballet flats designed with circularity principles so they can be recycled at the end of their life. The shoes are made in the USA and are molded from a proprietary, recyclable material that is 40% US-grown soy by weight. Comfort is key to Okabashi, and each shoe is designed to last a lifetime - unlike your usual flip-flop.
14. Thesus
Materials: rPET, cork
Price: $138 - 209
Thesus is a socially and environmentally progressive brand of outdoor footwear and accessories. Find weekend and rain boots, and stylish clogs in earth tones and bright yellows, greens and reds. Based in Canada, Thesus is BIPOC woman-owned and women-led, and they manufacture their footwear in Portugal, ensuring the workers are paid a living wage.
About the Author
Sarah King is a freelance writer with a focus on vegan fashion, sustainability and ethically made clothes. She campaigns for change in the fashion industry through her blog and on her Instagram page.
MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!
Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.
