Vegan Shoes

What are vegan shoes

Vegan shoes are shoes made without any animal-derived materials such as leather, wool, or silk and are labeled as “vegan” to make them easily identifiable. At the moment there is not an official label, and each brand just advertises the vegan shoes according to their own marketing choice.
It is important to understand that vegan does not mean also eco friendly, and sustainable does not mean necessarily also vegan. Vegan means ONLY that there are no animal derived materials. The focus is on animal cruelty free shoes.
With the wide variety of vegan shoe options available, everyone can join this trend towards sustainable fashion!

The Making of Vegan Shoes

However, many vegan shoes are ALSO eco-friendly, as they are made from materials like sustainable cotton, hemp, jute, and other plant-based or recycled synthetics. The materials are produced without animals being harmed and the whole (or a great part of) production is done on an ethical basis. Most vegan shoe manufacturers also use water or vegetable-based dyes for coloring the shoes and ensure that their production process is free from toxic chemicals.But this must be checked in the details. The label “vegan” does not entail any particular obligation, only that the materials are animal free. I once read an interesting book, “Entangled Life” by Merlin Sheldrake, where I found out there are factories devoted to developing mushroom based leather! If you look online there are already some productions, and they look very nice. I also remember that once we had in our store fruit-based leather shoes (apple, to be precise). They really felt and looked like classic leather. Unfortunately our customers did not like the shoes, and so we did not go on offering them.

Are Vegan Shoes Better for the Environment?

So, we said vegan means ONLY animal free. It can ALSO mean eco-friendly.
Vegan shoes may be better for animals, but the environmental impact of their production and disposal should also be taken into consideration. If a vegan shoe is made from sustainable materials or has been designed to last, then it can be considered a relatively green product that won’t harm the environment. About the environment, we must also consider WHERE are the shoes made: transport is one of the greatest sources of pollution. If a shoe is made in Asia, then transported in the USA, and then from there transported in selling warehouses and then transported to the final consumer. If you shop a vegan shoe online, you may take into consideration that it has traveled a lot before reaching you, thus polluting the environment.

Do Vegan Shoes Last As Long As Regular Ones?

The lifespan of vegan shoes depends on the materials and construction used, but with proper care they can last just as long as regular shoes. Common vegan materials like polyurethane faux leather or canvas tend to be more durable than their real leather counterparts. With regular cleaning and maintenance, vegan shoes can last for several years. (about proper cleaning you may check this other post).

How Much Do Sustainable, Vegan Shoes Cost?

The cost of vegan shoes varies of course, depending on the quality, recycled or artificial materials used in production. depending also where they are made, if they are also sustainable not only in terms of environment, but also in terms of human rights, respects of the workers, adequate salaries, and so on.
Generally, prices in our store range from €49- €119 per pair. Eco-friendly AND sustainable options will generally be on the higher end of this range, while more budget-friendly alternatives will be made with lower quality material, or will be simply vegan, without being also sustainable or eco friendly.

What to Look For When Buying Vegan Shoes

There are several brands that are committed to providing vegan shoes for those who don't want to use animal products. Also the main brands are beginning to offer vegan products. In our store you can find vegan shoes from famous brands  like Skechers, SKA, Birkenstock.
As veganism continues to become more mainstream, so too does the availability of vegan shoe options. When shopping for vegan shoes, look for materials such as canvas, jute bonded leather (a blend of cotton and polyurethane with no animal products), cork, rubber and other synthetic fabrics. Additionally, pay attention to brands that are transparent about their use of cruelty-free materials and environmental practices. In our store, you can ask us. On our website we write it, when a shoe is vegan. We rely on the declaration of the producer, of course.
You can use the search function in our website, type in “vegan” and you will have the shoes that are checked as vegan shoes.

Have fun!