Cows are too cute for us to wear. Choose vegan shoes instead.
Vegan shoes today have it all. You can find vegan shoes that are sustainable, comfortable, durable, and look amazing without any animals involved in the process.
To help you find the perfect pair of vegan shoes, we have handpicked the best, most ethical shoe brands on the market right now. Discover vegan sneakers, boots, and heels from our list of trusted cruelty-free brands.
Best Brands For Vegan Shoes
Immaculate Vegan
Ahimsa
Nae
Wills Vegan Store
Bourgeois Boheme
Matt and Nat
Native Shoes
What Makes Shoes Vegan?
Vegan shoes are free from all animal products such as leather, suede, fur, and wool. Vegan shoes also use only vegan shoe glue as sometimes glue can be made from animal bones.
Instead, vegan shoes use beautiful plant-based fabrics like hemp and cotton. Vegan shoes also use durable synthetics such as PU leather and microfiber as well as recycled plastic bottles to help keep our planet nice and tidy.
Why Buy Vegan Shoes?
Buying vegan shoes is the kind thing to do. Leather is not just a byproduct of meat but a lucrative 2 billion dollar industry that exploits plenty and cares little. Millions of cows and exotic animals are kept in poor conditions and slaughtered for their skins alone.
Vegan shoes are also more sustainable. Producing vegan materials takes fewer resources and it is far less toxic compared to leather. The tanning process of leather involves tons of toxic chemicals that cause pollution to our rivers and groundwater.
Another reason to buy vegan shoes is that vegan designers rock. The most amazing product and material innovations are happening in the vegan shoe industry, so you have a lot to discover. And you can support these businesses with a good conscience.
What To Look For In Vegan Shoes?
There are some key things that separate poor vegan shoe brands from great ones. Here are the main things to consider when shopping for vegan shoes.
» A vegan label
Faux leather shoes are not automatically vegan. They can still include animal products in the shoe glue, linings, or other details you might not even notice. When buying vegan shoes, it is best that they are certified vegan or marked vegan by the producer.
» Ecological materials
Synthetic leather is more eco-friendly than real leather. But it is not exactly a friend to the environment either. To avoid virgin plastic, choose vegan shoes made with natural, biobased, or recycled materials. Good picks are apple leather, cork, organic cotton, and recycled plastic.
» Ethical production
Fair wages and safe conditions to the shoemakers are so important. Shoes from ethical factories are usually also of much better quality. Made in China is not necessarily evil but make sure the company is open and transparent about the standards in the factory.
Best Brands For Vegan Shoes
Here are our favorite vegan shoe brands that offer a wide selection of vegan shoes, boots, and sneakers for men and women. Shop sustainable and eco-friendly shoes that you can feel good about.
All these brands are certified vegan, so you can be rest assured these companies are animal-free and transparent about their practices.
Immaculate Vegan
Immaculate Vegan is an online store with the most beautiful collection of vegan shoe brands. Discover shoes, boots, and loafers from Collection & Co, Gentleberg, Good Guys, Allkind, and other amazing companies.
The brands are curated for their sustainability, good design, and fair practices. To keep the environmental impact to the minimum, the shoes are shipped to you directly from each brand.
Based in: United Kingdom
Ethics: vegan brands, sustainably made
Ahimsa
Ahimsa from Brazil is not just a vegan label but a 100% vegan shoe factory. The company uses fair labor and quality craftsmanship to bring us a handmade collection of vegan leather shoes, boots, derbies, and sneakers.
Ahimsa was born in 2013 with a goal to change the lives of animals, nature, and other people through their products. The brand exudes love and compassion with an aim to inspire a cruelty-free lifestyle for everyone.
Based in: Brazil
Ethics: 100% vegan shoe factory, cruelty-free, ethically made
Nae
Nae (short for No Animal Exploitation) crafts eco-friendly vegan shoes from premium quality organic and recycled materials. Their designs are classic, elegant, lightweight, and ethically made in Portugal.
Nae’s mission is to offer an animal-friendly alternative against human exploitation. Committed to environmental sustainability, the brand uses collected ocean plastic in shoemaking along with natural vegan materials like Pinatex or cork.
Based in: Portugal
Ethics: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, recycled materials, natural materials
Will’s Vegan Store
British brand Will’s has become synonymous with quality vegan boots and shoes. Their innovative vegan leather is made from vegetable oils and paired with recycled rubber for a truly sustainable collection of cruelty-free footwear.
Will’s has also committed to carbon-neutral production and plastic-free packaging to make the products even more ecological. The shoes are made in the EU where the workers are ensured safe conditions and fair pay.
Based in: United Kingdom
Ethics: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, carbon neutral, eco-friendly materials
Bourgeois Boheme
Another of our favorite brands is Bourgeois Boheme’s and their selection of vegan dress shoes, heels, loafers, and Oxfords. The London label produces shoes ethically in Portugal using the finest synthetic and natural materials.
Founded in 2005 by a long-time vegan and podiatrist Alicia Lai, the shoes are animal-free and foot-friendly with a sharp focus on quality, finish, and design. As a result, the shoes look clean, classic, and effortlessly luxurious.
Based in: United Kingdom
Ethics: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made
Matt & Nat
Inspired by the colors and textures of nature, Matt & Nat creates vegan shoes and accessories in gorgeous, minimalist styles. The brand uses primarily natural and eco-friendly vegan materials paired with recycled synthetics.
Established as early as 1995 in Toronto, Matt & Nat is famous for its contemporary designs and ceaseless exploration of new and more sustainable vegan fabrics such as recycled nylon and car tires.
Based in: Canada
Ethics: vegan, cruelty-free, recycled materials
Native Shoes
Native Shoes from Canada designs fun and lightweight vegan sneakers, boots, and sandals for men, women, and even kids. Big on sustainability, the brand turns worn shoes into matting for kid’s playgrounds.
Native Shoes was born in Vancouver in 2009 with a mission to lighten our carbon footprint and illuminate our environment. On top of lightness, the shoes are shock-absorbant, odor-resistant, and toxin-free.
Based in: Canada
Ethics: vegan, cruelty-free, zero waste production
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Shoes
Vegan shoes are shoes free from all animal products and by-products such as animal leather, fur, wool, or animal-based shoe glue.
Not necessarily. In addition to synthetic leather, vegan shoes can be made from a variety of natural materials like cotton, cork, or even fruit waste.
Made by a quality producer, vegan shoes can be extremely durable. See our favorite high-quality vegan shoe brands to find shoes that are built to last.
You can find plenty of vegan shoes online, either on Amazon or from vegan online stores such as Immaculate Vegan, Alltrueist, and Veenofs.
Summary
There are many great options for vegan shoes today. Using animal leather is becoming a thing of the past while sustainable vegan materials are the only way forward.
Whenever possible, try to prefer brands that are not only vegan but also sustainable. The use of eco-friendly materials, carbon-neutral production, and paying living wages to the workers are equally important for a healthier and fairer planet for us all.
Hope you found your new favorite vegan shoe brand from our list. We will make sure to keep this list always fresh with the most exciting vegan shoe brands.
See also: Vegan clothing