If you are not wearing vegan sneakers yet, we need to fix this.
All the coolest kicks these days are vegan. On top of many quality vegan brands, even big players like Adidas have started to veganize their iconic sneakers.
As devoted sneaker fans, we have tested many different vegan sneakers and we are happy to introduce you to our favorite vegan sneaker brands for 2024.
What Makes Sneakers Vegan?
Vegan sneakers are free from animal-derived products.
Common materials for vegan sneakers are cotton canvas, mesh, rubber, hemp, algae foam, and faux leather.
Vegan sneakers are also free from animal byproducts such as shoe glue made from animal bones. To make sure your sneakers are 100% animal-free, look for trusted vegan labels and certifications.
Why Buy Vegan Sneakers?
Vegan sneakers are a real treat for the conscious shopper.
If you love animals, vegan sneakers are the way to show kindness and compassion towards them.
If you care about the environment, vegan sneakers are also an eco-friendly choice.
Plus: compared to leather sneakers, vegan sneakers are also much lighter and softer. Materials like mesh and canvas offer great support and durability while also allowing your feet to breathe.
Best Vegan Sneaker Brands
Here are our favorite vegan sneaker brands for men and women for 2024. These brands are 100% vegan and use the most sustainable materials and production methods possible.
Most of these companies are also committed to giving back to the environment and their community in a variety of ways.
So, if you need new sneakers, support these good guys listed here.
Yatay
Italian brand Yatay makes colorful vegan sneakers from vegan corn leather, recycled textiles and rubber, and reclaimed plastic bottles.
Their vegan sneakers are made in factories that run almost completely on renewable energy.
We also love that their packaging doubles as a backgammon board, complete with stones and dice made from vegan leather cutoffs.
Humans Are Vain
Swedish brand Humans Are Vain produces classic tennis-style and retro-style vegan sneakers. The sneakers are ethically made in Portural.
The vegan sneakers are made from sustainable materials like recycled ocean trash, vegan microfiber, pineapple leather, and wood-based textiles.
Plus: Humans Are Vain strives to set up a circular economy system so that none of their vegan sneakers will ever have to end up in a landfill.
Ration.L
Ration.L is a fantastic company from the UK that makes simple, unisex (gender neutral) vegan sneakers from non-toxic PU leather. Also RationL uses many organic and recycled materials. In addition, their packaging is made from recycled card and tissue. What’s best is their sneakers are showerproof.
Ration.L vegan sneakers are made in Vietnam. They are vegan certified, which is fantastic. It is a rigorous process to get certified so it is truly great they went through it. Ration.L Was founded in 2020 during the lockdowns. Read the full Ration.L R-Kind review here.
Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather
As the name suggests, Good Guys is all about vegan leather sneakers and vegan suede sneakers. No animal-materials and no cruelty whatsoever.
The French brand produces vegan sneakers in both classic and funky new-age styles. Their colorful vegan kicks are also PETA-approved.
Mireia Playa
Barcelona-based family business Mireia Playa makes classic tennis-style vegan leather sneakers in a variety of colours.
Next to vegan leather, Mireia Playa uses bio-based synthetic materials, corn fibre, and vegan polyester suede to make their vegan sneakers.
Will’s Vegan Store
British brand Will’s Vegan Store has a collection of highly durable vegan leather sneakers. You’ll find all your favorite styles from chunky vegan trainers to classic skate-style sneakers.
As a sustainable vegan brand, Will’s makes all their footwear from eco-friendly vegan materials such as biobased corn leather.
Their vegan sneakers are ethically and carbon-neutrally manufactured in Portugal and Italy.
8000 Kicks
8000 Kicks produces cool vegan sneakers made from hemp fiber and algal blooms. This makes their vegan sneakers lightweight and breathable yet naturally durable and waterproof, for a snug year-round wear.
You might remember the brand as ‘DopeKicks’ through their crazy-successful Kickstarter campaign. Because of this lasting success, their vegan sneaker always sells out fast.
So, if your size is still in stock, we recommend you act fast.
Vessi
Vessi is a Canadian brand that makes waterproof vegan sneakers in a wide variety of styles and color combinations.
The company aims to create waterproof, comfortable, stylish, and eco-friendly vegan sneakers. We can safely say – mission accomplished.
Plus: Vessi supports and empowers everyday heroes with their very own Vessi Community Fund.
Ethletic
German brand Ethletic makes vegan sneakers from organic, fair trade, and sustainably sourced cotton canvas.
You can choose from a variety of high-top and low-top styles that come in beautiful color combinations.
Ethletic invests in developing local communities in Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan where their shoes are ethically made.
We love that you can directly support their textile workers with a small tip on top of your purchase.
NAE Vegan Shoes
NAE is a beloved Portuguese vegan label that crafts beautiful vegan sneakers fairly in Europe.
Their vegan sneakers are made of ecological and recycled materials such as biodegradable pineapple fibre, cork, vegan leather and reclaimed plastic bottles.
NAE stands for ‘No Animal Exploitation’, a credo the company takes to heart.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney makes the coolest chunky vegan sneakers in retro designs. The luxury vegan sneaker designs make for great ethical fashion statement pieces.
The vegan sneakers are made of recycled polyester, regenerated nylon and vegan leather. The materials are always high-quality and sustainably sourced.
Stella has also partnered up with Adidas to veganize the brand’s iconic shoes. We love the Stan Smith vegan sneaker in white vegan leather.
Saola Shoes
French-American brand Saola makes eco-friendly vegan sneakers from materials like recycled plastic bottles, algae foam, cork, and organic cotton.
Passionate about wildlife conservation, the brand donates to protect critically endangered species. One is them is the brand’s namesake Saola – a rare mammal living in the mountains of Vietnam and Laos.
Native Shoes
Founded in 2009 in Vancouver, Native Shoes designs fun, bright and affordable vegan sneakers for the entire family.
Native Shoes makes their vegan sneakers with lightweight rubber and algae foam. This makes them both breathable and light as air.
Committed to sustainability and circular production, the Native Shoes is also 100% lifecycle managed.
You can send back your worn Native vegan sneakers and give them another life outside the landfill.
Astral
Astral crafts technical vegan sneakers using hemp, cotton canvas, and recycled materials. Valuing sustainability, Astral never uses animal products or byproducts.
Established in 2002 in North Carolina, the brand’s mission is to create the best performing products for wilderness athletes in the least toxic, lowest impact way.
The same goes for their everyday collection of vegan sneakers.
FAQ About Vegan Sneakers
Vegan sneakers are usually made from cotton canvas, hemp, cork, algae foam or synthetic mesh. Also, vegan leather is widely used along with recycled materials like reclaimed plastic bottles or car tires.
Veja has some vegan sneakers but the brand itself is NOT vegan. A lot of Veja’s shoes are made from animal leather, including calf leather which we do not support.
Allbirds sneakers are NOT vegan because they use wool from animals. At best, their sneakers can be deemed vegetarian.
There is a wide range of vegan sneakers available on Amazon. We also love the selection of Immaculate Vegan – an online marketplace for vegan fashion.
Summary
Vegan sneakers are the way to go. They are super comfortable, stylish, and also more sustainable and ethical than non-vegan sneakers.
We hope you met your new favorite pair of vegan sneakers from our top list of brands.
We will keep our eyes open for new brands all the time and update this list accordingly.
See also: Vegan Shoes, Vegan Clothing Brands, Vegan Heels
