Quality Vegan Shoes and Boots (the best brands)
It’s usually a myth that leather is a by-product of the meat industry. And most shoes are made in the Far East, where animal welfare are very lax. The tanning process is also very polluting, and harmful to the health of factory workers.
Instead, when time comes to replace your shoes or boots, consider investing in a couple of pairs from one of these quality brands. All are made ethically (usually in Europe) from quality materials like Italian microfiber or ‘fruit leathers’, partly made with waste apples, grapes or even grown from cactus!
Easy to clean, just wipe with a clean cloth (the inside of a banana peel also makes good shoe polish). Wear shoes on alternate days, to let them dry out and this helps them to last longer. They should last years, so choose neutral colours to match your outfits.
As most vegan shoes are still sold online, it makes sense to get your feet measured in a shoe shop (tell them you’ll be back to buy their shoes, when they start offering vegan versions!)
Will’s Vegan Shoes (from London)
Will’s Vegan Shoes (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) offers quality footwear with a whopping 365-day return, sent in zero waste packaging. Everything is shipped from Essex, made ethically in Italy or Portugal. You can also find matching vegan belts, satchels and cardholders.
Launder wool-free jumpers in a microfibre filter (due to synthetic fibres).
V.Gan Shoes of London (worn by 50,000 people!)
V.GAN London (use code LXZ-TLVQP0L for £10 discount) also sold at Immaculate Vegan) offers nice shoes for men and women, worn by 50,000 people across the planet. In just 4 years, it’s established itself as one of the world’s major vegan shoe brands. It has sale bargains, and also offers vegan bags and wallets.
NAE Quality Vegan Shoes (from Portugal)
NAE (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) is a stylish Portuguese footwear brand, the name stands for ‘no animals exploited’. Many items make use of zero waste materials including:
- Cork heels (no trees cut down to make cork)
- Sandals made from pineapple industry waste
- Sneakers made from recycled plastic bottles
- Mules made from apple leather (waste material)
Minuit Sur Terre (stylish shoes from France)
Minuit Sur Terre is a super-stylish vegan footwear company from France. For every pair sold, 5 Euros are donated to a partner association to help animal welfare. The founder was a (stylish) woman (she’s French!) who could not find clothes of ethics to match quality and fashion she wanted.
Minuit sur Terre brings together classic French taste with modern trends. Each style is simple, with lines and colours that work for every wardrobe. From crisp trainers to smart boots and heels, these shoes add a hint of French flair to any outfit.
Quality handmade shoes from Brighton
Vegetarian Shoes (Brighton) has a physical shop but also an extensive range online and offers a wide range including safety shoes. It also offers a good sale shop, with many items often half-price.
Freerangers handmade vegan shoes (from Tyneside)
Freerangers (also sold on Etsy) offers handmade footwear. Each pair is signed by the maker, and you can send soles back for repair. In a huge array of colours, there are loafers, sandals and boots – and also bags, satchels and even vegan sporrans!
These shoes are not ‘high-fashion’, but they are very comfortable and designed to last years. This is a company that has a loyal fan base, who buy from the same maker each time they want a new pair of shoes.
Solari Milano (smart Italian vegan shoes)
Solari Milano (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) is a brand of Italian shoes that are sustainably-made. Handcrafted by experts, these shoes use corn leather to make the uppers, and feature recycled rubber outsoles, bamboo linings and organic cotton laces.
Every pair comes from skilled Italian shoemakers. With decades of know-how, these craftsmen shape and stitch each shoe with care. You get the feel of true luxury without animal products. The attention to detail can be seen in every seam and finish.
These vegan leather loafers are suitable for formal events (office, weddings, gala dinners etc). The water-resistant uppers are made from corn and reinforced with Microfibre, and the lining is made from bamboo. The soles are made from recycled rubber, the laces of organic cotton, and the packaging is recycled cardboard. Also in a style for women (brown or black).
Smart vegan ‘cactus leather’ shoes!
Cactus leather is often the ideal alternative to crocodile or calf leather, for luxury loafers. Ross Oliver makes quality men’s shoes from unique men’s smart shoes, that are kind to crocodiles, the planet and your feet!
Natural cactus fibres make for a flexible, breathable material. Your feet get to breathe and move as they need, which helps prevent blisters and other aches.
These are not cheap, but then neither are any luxury shoe brands. These are designed to offer an alternative to people who would buy expensive designer footwear.
