NAE Vegan Shoes (quality footwear from Portugal)
NAE Vegan Shoes (also sold at Shop Like You Give a Damn) is a wonderful brand of quality footwear from Portugal. The name stands for ‘no animals exploited’. This brand has been run for 15 years by the same couple, with everything handmade in small Portuguese workshops.
Each pair is designed to last, and often uses eco materials like cork heels, recycled plastic bottles plus apple and pineapple leather (from fruit waste). This is a super vegan footwear brand!
Quality vegan footwear is not plastic! It uses Italian microfibers and sometimes recycled materials to produce breathable shoes and boots. Buy at least two pairs to wear on alternate days, to let shoes dry out.
Most are easily cleaned with a damp cloth. European brands don’t offer half-sizes, so choose the larger size and wear thicker socks. Also get your feet measured at a shoe shop, to avoid the hassle of returns.
Why choose vegan footwear?
Most footwear is not a by-product of the meat industry. So even if you are not vegan or vegetarian, know that most brands are made in the far east, with little or no animal welfare laws.
Choose vegan footwear helps create a kinder world.
You can donate old good condition shoes to local charity shops (avoid supporting ones that test on animals). Most councils have recycling banks for used shoes and boots.
The range includes:
- Flat shoes
- Jump shoes
- Summer sandals
- Winter boots
- High boots
Plus the brand sells vegan sneakers and tennis shoes.
Pre-loved bargain basement
The Preloved range has big discounts. This works by people sending back their old shoes. If the items are in good condition, they go on sale. If not, the company donates them to local non-profits so others have the benefit of good footwear, albeit with a few scratches.
Obviously the images differ, depending on what is on sale at the time. At time of writing there were some real bargains (walking boots from 135 Euros now at 35 Euros). And sneakers that were 75 Euros now at 20 Euros.
