NOAH Vegan Shoes (sold in the UK at Immaculate Vegan) is a popular quality vegan footwear brand, where Italian artisans produce shoes, sandals and belts from vegan leathers. The range of shoes for men is immense, from casual loafers to slip-ons and laced Derby shoes.
This range uses leathers made from waste fruits (apple etc) along with quality linen linings, and various vegan suedes. Water-based glue is used, and the insoles of the company’s organic line are made from eco-friendly jute. Shoes are made locally by artisans, for local employment.
Unlike real suede made from leather, microsuede is easily cleaned with a stiff brush, and not affected by water. To remove dirt, just dab with a damp cloth and use a dry towel to soak up moisture, then leave to dry. Smoothe micronappa can be cleaned using eco-friendly shoe polish.
Nearly all shoes are made in Asia from leather (in countries with poor welfare laws for animals and humans – the tanning process is very polluting). Cheap vegan shoes are made from pleather (plastic leather) that are not good for the planet and make your feet sweat. Instead, invest in a couple of pairs of quality vegan shoes made from Microfiber (wear on alternate days, to let them dry out). Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
As most quality vegan shoes are still sold online, visit the shoe shop to get your feet measured (or measure your own feet). If you’re a half-size, it’s okay to order the bigger size (feet swell when running and you’ll likely be wearing socks). European brands don’t offer half sizes.
