Vegan Shoes
Stylish, Comfortable, Versatile
and Animal Friendly

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Vegan shoes have come a long way. Looking at some of the new styles, it's hard to believe these are really vegan fashions we are looking at. Many of the latest shoe designs you see in the fashion magazines can be found in an animal friendly style.

Why not consider them for your next shoe purchase?

Leather has always been the material of choice for our shoes because of it's durability, flexibility and breath-ability. But many of us are wanting the animal friendly choice of vegetarian shoes and in the past that has not left us with many alternatives.

Vegan shoes have been around for quite a few years and have often been found to be stiff and hot. More like you would expect from cheap shoes. It has taken awhile but new composite resins have been developed that have created non leather materials that are much improved. So much so that that larger companies like Skechers, Life Stride, Birkenstock, Adidas and New Balance now offer vegan shoes.

It helps that designers like Stella McCartney have made the choice to not use any leather in their designs. Even Pamela Anderson, who is a strong supporter of Peta, has co-designed a line of shoes that drastically changes any images you might have of frumpy, flat vegan shoes.

An Eco Friendly Choice

I can't help but wonder how earth friendly synthetic leather could be, after all this is a manmade material and often these are not earth friendly choices but new processing of some synthetic materials is helping to make them a little more environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Further improvements should be seen in the future.

Besides leather although a natural material is hardly eco friendly. Many harmful chemicals are used to preserve and dye it and once all these chemicals are added it is not biodegradeable.

What Materials Are Used For Vegan Shoes?

After a some research this is what I found:

Naugahyde, a brand name of pleather, combine textiles and polyurethane to create a leather like material which after years of improvement are found to be lighter, warmer, less restrictive, water restrictive and easy to clean and according to their website it can be produced with an environmentally friendly top coat. They also do not use solvent or ozone depleting chemicals

Lorica also uses a fabric coated with polyurethane.

Faux suede or suedette are synthetic suede cloth that is soft and breathable.

Microfibers are a lightweight woven polyester and polyurethane that are water repellent

Ultrasuede combines a plastic polymer with micro fibers to create a durable, washable, breathable, lightweight fabric.

Birkiflor is a synthetic shoe upper created by Brikenstock. It is a combination of acrylic and polymer felt fibers that create a smooth leather like finish that is waterproof and breathable.

Vegetarian Shoes uses a product called Vegetan. Available as Vegetan Active, Bucky and Micro, it is a combination of polyurethane and cotton that is tough, hard wearing, lightweight and breathable material.

As you can see most of the leather like materials use a combination of fabric with plastic or polyurethane. Some companies like the last two mentioned above create their own materials to meet their own needs.

Not all vegan shoes are made of synthetic leather. Other man made and natural alternatives are available like cotton, hemp, cork, wood, faux fur, brocades, linen, vinyl and plastic. They help provide a little variety and fun.

Where To Find Vegan Shoes

For most of us it is difficult to find these shoes locally.

Discount stores often carry shoes that are made from imitation leather and could be one solution when looking for vegan shoes locally. But there is something else to consider here.

These shoes while inexpensive can be made by companies in developing countries with little concern for human welfare. There are real issues about the sweatshop conditions that men, women and even children must endure in order to manufacture shoes.

The Better World Shopping Guide gives discount and department store brands a grade of F. According to this guide: "This category is reserved for companies that are actively participating in the rapid destruction of the planet and the exploitation of human beings. Avoid these products at all costs."

Inexpensive shoes may also not be the made from the better synthetic leather and you may find them to be hot and uncomfortable.

Places to Start Your Shoe Search

At this point the best selections for cruelty free shoes can be found on the Internet. Large companies like Zappos have a big selection of all kinds of shoes including vegetarian shoes. Some of these brands may also be eco friendly and sweatshop free. The advantage here are frequent sales, free, fast shipping and easy returns.

Check out the shoe collections at:

Another option and in some ways a better option can be found with companies like those on the left that have made a conscious choice to try and provide animal friendly and sweatshop free products. I use the word try because unless a company personally inspects shoe factories they have to rely on the honesty of their suppliers and manufacturers to live up to their commitments to providing sweatshop free shoes.

We do love our shoes whether it's for comfort or style. And now we can have style and do a good thing.

So what to do with the leather shoes you have already have, well you could donate them or continue to wear them and little by little faze the leather out. The next pair of cute little shoes you buy can be vegan shoes, sounds like a plan.