It's not always easy to find great shoe brands when you're looking for it leather-free, and while keeping style ! It sometimes takes many hours of searching to track down an original pair. So let's cut to the chase, let's talk fashion, let's talk vegan fashion.
But first, let's go back to the basics and start by defining what vegan means, and what vegan shoes are.
What are vegan shoes ?
A vegan item is crafted without animal-derived materials, so it contains no leather.
A vegan shoe contains no animal-derived products, it does not eat meat, fish, or dairy. Uhhh no, sorry, that's the opposite, let's get everything back in order !
A vegan avoids all animal-derived products as part of their lifestyle, whether in their diet (we are referring to a vegan diet) but also in terms of clothing, avoiding materials sourced from animals, such as leather and wool.
Some Vegan shoes are made without any animal-derived components, so no leather, and also no fish-based glue.
Not many people know this, but fish-derived ingredients are found in many types of glue — and not just in the footwear industry, for that matter.
Does Zebra Vegan Shop only cater to vegan customers ?
Not at all ! Zebra Vegan Shop is first and foremost a online FASHION store !
I choose shoes for their aesthetic appeal, attractive design, beautiful finishes, quality, and comfort. And of course, the huge added bonus, the wonderful, delicious cherry on top, is that no living being was exploited or killed to produce them. (If you want information about Our featured leather goods are right this way, a fully fledged topic in its own right).
Is a vegan shoe also eco-friendly ?
The answer is : not necessarily ! Vegan does not mean eco-friendly, or organic.
As previously stated, a shoe is defined as "vegan" to mean it contains no animal materials. The PETA label simply verifies and guarantees this.
However, this provides no information about its environmental impact, nor about its place of manufacture.
Inexpensive vegan shoes can absolutely be made from low-grade plastic, by children on the other side of the world.
So rest assured, you will not find that type of shoe pairs here!
Indeed, in addition to being vegan, the brands sold on Zebra Vegan Shop manufacture in Europe in good condition, made from quality materials. They use as much as possible of the eco-responsible materials such as recycled textiles, or organic cotton (especially for shoe linings). For the upper, they use innovative leather alternative materials, made from plant and fruit materials, with the goal of reducing the proportion of polyurethane. The use of polyurethane adds durability to footwear, but it is often criticized as it is primarily sourced from the petroleum industry. Fortunately, there are a growing number of bio-based PU options available, this is a chemistry topic, clearly explained in this article : https://www.modeintextile.fr/nouvelle-chimie-polyurethane-plus-vert/
Basically, at Zebra Vegan Shop, we showcase vegan shoe brands that meet numerous eco-responsible criteria and when they are not perfect, we also let you know for avoid greenwashing !
Who selected the best vegan shoe brands ?
It's me, Cyrielle, the founder of Zebra Vegan Shop ! Addict Shoes Ever since I was a child, I don't even try to fix this habit. I know, excessive shoe consumption is bad, but what can you do, nobody is perfect! The upside is that I can tell you completely honestly and from first-hand experience what the best vegan shoe brands, since on the one hand, I have them analyzed down to every last detail, and on the other hand, I got to try them on, wear them, and love them !
I should clarify that the selected brands, offer vegan shoes for women and men, so no one gets jealous, everyone !
Come on, it's time to reveal my selection of 6 best vegan shoe brands, 3 of them are brands of vegan sneakers ! And yes, the sneaker has been the reigning queen for several years now.
Nae Vegan Shoes : the pioneers
NAE is an acronym for No Animal Exploitation. You can immediately tell that this brand is committed to animal welfare since its launch in 2008. NAE offers a wide range of vegan shoes for women and men, from boots to sneakers, including derby shoes and sandals, all styles are of a quality and of a top-tier comfort. This brand closely follows trends to offer consistently fashionable designs.
NAE works with manufacturing workshops in Portugal, including a family-owned factory with artisanal expertise that has been a partner since their launch, and was the first Portuguese company to obtain ISO 9001 certification, and the 3rd in Europe.
Will’s Vegan Store : the widest selection
One of the leading staple brands for vegan footwear, as it offers a wide range of styles and reimagines all the iconic pairs like the Chelsea boots, (a reliable go-to no matter what outfit you are wearing), or even Dock boots or of the Work boots.
Will’s emphasizes classic and timeless designs, with meticulous finishes and durable materials. The brand therefore positions itself on durable, timeless vegan shoes and aims to democratize vegan fashion with affordable prices.
Most shoes are made from a bio-based Italian faux leather derived from grain crops. No pair contains PVC, and recycled materials are commonly used, for example for the soles, which are manufactured from recycled rubber. When it comes to production, Will’s shoes are made in Portugal and in Italy.
Altercore: the most punk
For those who are looking for bold vegan shoes, to the punk-rock style, les paires de la collection « ANIMAL FRIENDLY LINE » de la marque Altercore devraient vous plaire !
Indeed, ALTERCORE shoes are designed for people who want to express their independence and individuality through their personal style. We love the thick, chunky, highly substantial soles, which incidentally have become super trendy for a few seasons now ! And above all, we absolutely love their pair of creepers because frankly, it’s really not easy to find such exceptionally well-made vegan materials ! Production in Poland, brand origin, and certain pairs of Portugal.
Regarding the materials used, this is primarily Oeko Tex Standard 100 certified microfiber, a material that is nearly indistinguishable from leather and has great functional properties : waterproof, breathable, antibacterial, and hard-wearing. It is not the most eco-friendly material on the market, however, in terms of resistance, it's undeniable: That's really sturdy ! You will keep your Altercore pair for many years !
Beflamboyant: the most stylish
We love the story of the brand founded by a young Spanish couple who love shopping together. They got tired of having to go to separate stores, so they decided to create pairs of unisex sneakers ! Some timeless yet stylish designs, with colorful accent details that add original flair, allowing everyone to find the pair that matches their preferences. The UX-68 model quickly became a bestseller thanks to its wide range of color variants. Beflamboyant also offers models of white vegan Stan Smith-style sneakers, which complements every wardrobe, crafted from a leather alternative made from corn waste, like the Manimal model.
BEFLAMBOYANT is a on-trend contemporary brand, motivated to shift trends towards a more responsible fashion.
Vesicapiscis: the most ethical
This is without a doubt the most impeccable brand I know of. This brand sets out to ethical across all aspects : from raw materials to manufacturing, including packaging. Vesicapiscis very clearly positions itself outside the mass market, opposed to overproduction. This small business holds no stock and made only to order, in their own workshop in Spain.
Among the materials used, you will find organic cotton, of the recycled cotton, of the recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, or even from natural rubber Crafted from hevea rubber for the soles, which also delivers outstanding top-tier comfort !
Style-wise, we can’t get enough of their various models of canvas sneakers, perfect for spring for a casual or streetwear look. Some models have a skate design that may bring to mind the Vans. Multiple colorways available, with very reasonable prices for ethical fashion !
Ashoka Paris: the most innovative
This French brand breaks the mold with a design never before seen in the universe of vegan sneaker.
Let's be honest, you often come across the same types of designs in plenty of shoe stores and footwear websites : sneakers with a fairly flat white sole, a classic Stan Smith style — timeless and enduring, granted, but let's admit it, they are a little boring.
The Ashoka brand, for its part, released the Lewis model, a high-quality running shoe that surprises us with its Thick, deep-treaded sole (so comfortable !) and its lovely color combinations. There's even a Leopard version so bold !
The pair of Matéo vegan sneakers, it comes in a low-top or high-top version. Ashoka uses bio-based materials produced in Italy : Appleskin and an alternative leather made from vegetable oil derived from cereal grains.
I hope you like this selection ! I take great care to help you discover European brands that stand out a little from the crowd and uphold genuine, meaningful values.
I would have gladly told you about the brand Stella McCartney, a trailblazer in vegan shoe design, but its "luxury" positioning does not fit every budget !More and more shoe brands are now designing vegan collections, and that's all the better ! The more choice there is, the more "normal" it will become to choose animal-friendly materials.
Also discover the 3 best vegan bag brands.
In an upcoming article, we will break down some well-known major brands that offer vegan collections.
N'Don't hesitate to share this article with those around you and let us know in the comments if you know of any other great brands!
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