Vegan shoes are growing in popularity; some people call them earth vegan shoes to emphasize they are ‘earth friendly’ footwear. Vegan means the shoes are non-leather; actually not made from any animal products. Hemp, cork, wool, bamboo, natural crepe and cotton are all vegan products.
Vegan shoes were nudged further into the limelight with celebrity Natalie Portman’s February 2008 launch of her own line , which is selling from TeCasan Boutique in New York City (and through their website). Natalie said she noticed an absence of fashionable animal-friendly footwear. So it’s official; vegan shoes are cool.
Hemp
Hemp has strong, durable fibers, and it grows, well, like a weed (because it is); weeds do not need pesticides.
Cork
Popular and attractive, cork soles are also comfortable.
Cotton, Wool
Cotton and wool are breathable but soil easily.
Bamboo
There are certain types of bamboo used to line shoes; bamboo is plentiful and easy to grow.
Crepe
A natural rubbery material used for soles.
Recycled Shoes?
Recycled footwear usually uses rubber and even recycled metal (Dr. Scholl’s has recycled buckles on their vegan sandal). People are even re-purposing their old clothing.
Planet Shoes
Planet Shoes have footwear made from animal-friendly products, recycled materials, and are made in with environmentally sustainable initiatives and less harsh chemicals.
Buy Vegan Shoes - Certified Vegan!
Wow, made in Cambodia! Also from tires; touted as ‘Ho Chi Minh tire Sandals’; the site itself is informative about the tires’ history and of eastern Asia; they donate a portion of their earnings to Heritage Watch (Heritage Watch actually makes the sandals), a private organization devoted to preserve the cultural heritage of Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Laos.
Sandals handmade from recycled rubber (inner tubes, car tires). Very west-coast/surfer-looking; in fact, one site said the sandals are hand-made in California, but the company itself is in Milwaukee WI.
A company in UK lets people send in their old jeans, and Softwalker makes what they state are “…ultra-comfortable soft, springy shoes which are approved by podiatrists.”
Their women’s Toe Foo: no animal byproducts or even regular animal products, uses hemp, bamboo, crepe rubber, water-based cements, and containers are bio-degradable.
Based in Chicago,, IL, designers JoAnna Fleming and Annie Mohaupt are the creator of the ‘infinity sandal’, one pair of environmentally friendly wood soles that can use any number of ribbons to create a new look every day.
Large footwear companies are steeping up as well:
They have a percentage of material made from recycled nylon, foam and cork.
Dr. Scholl
There is a ‘vegan’ sandal made of sustainable wood,recycled buckle, and natural hemp, all in a recycled box and organic shoe bag.
Timberland
This company has really worked to improve our awareness of all things eco-friendly. There is more about Timberland here
