As 2022 comes to a close, it is clear that vegan shoe companies are levelling up! Producing quality footwear with the planet and its inhabitants in mind should be the global standard. But unfortunately, many brands still take these important values for granted. But of course, where there is bad there is always good! Today I’m going to hit you with the top 4 vegan shoe companies on the planet in no particular order.
1. Rothy’s
In the little amount of time that Rothy’s have been operational, they’ve managed to make immense progress in the fashion sustainability field, giving the world a glimpse of what future fashion manufacturing may look like. Their intent is made crystal clear by the numbers, having turned 125 million single-use plastic bottles into an array of sleek, stand-out shoes.
Interestingly, the san-Francisco based company initially only sold women’s shoes but eventually ventured over into men’s footwear too. As a male, I am of course biased, but I think Rothy’s introduction of the male collection was the best decision they could have made as the designs are significantly more impressive than over on the lady’s side. (No shade thrown)
All in all Rothy’s is a great company that you should have a look into even if just to learn about their production lifecycle. The only notable downside would be the pricing which isn’t reasonable for everyone.
- Price Range: $125–$275
- Men’s Catalogue: Loafers, sneakers, boots
- Women’s Catalogue: Flats, slip-ons, sneakers
- Shipping: US & Canada only
- Sustainability: Vegan, recycled & sustainable materials, fair factory conditions
The Driving Loafer ($185)
The RS01 Sneaker ($175)
The Merino Chelsea Boot ($275)
The Lace Up Sneaker ($165)
2. Loci
If you’re looking for simple but snazzy kicks that come in a variety of colours and designs. Then perhaps Loci could be your new go-to vegan shoe company! Loci actively highlight the unjust treatment of animals in the shoe industry on their about page which informs visitors about the 1 billion animals that are killed every single year for leather worldwide.
What’s more is that Loci walk their talk, showing their dedication and commitment to changing these unfortunate circumstances by doing damn near everything in their power to be a force for good in the world all while producing top-quality sneakers.
Every shoe in their line is composed of durable & breathable materials, that are lightweight and easy to maintain. Although not as well-rounded as our next pick, Loci have spread their creative ingenuity across low-top, mid-top and high-top sneakers, so you have plenty of options to select from!
Price Range: £130-150
Men’s Catalogue: low-top, mid-top, high-top sneakers
Women’s Catalogue: low-top, mid-top, high-top sneakers
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
Sustainability: Recycled bottles, metals and fabrics, cruelty-free, 10% profit to wildlife conservation efforts
3. 8000 kicks
8000 kicks are an innovative company using the archaic practice of hemp harvesting to merge old knowledge with new technology, bringing us super comfortable, 100% vegan, eco-friendly shoes. The reviews are staggering with no less than 75% of people giving their sneakers a 5-star rating. The explorer V2s were crafted with sustainability, durability, comfortability and style all in mind, as a result, the product is the first of its kind. Hemp insoles! This equates to anti-microbial, temperature regulating, super light shoes!
When choosing the top 4 vegan shoe companies, I wanted to highlight the ones that are changing the world in a hands-on way and 8000 kicks are cognizant of their impact having teamed up with Bloom to repurpose harmful sea algae into sustainable shoe bottoms!
One of the factors I consider before purchasing shoes is whether or not they are good all-rounders. Can I wear the pair in rainy conditions? Can I be comfortable with them walking on unpaved surfaces? If you are cautious about similar scenarios, then you will be interested in 8000 kicks. Their hemp has been made to repel water from coming in by adding a coating layer that protects the fabric and its properties from stains, liquids and dust particles. Because of this unique approach to sneaker design, I think they make up for the lack of choice in their catalogue, but hopefully moving forward we’ll be able to see their footwear line expand.
*PFC free
Price Range: £100–£120
Men’s Catalogue: Sneakers
Women’s Catalogue: Sneakers
Shipping: Free US, EU Shipping free over £90
Sustainability: primary materials – Hemp & Algae, 100% vegan, increasing clean energy usage
4. MoEa (Mother Earth)
There’s no way I could end this list without including MoEa, who are spearheading the use of bio-materials from fruits and plants to create low-carbon and vegan sneakers! biomaterials are a cutting-edge replacement for leather created by turning plant waste into a wearable material with characteristics akin to leather. This is a significant development because biomaterials don’t involve any animal abuse and have an 89% lower environmental effect than leather.
They have sneaker ranges made from:
- Apples
- Cacti
- Corn
- Grapes
- Pineapples
And their philosophy for why they do what they do is so simple “If it is possible to produce qualitative products without harming a sentient and emotional living being, why do it? Moreover, activities using animal-based materials such as leather are much more polluting as well as heartless.”
If you head over to MoEa’s site you’ll enjoy a barrage of colourful sneakers along with full rundowns of their compositions. Currently floating around the £130 range, it’s fair to say they’re reasonably priced, especially when taking into account their progressive manufacturing methods.
Price Range: £130
Men’s Catalogue: bio Sneakers
Women’s Catalogue: bio Sneakers
Shipping: Free shipping worldwide
Sustainability: primary materials – 100% vegan, use of recycled materials, innovative use to biodegradable materials, low carbon emissions
Sign Off
Slimming down the growing number of vegan shoe companies into a top 4 list was not the easiest task in the world but I think these companies are doing a fabulous job at providing quality footwear with the planet in mind. Give it a couple more years and you may find these vegan shoe companies competing with the global shoe industry giants. So if you decide to pick up a pair, know that you are doing the world a favour and taking steps as an early investor in future apparel!
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