On the hunt for the best vegan shoes for women? We've hunted down 23 pairs of stylish vegan shoes that'll make you look great and feel good.
A warm breeze, lighter evenings and summer dresses. Could it be... Yes! Summer is here. Finally. the seasonal switch-up is upon us which means one thing - bye bye heavy winter boots and hello summer sandals. Which styles are we buying this season? Strappy? Chunky? Dad sandals? Heeled? Or are you sticking to your trusty trainers?
With more and more brands offering animal-friendly alternatives, shoes of the vegan variety are undoubtedly at the top of the footwear agenda.
The "V word" boom
Of course, veganism continues to be big news round these parts, especially amongst the millennial generation. Rachael Stott, senior creative researcher at trend agency, The Future Laboratory, tells me that “42% of vegans in the UK are aged 15-34 so Gen Z is a key driving force in this movement. They are conscious shoppers who want to know where and how their products are made.”
Indeed, from recipe books to Gregg’s headline-grabbing vegan sausage roll, the V word has altered our eating habits as more of us make the switch to plant-based snacks. According to reports, January 2019 saw a record-breaking 250,000 people worldwide sign-up to Veganuary.
Meanwhile, our beauty stashes have also had a vegan overhaul with a huge rise in brands offering animal-free make-up, skincare and perfume. In response to a 73% increase in online searches for ‘Vegan Beauty’, LibertyLondon.com launched a dedicated vegan beauty hub, stocking products from Herbivore, Hourglass, Pixi andLe Labo.
But the latest area to undergo the vegan treatment is fashion. February 2019 saw the very first vegan fashion week take place is Los Angeles, while the undisputed street style hit of New York Fashion Week was a vegan leather puffer jacket by Budapest-based ‘it’ label, Nanushka.
“Nanushka successfully launched for Cruise 18 and has continued to perform exceptionally well ever since”, says a spokesperson for Net-A-Porter who explains that the brand’s vegan leather styles have been driving sales.
“Compassion, sustainability and innovation are shaping today’s fashion industry – and as the number of people adopting a vegan lifestyle keeps increasing, the industry is stepping up its cruelty-free game”, says Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society.
What makes a shoe vegan?
There’s no denying that our wardrobes are riding the vegan wave... and the one area riding it the highest is our shoes. In 2018, vegan footwear accounted for 16% of the total UK market – a number that has only risen since thanks to both high-street and designer shoe brands offering more stylish vegan options than ever before.
But what actually makes a shoe vegan? “Vegan shoes are made without the use of leather, exotic skins, wool, fur, or any other animal-derived material.” explains PETA’s Sascha Camilli. This means everything from the uppers to the glue that sticks the sole on is free from animal components. “Brands often put little symbols on the sole. If you see a symbol that looks like a cowhide, leave the pair on the shelf, as it's made with animal leather. If all the symbols look like diamonds or woven fabric, the materials aren't animal-derived, so the shoes are vegan.”
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8aao6Wdoq58o7HSrWSvnZeWu26%2Fx6icrA%3D%3D