11 Vegan Shoe Brands To Wear Your Heart On Your Sole
When people say, “If the shoe fits…” we’d like it to refer to something ethical, so we opt for vegan shoe brands.
With more than a billion animals slaughtered annually for leather, vegan shoes protect the #1 victim of fashion: animals.
We don’t need to sacrifice an animal for a cute pair of winter boots—and we’re not the only ones who think so.
But what shoe brands are vegan? Are us animal lovers relegated to wearing Crocs and Converse?
Fortunately not.
The vegan sector within ethical shoe brands is growing, so even if you feel like Cinderella looking for the animal-free equivalent of a glass slipper, these vegan-friendly shoe brands can help you before the clock strikes midnight.
Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.
Dip Your Toes Into The Top Vegan Shoe Brands
Thousand Fell’s catalog of comfortable vegan shoes are the first of their kind—a completely closed-loop, zero-waste, recyclable shoe that can be sent back for repurposing.
For high fashion that’s low impact, veer your virtual shopping cart to VEERAH. This women’s vegan shoe brand isn’t just PETA-approved; they’re also planet approved thanks to their use of innovative plant-based vegan fabrics.
Alohas’ pre-order production model and small-scale Spanish factories prevent both product waste and unethical manufacturing practices.
Stomp down to the end of the article to find out how we laced up with the best vegan shoe brands.
The Full List Of Vegan-Friendly Shoe Brands
- Thousand Fell | Visit Store
- VEERAH | Visit Store
- Alohas | Visit Store
- VIVAIA | Visit Store
- Native Shoes | Visit Store
- Matt & Nat | Visit Store
- Will’s Vegan Shoes | Visit Store
- NAE | Visit Store
- Stella McCartney | Visit Store
- 8000Kicks | Visit Store
- Bhava | Visit Store
1. Thousand Fell
Price Range: $125–$135 (+$20 recycling deposit)
About Thousand Fell
Thousand Fell is one of the best vegan shoe brands that heels our sustainable soles with the first completely closed-loop, zero-waste, recycled and recyclable shoe.
Seriously.
When the slip-ons, sneakers, or flat-court vegan shoes reach the end of their lifespan, you can send them back for repurposing or composting, which gets you $20 off your next pair.
Suffice it to say, our little low waste living hearts were thrilled to try out their Women’s Slip On and Women’s Lace-Up styles.
The Lace-Up is your classic skate-style sneaker except that it feels SO supportive. Say goodbye to flat, uncomfortable sneakers with the molded foot beds and overall foot-hugging design of these shoes.
We’ve worn them all day on our feet and walked away (pardon the pun) without any foot ache whatsoever. So even though we haven’t had them that long, we’ll believe Thousand Fell’s claim that they’re good for 2.4 million steps.
Thousand Fell’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Thousand Fell’s sustainable sneakers may look like traditional leather, but they’re made from recycled bottles with a recycled rubber outsole.
The material is coated with water-resistant corn waste resin and a natural quartz barrier, preventing stains.
The insoles are crafted from repurposed rubber yoga mats, alongside sugar cane, coconut husks, palm leaf fibers, and an aloe vera-coated sock liner.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The recycled shoes are designed in New York City and manufactured in a family-owned factory in Brazil. The factory uses as many locally sourced sustainable materials as it can.
Thousand Fell is also a member of Textile Exchange.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The US-based vegan shoe brand uses a circular process, meaning the returned pairs are either refurbished for donation or repurposed for raw materials in either their shoes or by other companies.
Thousand Fell ships each pair in reusable organic tote bags and FSC-certified shoeboxes, and uses micro-warehouses and bikes to minimize its carbon footprint for NYC-area shipments.
Community & charitable giving:
Thousand Fell gives back a portion of its profits through its membership with 1% for the Planet.
They also work with Soles4Souls to provide refurbished vegan shoes to communities in need.
2. VEERAH
Price Range: $248–$498
About VEERAH
We’re head over heels for the luxury vegan shoe brand VEERAH.
The vegan shoes are designed to strut, with high-quality ethical heels, flats, mules, sandals, boots, and bridal options to strut down the aisle in your sustainable wedding dress.
The name VEERAH is derived from the Sanskrit word for warrior, and bold pairs like the HEDY Ankle Boot will certainly make you feel like one—or at least we do when wearing the pair we’ve tried.
Not only are they named after inspiring actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr, who pioneered the modern wireless communication systems, but they’re so comfortable we can wear them all day—which is normally quite the feet for us when it comes to heels.
The almond shaped toe box looks sharp without cramping our toes and wide feet, and the chunky heel is stable and the perfect height for those who aren’t prodigious at walking in high-heels (guilty as charged…).
VEERAH’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
VEERAH only uses cruelty-free, PVC-free, and PETA-approved vegan materials, including polyurethane, apple leather, bamboo leather, recycled leather, algae foam footbeds (blended with some traditional foam), and resin-coated rubber outsoles.
Some of the vegan footwear includes renewed plastics, while the linings are made from organic cotton or TENCEL™ lyocell fabric.
Even the YKK zippers are made from recycled PET bottles!
Supply chain & labor practices:
VEERAH ensures their partners follow their Code of Conduct, using the ILO labor standards and the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.
The luxury vegan shoes are handcrafted in small-scale facilities in New Taipei City of Taiwan and the Guangdong Province of China, where workers are paid above living wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
VEERAH provides removable and reversible accessories like brooches, tassels, and straps so you can breathe life into a pair of vegan leather shoes without needing another purchase.
Each pair also comes with a pretty purple storage bag made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Community & charitable giving:
The woman-owned vegan shoe brand supports causes aligned with its values by giving back at least 1% of revenue to social issues.
They also provide ten paid hours quarterly for employee volunteer and self-improvement opportunities and a one-year sponsor for She’s the First girl for every 100 customer feedback surveys.
3. Alohas
Price Range: $90–$170
About Alohas
Founded in Hawaii, Alohas waves hello to a new wave of footwear production practices.
The women’s vegan shoe brand uses a pre-order business model to fight against fast fashion and only produce what’s necessary.
This slow fashion model allows customers to select from beautiful pumps, boots, heels, sneakers, and more.
One of our favorites is the Beige Vegan Leather Sandals for its elegant design that works with countless outfits, making it the perfect addition to your minimalist wardrobe.
Alohas’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Most of Alohas’ shoes are made from recycled polyester or polyurethane uppers, and Cuerolite outsoles. We’re not 100% certain what Cuerolite is and will be reaching out to check.
Some designs incorporate cotton denim, cellulose, and plastic or zamak for the finishings.
However, they’re not exclusively vegan (many are LWG-certified leather shoes) but their “Vegan” shopping tab makes finding vegan leather shoes simple.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Alohas designs their vegan shoes in Barcelona, handcrafted in Alicante by trusted artisans in small-scale facilities the Alohas team visits regularly.
They source and produce materials locally whenever possible and have a zero-tolerance policy of discrimination.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Alohas uses an on-demand production process, meaning they wait for orders to come in before producing every time they launch a new collection. This creates 0% excess material, saving resources and carbon emissions.
Their website also offers a carbon offset feature, enabling customers to opt in and reduce their carbon footprint by funding native forest regeneration and renewable energy projects.
4. VIVAIA
Price Range: $97–$199
About VIVAIA
VIVAIA is a vegan-friendly shoe brand that doesn’t sacrifice style, comfort, or quality in any of its pairs.
The brand is in its infancy but is dedicated to creating quality, modern footwear that doesn’t harm the environment or animals.
There are countless styles, like heels, flats, loafers, boots, and flats—like the comfortable and versatile Aria 5° Flats, in bright colors like Green Grass and Orchid.
Most are for women, but they do cater to men’s fashion needs as well with a staple collection.
VIVAIA’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
VIVAIA crafts its footwear primarily from recycled PET collected from the ocean. Some styles contain more than six plastic bottles per pair.
Other eco-friendly materials include hemp fiber, GRS-certified recycled faux fur, rice husks, herbal insoles, and natural rubber.
They use wool for some of their knit sustainable flats and boots, so the brand is not 100% vegan-friendly, but there are plenty of vegan options.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Cruelty-free shoes are made in China, where they regularly audit conditions to ensure fair and healthy working environments.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
VIVAIA uses low-waste production processes, which has reduced production waste by over 30%.
They use 90% recycled cardboard and 10% ordinary cardboard for their shoe boxes, alongside completely recycled shoe fillers.
Community & charitable giving:
Big on giving back, they donate to many organizations, like SOS Children’s Village, Dress for Success, and UBCF Breast Cancer.
5. Native Shoes
Price Range: $32–$110
About Native Shoes
Encouraging us to Live Lightly™, Native Shoes is all about products that create a happier, lighter, healthier world.
In addition to being one of the best vegan shoe brands for women and men, they also have an impressive selection for kids.
Compared to the footprint of 10-20 kg CO2e found in most shoes, Native’s stylish vegan shoe collection, sandals, boots, flats, mules, and slip-ons are much lighter— around 4 kg CO2.
Choose between a literal rainbow of colors and designs, including some pop-culture based ones, like the Jefferson Star Wars™ Print to show your support of both planet Earth and the intergalactic Rebel Alliance.
Native Shoes’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
25% of Native’s PETA-approved vegan shoes are made with a sugarcane-derived Sugarlite upper paired with injection-molded bio-based EVA.
Some incorporate recycled materials (repurposed algae or rPET) in the upper. Others use solvent-free vegan suede, corn-based PU, organically-grown cotton, and cork.
We’d avoid those made with microfleece, synthetic PU, and fossil fuel-based EVA.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their factories in Vietnam and China adhere to ethical practices, like the prohibition of forced labor, monitoring of working hours, and regulation of wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
With science-based targets to reduce their environmental impact, Native’s moving to use more renewable energy.
Once worn out, figuring out what to do with old shoes from Native is simple.
Not only are Native vegan shoes hand washable, but the Native Shoes Remix™ recycling initiative takes well-loved Native soles and repurposes them as playground flooring, insulation, seating, or donations to those in need.
Inclusivity:
Although not an Indigenous-led company, their name honors their HQ location on the stolen territory of Canada’s Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations—in addition to donating to various charities.
6. Matt & Nat
Price Range: $45–$190
About Matt & Nat
Known for their premium vegan bags, purses, and accessories (like men’s vegan belts), Matt & Nat is also one of the most popular vegan leather shoe brands.
To go along with their sustainable raincoats, they have rugged weather models like the LANEY boots, a classic Chelsea boot that’s functional and fashionable.
Or shop for women’s sneakers, flats, vegan heels, sandals, skate shoes, mules, and running shoes. There’s also a smaller selection for men.
Everything is PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free.
Matt & Nat’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All styles are crafted from primarily recycled materials, although the exact materials aren’t always specified, so we wish for greater transparency there.
Especially since some models are still made of waterproof recycled PVC, though the brand is currently trying to phase out this unsustainable type of plastic—though at least it’s recycled.
The best vegan shoes are made with 100% recycled PVB (polyvinyl butyral), a PVC alternative soured from old car windshield glass resin.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The Matt & Nat CEO personally visits their SA8000-compliant partner factories 2–3 times a year, in addition to local managers who monitor it on a more frequent basis.
Audits are conducted to ensure fair trade wages, clean workspaces, and zero child labor.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Using 100% recycled materials in their bag linings has helped Matt & Nat recycle more than 9 million plastic bottles yearly.
They claim to aim to “become fully sustainable” but don’t detail any specifics on this plan.
Community & charitable giving:
To recycle unwanted Matt & Nat vegan handbags, give them back to the brand to be donated to Dress For Success.
Proceeds from the HOPE Charity Bag are also donated to assist those in need.
7. Will’s Vegan Store
Price Range: $54–$194
About Will’s Vegan Store
#MakeAPositiveChoice with Will’s Vegan Store.
The PETA-approved vegan company has been supplying animal-free essentials long before vegan shoe brand lists were even a thing.
The London-based and award-winning cruelty-free footwear brand has some of the best eco-friendly vegan shoes: vegan hiking shoes, winter boots, and vegan work boots.
For a staple all-around shoe you can wear rain or shine, you can’t go wrong with the Waterproof Chelsea boots—and don’t worry, waterproofing is thanks to a PFC-coating
Will’s Vegan Store’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Everything down to the glue in Will’s vegan work shoes is backed by REACH, ECO Label, and OEKO-TEX certification.
Uppers are either Italian vegan bio-based leather made from European cereal crops or 100% PU eco suede.
All shoes have a natural and recycled rubber outsole and insoles from recycled plastic (PU or TR). They’re incorporating more linings made from TENCEL® and organic cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Will’s works with manufacturing partners in Italy and Portugal.
In addition to EU law enforcing workplace safety, Will’s employee benefits include parental leave, compensation for victims of discrimination, fair pay, and more.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Everything—from material manufacturing to shipping—is certified carbon-neutral and plastic-free.
Some of their manufacturing partners use renewable energy, and you can recycle your pre-loved Will’s vegan shoes for a small fee.
8. NAE
Price Range: $66–$203
About NAE
Combining environmental sustainability and vegan fashion, NAE (short for “No Animal Exploitation”) is one of the best ethical vegan shoe brands for women and men alike.
Choose between vegan work shoes, sneakers, heels, sandals, boots, and more.
Years ago, we tried out the High-Top Lace-Up Boot and we’re STILL wearing it with little signs of wear outside some pilling of the recycled PET upper. We especially love the rugged sole that’s burly, yet feels lightweight.
NAE’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
NAE uses natural, recycled, and synthetic materials, some of which are OEKO-TEX certified.
The most sustainable materials include Piñatex, organic cotton, cork, apple leather, recycled PET, a corn-rPET blend, and vegan leather.
Also, expect to find a few less-sustainable materials, like polyurethane (PU), PLA, and synthetic microfiber, which are certainly avoidable.
Supply chain & labor practices:
NAE’s shoes are manufactured in fair work environments in Portugal or Spain.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The manufacturing process is carbon-neutral, with steps taken to minimize chemical and water requirements.
9. Stella McCartney
Price Range: $595–$1,595
About Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is one of the biggest brands making waves in vegan, sustainable fashion.
Stella herself (yes, Stella, the daughter of Paul McCartney) is a lifelong vegetarian.
While they still use ethically sourced wool in some products, they’re one of the best vegan shoe brands UK shoe addicts have.
If you’re looking for luxury vegan women’s shoe brands, you’ll want to wiggle your toes into one of Stella’s unique and runway-ready pairs of vegan sneakers, eco-friendly rain boots, flats, sandals, heels, and wedges.
It’s tough to say which is sharper with the Stella Iconic Heeled Ankle Boots: their stiletto heel or your entire look when wearing them.
Stella McCartney’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The best Stella McCartney vegan shoes are those that use sustainably grown wood (viscose), organic cotton, and/or recycled nylon.
Many feature a production offcut lining, plant-based insock, and soles made from repurposed rubber or recycled TPU. Some are made with plant-based grape leather, made of a byproduct of the wine industry.
Many are made with Eco Alter Mat, an animal-free leather.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The luxury vegan shoes are primarily made in Italy, where 85% of material production and direct suppliers are located.
They predominantly work with small workshops where workers receive respect, dignity, and fair wages. As a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, their partners support ILO standards of workers’ rights.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The cruelty-free leather is free of solvents and produced to minimize water and energy requirements.
They have an audit system that measures their emissions, water use, land use, waste, and water and air pollution—helping them implement more sustainable practices to reduce their impact year after year.
They’ve partnered with organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and The RealReal online secondhand store to make the circular economy a reality.
Community & charitable giving:
Stella McCartney supports a range of charities, including Animals Asia, ASPCA, Meat Free Monday, and more.
10. 8000Kicks
Price Range: $99–$199
About 8000Kicks
As a maker of sneakers using ultra-sustainable hemp fabric, there are—dare we say—8000 reasons to love 8000Kicks.
They’re waging war on plastics with their durable and sustainable materials. Regarding eco-friendly vegan shoe brands, they’re setting the bar pretty high. (Vegan shoes made from cannabis’ sober cousin won’t have the same impact.)
8000Kicks keeps it simple with a few staple styles, like the Explorer V2 and the Seeker—available for both men and women.
Since we fancy ourselves as explorers, we had to try the eponymously named shoes and found ourselves able to explore all day in these lightweight, ultra comfortable sneakers.
8000Kicks’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
OEKO-TEX certified hemp fabric is at the top of the list for vegan shoe materials.
Not only are these vegan shoes made of solid hemp fiber uppers and the world’s first hemp insole, but they have soles made out of either recycled rubber or algal blooms.
Hemp shoes retain the fabric’s beneficial properties, making them antimicrobial, flexible, durable, dust-proof, antibacterial, and splash-proof.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Factories in China and Portugal stitch together vegan shoes. Details like specific manufacturing locations for products and average salaries are shared in 8000Kicks’ FAQs.
Because hemp grows well in China, 8000Kicks keeps their supply chain smaller and is able to pay better salaries than countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia.
Both factories are regularly inspected to ensure they meet ethical conditions.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
8000Kicks works with factories that use renewable energy to power a portion of their production. With Bloom certification, you can rest assured that your vegan shoes are associated with clean air and water.
11. Bhava
Price Range: $129–$345
About Bhava
Bhava, don’t bother with leather.
As one of the top luxury vegan shoe brands, their shoes are made to protect the #1 victim of fashion: animals.
They also protect the other victims of the fashion industry—the planet, the workers, and us, right down to your ankles and feet. Their vegan shoes are NYC street test-driven for durability and comfort.
Their line of women’s vegan dress shoes (boots, winter boots, flats, heels, wedges, vegan sandals, and more) keeps your conscience clean while shattering glass ceilings.
And what better to do so in than the Esperanza Ankle Strap Pump? It’s their modern take on this classic sustainable work clothing staple with a retro heel cut-out we just love.
Bhava’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Bhava’s list of materials is long but 100% animal-free, including eco-ultrasuede, cork, wood, rubber, and organic cotton.
Bhava’s vegan leather is free from aromatic amines, formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, azo dyes, and chrome.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The vegan shoes for women are handmade in Bhava’s partner ateliers in Alicante, Spain, and Mumbai, India.
They vet the working conditions provided by manufacturing partners, which includes India’s first 100% female-owned footwear maker.
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How We Found The Best Ethical Vegan Shoe Brands
At the heart (or heel) of sustainable and ethical fashion is the concept that fashion shouldn’t come at the cost of any creature’s welfare.
And footwear, like leather shoes, are rife with animal products and somewhat more tricky than vegan wallets.
Instead, we looked for vegan versions and cruelty-free shoe brands that ticked the following:
Materials:
Vegan dress shoes aren’t so dressy when the animal-free materials have significant (environmental) impacts.
Answering the question, “What shoes are vegan?” ultimately boils down to what it’s made from—but unfortunately, not all vegan shoes are sustainable shoes.
Instead of petroleum-based vegan leather, we prioritized bio-based materials (like corn) and vegetable-based coating oils.
We did consider some plastic-based leathers, but only those made of the more eco-friendly PU, EVA, or PVB, rather than PVC.
Other foot-forward-faves include hemp, cork fabric, natural rubber, apple leather, sustainably-sourced viscose (wood pulp), organic cotton, Piñatex, and recycled materials: algal bloom foam, PET (made from plastic water bottles or ocean waste), nylon (ECONYL), and TPU.
- Certifications: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), OEKO-TEX, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), ECO Label, Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Leather Working Group (LWG)
Supply chain and labor practices:
Cruelty-free extends beyond materials; it applies to how workers are treated, too.
We trip over transparency and traceability, especially when a brand knows where and how its vegan shoes are produced—local supply chains, salary details, and regular audits proven by manufacturing certifications.
- Certifications: International Labour Organization (ILO), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Social Accountability International (SA8000), fair trade
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Green is the new black vegan leather, so we look for additional green efforts like carbon offset programs, practices to minimize water/chemical consumption, renewable energy use, and sustainable packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
Taking a step towards a better future, some brands that give back go the extra mile in their vegan boots by donating to charities, planting trees, and partnering with nonprofits.
Final Thoughts On Vegan Friendly Shoe Brands
Casual shoes were made for walking—not ending an animal’s life or destroying our planet.
Thankfully, the best vegan shoe brands for men and women do neither.
But what they can do is eliminate animal cruelty, minimize GHG emissions, protect workers from dangerous chemicals, and make use of natural and renewable materials.
Ready to stomp down on the unsustainable footwear industry?
Share this article with your animal and planet-loving besties, so they can boot up with one of these ethical vegan shoe companies.
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Where can I buy the flip flop and calf cover boot like? What are the name of them?
Hi Jeanne, apologies, I’m not sure what you mean – are you referring to an image in this article? Perhaps helpful: this list of vegan sandals, flip flops and this one of boots?