Friday 15 January 2016

The Vegan Footwear Master List and Fabrics!


The following list format has the brand or shop in bold then a website link followed by a description after which may be alternative stockists. There may be further descriptions if different sites stock different product styles. I really wanted to make the list easy to navigate. Even if you've never heard of the brands the descriptions might help guide you as to what you might be interested in or what could best suit you.



Blog Post Contents
Due to the size of this blog post I'll let you know what is covered within the post here.
After what I call "the master list" is some research and information about how to shop for vegan shoes. Not all glues used are vegan so even if the materials are animal friendly the glue might not be. I encourage you to make contact with brands and query about materials and glue so you can make the best informed choices when shopping for vegan footwear. I've also included information about materials which I recommend checking out before making a purchase so you can make the most animal friendly, ethical, sustainable and environmentally friendly decisions. Some materials information is included within the list but not repeated elsewhere. I've made that italic so it is a little easier to locate. 


Vegan Footwear, Brands and Stores

2 Lips Too http://www.twolipsshoes.com I saw a shoe recommended by Peta by this brand http://www.peta.org/living/fashion/10-shoes-every-vegan-woman/ Available at DSW
http://www.6pm.com a store with some vegan footwear and brands.
Aetrex https://www.aetrex.com at Nice Shoes Sandals.
Ahimsa http://en.useahimsa.com Vegan. Sandals, slip ons, loafers, oxfords, boots, boat shoes and sneakers. Also at MooShoes Oxfords, boat shoes and sneakers. Vegan Chic Brogues, boots and dress shoes.
Alternative Outfitters http://alternativeoutfitters.com A vegan store with different brands to choose from.
Arcopedico http://www.arcopedico.com.au Boots, slip ons, Mary Janes. "produced with biodegradable materials". "Lytech the green shoe vegan friendly No animal  products are used in Lytec fabrics". There is no mention of what kind of glue is used. Some products also do not mention what kind of lining is used. Vegan Chic
Avesu http://www.avesuveganshoes.com A vegan store with lots of different brands.
B.A.I.T Footwear http://www.baitfootwear.com Retro and vintage inspired designs and an array of colour choices. I did find a few pairs, the Penelope C. Blue/Sage, Pinky Latte/Mint/Deep Rose, Edie Black/Turquoise/Tan/Coral, Emma Mint, Shirley Coral/Teal/Yellow, Silla Blue/Yellow, Selena R. Pink/Blue/Black. where the lining was man made + leather. Some styles do not mention what the lining is made from. One would hope they are older stock and all new styles from now on will be 100% vegan. Many styles are 100% vegan friendly. At the bottom of the site it reads "No Animals Were Harmed in Making This Site" which contradicts the leather lining. I wonder if they meant faux leather for the lining but for some reason didn't type it or if it is in fact actually leather.  Also at MooShoes Nice Shoes
BC Footwear https://www.bcfootwear.com Available at MooShoes Boots, sandals, wedges, heels, flats, lace ups, flatforms and oxfords. Also at Vegan Chic Boots, heels, oxfords, sandals and flats.
Beira Rio I can't find a website for the brand but they are available at Vegan Style Mary Janes, heels, sandals, wedges, gladiators and flats.
Beyond Skin http://www.beyondskin.co.uk Vegan. Boots, sandals, heels, brogues, sneakers, Mary Janes, flats, loafers and platform wedges. Vegan Chic
Bhava http://bhavastudio.com "eco-suede lining" I'm not sure if that is faux or not. The video for the EDITOR 2-in-1 Knee Boot reads "breathable lining". "Italian vegan leather does not contain aromatic amines, PCP, formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, azo-dyes, or chrome." Some items are returned and tagged when searching vegan but there is no statement on the site or social media that the brand is entirely vegan and no mention of what kind of glue is used. Also at MooShoes Sandals. Available at Nice Shoes Vegan Chic
Birkenstock http://www.birkenstock.com/home-en.htm Also at Ethical Wares Sandals and slides.
Birki's http://www.birkenstock.com/collection-en-category-birkis.htm Disney and Marvel. A Birkenstock collection. Available at Vegan Chic Slides. Also at Ethical Wares
Blowfish http://www.blowfishshoes.com There is no mention of vegan on their site or social media and nothing about what kind of glue is used. Also at Nice Shoes Boots, sandals, wedges and ballet flats. Available at Vegan Chic
Blundstone http://www.blundstone.com Also available at Nice Shoes Canvas boots.
Bogs  http://www.bogsfootwear.com.au/shop/index.html Also at Nice Shoes Boots.
Bourgeois Boheme http://www.bboheme.com VeganVegan Chic
Brave Gentleman http://www.bravegentleman.com Vegan. Also at MooShoes Mens shoes and boots. Vegan Chic
Bzees http://www.bzees.com There is no mention of vegan on the site or social media. There is no mention of what kind of glue is used. It is a Caleres brand. Also available at Nice Shoes Sneakers and slip ons.
Cammina Leggero http://www.camminaleggero.com/en Vegan. Boots, Mary Janes, lace ups and sandals. Available at Vegan Style Boots, Mary Janes and sandals.
Chaco http://www.chacos.com/US/en/home Also at Nice Shoes Sandals and sneakers. I once read that PU has leather in it. http://www.ask.com/home-garden/difference-between-pu-pvc-d24337f16e65e0f4?qo=questionPageSimilarContent "Occasionally, polyester is used in place of the split leather material." It may be difficult to know which PU uses leather and which uses polyester and would definitely require enquiring.
Charmone http://charmone.com Vegan. Boots and heels. Vegan Chic
City Classified I can't find a website for the brand but they are available at  http://www.shoetopia.com/city-classified-shoes Alternative Outfitters and other stores. They are a Fortune Dynamic brand.
Chinese Laundry at Alternative Outfitters
CL by Chinese Laundry http://www.chineselaundry.com/brand/cl-by-laundry and at lulus Vegan Chic (When I search for CL and CL by Chinese Laundry, CL does not appear.) Alternative Outfitters
Clae http://www.clae.com Also available at Nice Shoes Canvas sneaker.
Columbia http://www.columbia.com Also available at Nice Shoes Boots.
Converse https://www.converse.com.au Also at Nice Shoes Sneakers
Coral 8 http://www.coral8.com doesn't seem to load. Available at Vegan Chic and other stores.
Cosi Cosi http://www.cosicosifashion.com/index.php?language=en Vegan. Boots, sandals, heels, platforms and wedges. Available at Avesu Boots, wedges, platforms, heels, and sandals.
Cougar http://www.cougarboots.com Also at Nice Shoes Boots. Vegan Chic
Cri de Coeur http://cridecoeur.myshopify.com Vegan. Also at MooShoes and Nice Shoes Boots. Vegan Chic (Here when I search for "Cri de Coeur" Harts of Darkness also appear but does make a bit of sense since Hearts of Darkness is Cri de Coeur's diffusion line. Cri de Coeur did not show up till page 2 but that may change with time.)
Cruzerz http://www.cruzerz.net Vegan Chic Slip ons
Deer Stags http://www.deerstags.com and at Alternative Outfitters mens shoes.
Dekline http://www.dekline.com at Nice Shoes Skateboard sneakers and slip ons.
Di Romeo Everything I've tried searching for and reading keeps directing me to http://www.diromeo.it but it doesn't seem like the correct site. http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2013/05/06/vegan-footwear-solutions-di-romeo-vegan-made-in-italy/ They sound 100% vegan but I really need a site of their own to verify. http://www.rightshoes.ch/Di_Romeo_Vegan_partner_Right_Shoes_ENG They are available at Vegan Style and Sudo Shoes
Dirty Laundry I can't find a website for the brand but they are available at http://www.lulus.com and alternativeoutfitters. Vegan Chic Espadrille
Dollhouse http://www.dollhouse.com/store/shoes.html Not enough info on their site if I was on the correct site. http://www.urbanog.com/dellhouse-shoes-pumps-boots-heels-sandals.html Available on other sites at one time or another Lulu's http://www.peta.org/living/fashion/10-shoes-every-vegan-woman/
Do'Ni http://sitekreator.com/donigiftoflove2/main.html Vegan. Retail profits are donated. Sister line of Kailia Footwear. Do'Ni is a collaboration by Nancy Dong and Carlotta Fiorini. Ballet flats.
Dr. Martens http://international.drmartens.com Also at MooShoes and Nice Shoes Dress shoes and combat boots.
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse http://www.dsw.com Many different brands. Not all of them are vegan.
DVS https://www.dvsshoes.com at Nice Shoes Canvas sneakers.
EKN http://www.eknfootwear.com http://www.eknfootwear.com/shop/women/specials/vegan/ http://www.eknfootwear.com/cat/index/sCategory/108 Sneakers and flip flops
Elizabeth's Kind Cafe http://www.elizabethdetroit.com On different days at different times I tried to visit the site it reads that they are "currently performing scheduled maintenance and updates".
El Naturalista http://www.elnaturalista.com/en/ Also at Nice Shoes Sling back flats.
Emerica https://emerica.com/ Vegans Rejoice! at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
Espanol I can't find a website for the brand but they are available at Ethical Wares and other stores.
Esprit http://www.esprit.com.au A division of Vida Shoes International http://www.vidagroup.com Also available at Avesu
Ethical Wares http://www.ethicalwares.com a vegan store with lots of different brands and lots of other lovely shoes.
Ethletic http://ethletic.com Vegan. Sneakers, fair dancer (ballerinas sneaker sole ballet slipper), flip flops, slip ons, boat shoes loafers. At Ethical Wares Sneakers and flip flops. Also at Vegan Chic Sneakers.
Etiko http://www.etiko.com.au Vegan. "Please note that no Etiko product contains any animal ingredients." Sneakers, flip flops and slippers. At vegan style Sneakers and flip flops. Also available at http://www.veganonline.com.au/wardrobe/shoes
Etnies http://etnies.com http://etnies.com/shop/vegan/ at Nice Shoes Skateboard sneakers.
FAIR Shoes I couldn't find a site for the brand but they are available at Vegan Style (This link is from a search I performed for "FAIR Shoes" but also shows a few at the bottom of the results by Brave Gentlemen. I do prefer the sites that allow us to shop by brand that already have that feature built in. It is so much easier than trying to search for brands which you might not know are featured on the site without perusing every category and every page which takes a long time but is exactly what I did to compile this list.)
Feiyue https://www.feiyue-shoes.com I like their animal collection if they were vegan. Vegan Chic Sneakers.
Form & Fauna http://formandfauna.com Vegan. Heels and wedges. I'm not sure if the brand is still currently producing and selling at this point in time. Their Facebook page has not been updated since 2012.
Fortune Dynamic http://www.fortunedynamic.com also on Vegan Chic Sandals.
Freerangers http://www.freerangers.co.uk Catalogue 2015 Vegan. Sandals, loafers, slides, mary janes, boots, lace ups and monk shoes.
FreiVon https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.freivon-schuhe.de/&prev=search Vegan. "The outer material we chose for an artificial leather, since we want to offer an alternative to leather shoes." The "Free of" link at the bottom of the page didn't do anything when I clicked on it so I went to the original site and clicked on FreiVon at the bottom of the page and then translated that "Basic requirement for all of our materials is that they are vegan." "EQ Porellina consists of 50-60 percent polyurethane and 40-50 percent non-food crops . Unfortunately the product is not recyclable . However, it may be burnt without toxic emissions." I'm not sure about that I'd want to look into that more. I don't think I'm a fan of burning things. If they can't be recycled could they be repurposed? "Jomo made of recycled polyurethane residues from the mattress industry with anti-bacterial treatment." Available at Avesu Lace up dress shoe.
Generic Surplus http://genericsurplus.com at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
Globe http://www.globebrand.com at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
Good Guys http://goodguys.bigcartel.com Vegan. Sneakers, boots, loafers and oxfords. Also at Nice Shoes Sandals, boots, sandals, platforms, flats and oxfords. Available at MooShoes Boots and shoes.
Gram http://www.gramshoes.com http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/tag/gram-shoes/ Vegan Chic Sneakers. (this link is from a search for "Gram" and shows sneakers by Gram but also one by Macb so I don't know why that appeared in the search results.)
Grand Step Shoes http://www.grandstep.de I think it reads "beautiful, comfortable, ecological" and "our Internet site is just about overworked". I can't do anything with the site or click on anything so maybe they are working on it or have a daily traffic limit but I'm not sure. Also available at Avesu Boots, sneakers and ballerina flats.
Grendha http://www.grendha.uk.com "All Grendha footwear is 100% recyclable and does not contain any animal products". It is a Grendene brand. Flip flops, sandals and wedges.
Hearts of Darkness (some sites list as Harts of Darkness) Vegan. Everything I look at points to http://cridecoeur.myshopify.com which makes sense since it is the lower price point line of Cri De Coeur but there are no Hearts of Darkness footwear on there. They are available at Vegan Chic and other stores
Hi-Tec http://www.hi-tec.com/au/ Also at Nice Shoes Hiking boots.
Impericon http://www.impericon.com http://www.impericon.com/uk/ http://www.impericon.com/uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=vegan A store that sells a few different brands.
Indosole http://indosole.com http://indosole.com/search?type=product&q=vegan http://indosole.com/blogs/indosole/tagged/vegan I see a few things tagged as vegan but nothing about the entire brand being vegan and every product. I can't find what type of glue is used. the Kota is my top pick! Their soles are made from old tyres! Also at MooShoes
Insecta http://www.insectashoes.com/?language=en Vegan. "Fabrics and prints from abandoned outfits are transformed into vegan oxfords and boots. That means our shoes have absolutely no use of materials with animal origin." Lovely vintage clothing fabrics with attractive colours and patterns but would prefer more ladies styles to choose from. It is very much oxford city which isn't my style unless they have a heel, wedge or are a boot but I would definitely choose for a guy. Also at MooShoes
J-41 I can't find a site for the brand but they are available at Vegan Chic Boots, sandals, walking shoes, wedges, and slides. Also at other stores.
Jambu http://www.jambu.com "Jambu's Vegan Designs use no animal products while providing the same comfort and quality standards." A division of Vida Shoes International http://www.vidagroup.com Also at Vegan Chic
John Fluevog Nothing comes up when I search 'vegan' on https://www.fluevog.com Also at Vegan Chic Oxford
Jonny's Vegan http://www.johnwshoes.de/JONNY_S-VEGAN/ https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.johnwshoes.de/JONNY_S-VEGAN/&prev=search https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.johnwshoes.de/JONNY_S-VEGAN/&prev=search Also available at Avesu Boots, heels, sandals, ballet flats and sneakers.
Kailia http://www.kailiafootwear.com/Home_1.html http://sitekreator.com/kailia/Home_1.html Vegan. Designer luxury. Boots, heels and sandals.
Kamik http://www.kamik.com/ http://www.kamik.com/b2c_int_en/catalogsearch/result/?q=vegan Lots of their products are made with recyclable materials. Also available at Nice Shoes Boots.
KANDALS http://www.kandals.com Vegan. "KANDALS shoes are made out of an eco-friendly material. The upper portion of each pair of KANDALS is made with organic cotton from Spain while the outsole is composed of natural rubber. We do not use animal products in any part of KANDALS." Also at MooShoes Canvas sneakers.
Keds http://www.keds.com/en/home at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
Keep http://keepcompany.com Vegan. Also at MooShoes Boat shoe and sneakers. Available at Nice Shoes  Vegan Chic (Other brands are returned when I search "Keep" which means to locate the brand I have to search by category and just keep and eye out for the brand amongst other brands.)
Komodo doesn't have any footwear on their site but is available at Ethical Wares flip flops and sling back platform wedge peep toes with bows.
Lakai http://lakai.com Also at Nice Shoes Canvas sneaker.
Laundry I can't find a site for the brand but they are available at Vegan Chic Ballet flat.
Le Bunny Bleu http://www.lebunnybleu.com http://www.lebunnybleu.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=vegan&x=0&y=0 Some cute bunny features. Also at MooShoes A wedge and loafers with heels.
LifeStride http://www.lifestride.com A Caleres brand. Some of their other brands are not vegan. Also at Nice Shoes Womens shoes. Heels, loafers, peep toe wedges and Mary Jane flats.
LOVE IS MIGHTY http://loveismighty.com VeganHand embroidered Indian vintage textiles by tribal artisans. Many of their Facebook page posts are #vegan but there was a post featuring heels that didn't have the #vegan and on closer inspection of the picture one pair at least are miu miu. "a company fully dedicated to the rights and welfare of animals." Their Twitter page reads "free of all animal products."
Lowa https://www.lowaboots.com Available at Avesu Hiking boots and sneakers.
LuLu's vegan shoes http://www.lulus.com/categories/179_257/vegan-shoes.html Gladiators, strapy, wrap around lace ups etc. It would be good to see some of the styles in a variety of colours other than blue and red as it is mostly neutrals. Not always but mostly.
Lunge http://www.lunge.com https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.lunge.com/&prev=search Vegan. "Our running shoes were, belong to the group of vegans. We use no leather namely a - a fundamentally problematic material. Because: In leather toxins can be removed through the aggressive action of sweat. Instead, we prefer to use tested sweat-resistant materials with particularly good skin compatibility, in which no toxins may arise""Our adhesive used is of course REACH Compliant (European Chemicals Regulation) and comes from a strictly controlled producers." I'm not sure what that means or if the glue they use is vegan or not. "Our material for the top cover of Gomax insoles, is from Italy. Due to our claim to Vegan and pollutant-free materials we landed at the new Lai Porelina."  Available at Avesu Running sneakers.
Macbeth http://macbeth.com/us/shop-8/vegan.html?limit=all There is no description or materials information but there is a vegan logo for some products which suggests that products without are not vegan. Also at MooShoes Canvas kicks. Vegan Chic Avesu
Madden Girl http://www.stevemadden.com/thumbnail/WOMENS/Madden-Girl/pc/-1/c/2163/3236.uts?cm_sp=globalnav-_-womens-_-maddengirl Mostly boots right now. Available at MooShoes Boots, sandals and heels. Also at Alternative Outfitters
Maians http://maians.es Also at MooShoes Sneakers and peep toe wedges.
Malibu Sandals http://www.malibusandals.com Vegan. "we've combined the ancient craft of Mexican huarache sandal-making with contemporary footwear design and engineering techniques, using cruelty-free materials." "Every pair of Malibu Sandals are made with PETA-Approved Vegan materials." "Every pair of Malibu Sandals are 100% cruelty-free." They partner with the California Wildlife Center and a percentage of their sales is donated. http://www.cawildlife.org Also at MooShoes Mexican huarache weaving.
Marais http://www.maraisusa.com/collections/vegan "Many of our styles come in vegan materials, because we believe in offering an eco and animal friendly choice (look for the vegan label in our shop!)." Sandals, mules and slides. Also at MooShoes Heels and a boot.
Mel by Melissa at Alternative Outfitters
Mel Shoes at MooShoes
Melissa Shoes http://www.melissa.com.br/en/ http://shopmelissa.com Roller Joy. I'd be interested in these as an artistic roller skater because I was feeling conflicted about my EDEA boots. Mine are mostly fabric but there are accents of leather which makes me feel guilty all the time. I'm not planning on buying another pair until they are completely worn out. I've been wearing boot covers I made so they are almost like new still. I'm thinking that the Roller Joy are more recreational but it would be great one day to have vegan artistic roller skates exist some day. Designer shoe partners with Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld, Jason Wu, J. Maskrey and Campanas. Plastic Dreams. http://www.mdreamsmelissa.shoes There are collaborations with more designers on this site. "Only the most comfortable and 'breathable' types of PVC are used." While they may be animal friendly PVC is not good for the environment. Read more about it hereHowever their site reads "melissa plastic shoes are made from mono-materials, which means they can be easily disassembled and recycled." "All melissa plastic shoes are created with a zero waste ethos and particular attention to the life cycle of materials. melissa recycles 99.9% of factory water and waste, and they recycle overstock styles into next season's collection." I don't think they need to recycle overstock. They could just sell it online along side newer collections. Maybe not produce as much or produce enough to meet existing orders and not extra or so much extra. "ethically manufactured in Brazil with their signature bubblegum scented recyclable plastic." I can't find what type of glue they use but the site reads "As each melissa shoe is non-leather, they will not degrade in weather or water and are completely suitable for vegans and animal rights supporters." Melissa partners with non-profits and "donates  monthly to support local homeless children and pregnant women (as well as massive donations of shoes) and also donates part of its monthly income to developing green urban areas." Melissa is owned by Grendene which produces other footwear brands including Ilhabela which uses leather. Also available at MooShoes and Vegan Chic
Merrell http://www.merrellaustralia.com.au http://www.merrellaustralia.com.au/search/benefits/vegan-friendly?p=1&q=vegan Also at Nice Shoes Sandals and hiking boots.
Mink http://www.minkshoes.com Vegan. "assembled using materials from sustainable resources such as wood, cork, bamboo, non animal glue, vegetable resins, organic and recycled fabrics." High end designer luxury, funky, 70's, lots of platforms, wedges and rock'n'roll biker boots. Also available at Vegan Chic
Mixx Shuz http://www.mixxshuz.com "Currently Under Maintenance Website will be available soon!" http://www.peta.org/living/fashion/10-shoes-every-vegan-woman/ http://www.lulus.com/searchresults?search_in_description=1&q=mixx%20shuz%20vegan Boots and heels.
ModCloth http://www.modcloth.com a store with some vegan shoes, bit difficult to navigate and not sure about glues used, could do with a bit more information.
MOHOP http://www.mohop.com Have fun styling their interchangeable ribbon sandals in infinite ways. Custom fit by way of providing your foot details with body scanning technology and incorporating 3D printing. I wish the video on their site would mention what type of glue they use. Also the narrator mentions leather straps but since they are supposed to be vegan I'm wondering if he meant faux? He does mention a "faux leather backed by cushion padding is used to make the foot bed" later in the video. In another video on the about page it does state that they use animal friendly glue :) I am allergic to most metals including silver except gold so if the metal rivets were touching the soles of my feet while wearing the shoes it would irritate my skin and I'd have an allergic reaction. Apart from that I was wondering if they are comfortable to stand and walk on top of the rivets and loops? Sandals, clogs, platforms, wedges and heels. "These saree ties are vegan, typically polyester creepe, taffeta, organdy or chiffon." The non-profit they contribute to fund sarees made of silk. It is great to support the women and education and help them out of poverty but keep in mind the non-profit is not vegan. Re: http://www.jhoole.org Silk scarves.
MOHOP-49 pairs in one Vegan Chic
Mola Shoes http://kunaprints.com Vegan. The site has an error processing my request  but their Facebook page has fairly recent activity. According to their Twitter page "We design wearable-art! One of a kind vegan mola shoes, boots, bags and accessories made out of indigenous Mola, Wayuu and Fique textiles".
Moleca http://www.moleca.com.br/2015_2/en I can't find any information on their site. When I select a product it reads "Dear visitor! Complete the form for more information!"Also at Vegan Style
Montrail http://www.montrail.com Also at Nice Shoes Flip flops, sneakers and hiking boots.
Mooshoes http://www.mooshoes.com A vegan store with lots of different brands.
MOVMT http://thepeoplesmovement.com  Sneakers from upcycled plastic bags. Laces are wax treated. The site shows a diagram with a honey comb design so the wax might be bee's wax? Not all shoes state in the description what kind of glue is used. The Marcos uses water based glues. The collaboration with ECOCYCLE doesn't state what kind of glue is used. What kind of wax is the waxed cotton canvas? There is no mention of vegan on the site or social media. Sneakers. Also available at MooShoes and Vegan Chic
NAE http://www.nae-vegan.com No Animal Exploitation Vegan. uses pinatex "Ananas Anam has developed an innovative, natural and sustainable non-woven textile called Pinatex made from pineapple leaf fibres." http://www.ananas-anam.com/pinatex/ The biogas is probably methane? Methane is very bad for the environment and contributes to global warming. When plants decompose it produces methane. Since pineapple leaves are a plant the biogas can be methane. What is the process used to go from fibres to fabric and does that involve harsh chemicals? "What is a 'nonwoven' fabric? It is a type of textile produced by forming a net of fibres united by mechanical, thermical and chemical processes". Thus making the statement "To develop new textiles using natural fibres, which are the by-product of the pineapple harvest, thus no extra land, water, fertilizers or chemicals are utilized in its production." untrue. What is the finishing treatment made of? Would creating thread to weave be better than producing a mesh since that does use a chemical process? Although would a woven fabric not produce that leather look that mesh does? To read more about methane click hereBoots, loafers, brogues, sneakers, lace ups and heelsAlso available at Vegan Chic
Native Shoes http://nativeshoes.com Vegan. "Our shoes contain no animal by-products". Boots and shoes. Also at MooShoes and Nice Shoes Boots, flip flops and slip ons.
Natural World http://www.naturalworldeco.com/#/home/en Also at Vegan Chic Sneakers.
Neon Collective http://www.neoncollective.com An online vegan store. Their site is parked at the moment.
Neuaura http://www.neuaurashoes.com Is Vegan but there is a link on their site to http://www.reneushoes.com which I am not sure is completely vegan. Reneu states that they use "vegan materials". I can't find any information as to what type of glue they use. One of the press articles on the Reneu site is actually about Neuaura. "Think your footwear is vegan, as long as you eschew leather? Think again. Much of the glue used to keep shoes together is made with gelatin (which can contain animal hooves, bones and skin). Instead, try these vegan options)" "the comfy, classic Neuaura's Naiya flats". Boots, sandals, heels, smoking slippers, flats, sneakers, ballet flats, wedges, loafers, platform wedges and flatforms. Also at MooShoes and Nice Shoes Heels and sandals. Vegan Chic
New Balance http://newbalance.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/125/~/vegan-shoes "Many of our models are made with synthetic materials. However, please note that we do use different types of glues depending on what is available. Some of our glues will contain animal products as many glues do. Although the shoe may be made of synthetic leather it does not mean it will be completely vegan." http://www.ethicalwares.com/vegan-vegetarian-non-leather-footwear/new-balance-trainers-vegan-leather-free.html Sneakers.
Nice Shoes https://niceshoes.ca a vegan store featuring lots of different brands.
Nicora Johns http://nicorashoes.com Boots and Sallys shoe. Vegan. "No part of the supply chain or production process involves the exploitation of humans, animals or the environment." Also available at MooShoes
Noah http://www.noah-shop.com/en/ Vegan. Boots, boat shoes, loafers, sneakers, brogues, lace up shoes, heels ballet flats and sandals. Also at Vegan Style
Noharm http://noharm.co.uk Vegan. Loafers, wingtips, brogues, derbys and boots.
Nomadic State of Mind http://www.nomadicstateofmind.com "i like to keep our products animal free". I've been trying to read their site and blog as to what kind of glue they use but can't find what exactly they use. Rope sandals.
No Sox http://nosoxshoes.com Available at MooShoes Also at Alternative Outfitters Mules.
Novacas http://www.novacas.com Vegan. "100% PVC-free". Boots, oxfords, brogues, lace up shoes. Also available at MooShoes A good selection to choose from. Vegan Chic
Oka-B https://www.oka-b.com No results were returned when I searched for "vegan". There are no materials information in the product details. Jelly shoes. I can't find any information about what kind of glue is used (for insoles and adornments). http://www.oka-b.co.uk "Made from patented Microplast technology which provides a lightweight, flexible shoe that remains comfortable and durable. Microplast's chemical make up is Poly Vinyl Chloride which is actually made from salt ad fossil fuel." "Reflexology-inspired Design". "All of our shoes feature an ergonomic footbed enhanced with massage beads to pamper feet with every step." This site has more materials information but nothing about glues. Also at Vegan Chic Ballet flats, flip flops. And Alternative Outfitters Ballet flats, slingback flats.
Olanthe https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.olanthe.fr/&prev=search I can't see any shoes on there but their Twitter page reads that is the correct site for the brand. I can only find old blog articles http://www.thefashionamy.com/2013/01/olanthe-les-chasseures-de-provence.html Sneakers. http://www.ecouterre.com/eco-friendly-vegan-shoe-brands/vegan-shoes-olanthe/ Satin heels and flats.
https://daweddings.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/olanthe-satin-wedding-shoes/ Available at https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fi&u=http://www.helunanetti.com/olanthe-sneaker-shoe-black-p-1547.html%3Flanguage%3Dfi&prev=search Sneakers. They were once available at Ethical Wares 
Olsenhaus http://www.olsenhaus.com Vegan. Heels, ballet flats, oxfords, loafers and boots. Also at MooShoes and Vegan Chic
OpificioV http://www.opificiov.com/en Vegan. They have joined Zero Impact Web Project. "Emissions of www.opificiov.com are compensated with the creations and protection of growing forest in Costa Rica." Heels, boots, sandals, platform wedges, sneakers and oxfords. Also at at Vegan Style
Orthaheel http://www.schollorthaheel.com.au at Nice Shoes Flip flop wedge.
Osiris http://www.osirisshoes.com There is no mention of vegan on the site or social media and there were no search results returned for "vegan". Also at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
People http://peoplefootwear.com Vegan. "Are People shoes vegan? All of our shoes are made from man-made materials - no Bambi's or Babe's (or any other animal) were harmed in the creation of our shoes." There is no mention of what kind of glue is used. Sneakers, boat shoes, slides. Also at Vegan Chic Sneaker.
Piccadilly http://piccadillyfootwear.com http://piccadillyfootwear.com/collections/100-vegan Vegan. A variety of styles to choose from. "according to international environmental convention, every synthetic upper or polyurethane derived material is treated to initiate a process of deomposition after 4 years, leaving this material biodegradable." I can't stand that. This is part of fast fashion. Why use more resources to produce what we already have? Why do we need to spend more money to replace things? This kind of treated material is not durable. How long would it take to biodegrade without being treated? I don't want my shoe collection biodegrading on me. It only forces us to have to grow and use more water to grow more cotton and use more polyurethane, and produce more waste every four years per pair of shoes. I want to be environmental and encourage others to as well but this doesn't sound like the right way to go about it. Also available at Nice Shoes Heel and a wedge.
Pink & Pepper Their website via their Facebook page loads with a forbidden page but they are available at MooShoes Boots.
Pop Village http://popvillage.co.uk Descriptions are not in English although the rest of the site is. There is not enough information on the site. Google translate did not help much. Also at Ethical Wares Slip ons. "each Pop plimsoll is made from natural rubber and cotton suitable for Vegans & Vegetarians."
Qupid http://qupid.com There is no mention of vegan anywhere on the site or social media and no results were returned when I searched "vegan". They use leatherette which is a fabric coated with PVC. "Enclosed back with side zipper closure with leather pull tab" I found that the information for each boot has conflicting information. In the description it can read leather or suede but below in "Material:" it can read Man-made, leatherette. I think we're supposed to take it that leather is actually leatherette but that is not completely clear. It would be better if the same terminology is used throughout so there is no confusion and misunderstandings. It could also mean both leatherette and leather are used just as it says but why would leather not be mentioned in "Materials:"? Also at Alternative Outfitters
Regetta Canoe http://www.regettacanoeus.com "Material Upper: synthetic leather, Velcro belt & rubber / Sole: polyurethane". There is no mention of vegan or animal friendly or what kind of glue is used on their site or social media. Also available at Nice Shoes Walking sandals.
Report Footwear At Alternative Outfitters Boots and flip flops.
Rider Sandals https://www.ridersandals.com The site doesn't provide all information as to the materials used. It does provide some information but not enough to make any informed decisions. They use synthetic-leather uppers and faux suede. Also available at Nice Shoes Flip flops.
Rocket Dog http://www.rocketdog.com at Nice Shoes Boots, brogues, Mary Jane, ballet flats and sneakers.
Rocus I can't find a website for the brand but they are available at Alternative Outfitters Mens boat shoes and dress shoes.
Roni Kantor  https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=iw&u=http://www.ronikantor.co.il/&prev=search "vegetarian shoe design". Heels, flats and bridal. Also at MooShoes
Sanuk http://www.sanuk.com/International.html http://www.sanuk.com/search?q=vegan  "If the product is described as vegetarian the textile contains wool, but none of our glues or other components and materials contain any animal ingredients." Slip ons, boat shoes, slippers, sandals, flip flops, sneakers. Also available at Nice Shoes Sandals, flip flops and slip ons.
Saucony http://www.saucony.com.au at MooShoes Sneakers. Available at Nice Shoes
Simple http://simpleshoes.com Also available at Vegan Chic Flip flops.
Slowers http://slowers.es Vegan. "We don't use any animal materials." Also available at Avesu Sandals, wedges, flatforms, espadrilles,
Soda http://www.sodashoes.com and Alternative Outfitters. A Fortune Dynamic brand.
Sole Runner https://www.sole-runner-shop.com/en/ Also available at Avesu Sneakers, boots, Mary Jane and moccasins.
Splaff http://www.splaff.com Vegan. "All SPLAFF products are vegan !" Flip flops and slides. "authentic, recycled, race car tire sole complimented by recycled bicycle inner tube straps lined with natural hemp fabric. Even the foot bed is made from 100% recycled rubber and foam." "Our fabrics are dyed with low-impact dyes and the cements we use are water based." "SPLAFF fabrics are dyed using fiber-reactive, water-based dyes that do not contain sulfur or other toxic chemicals. Any bleaching of the fabrics that we use is done with peroxide (H2O2, just hydrogen and oxygen) and is far less harmful to the environment than chlorine bleach. SPLAFF has primarily been using water-based adhesives for more than a decade. We never use urethane cements or any toxic chlorination primer treatments. In making this choice, our manufacturing team is provided with a healthy work environment in which no gloves, masks, or ventilators are required." "SPLAFF hangers for displaying its sandals are made from  pieces of recycled tire tread that were too small to use for sandal soles. SPLAFF sandals, belts, wallets, and wristbands are bundled together with rubber bands made from pieces of recycled bicycle inner trubes. All of our hang tags are made from 100% recycled papers and printed with eco-friendly inks."Are the inks vegan? Also at Vegan Chic Slides.
STC http://www.stcfootwear.com Supplies mining and tactical/military boots. Also available at Nice Shoes Work boots and safety shoes.
STRIKE Movement http://strike-mvmnt.com Not enough materials information. Also at Nice Shoes Sneakers.
Sudo Shoes http://www.sudoshoes.com A vegan online store with lots of brands.
Sugar Shoes http://www.sugarshoes.co.uk This site doesn't load and I'm not sure if it is the correct site for the brand. Also available at Alternative Outfitters Flats.
Superga http://www.superga.co.uk Also at MooShoes Canvas sneakers.
Sydney Brown http://www.sydney-brown.com/en/ Vegan. "free of animal products". Wedges, heels, sandals, boots, platforms, smoking slipper loafer, derbys, clogs and slides. http://sydney-brown.com/en/stockists
Taxi http://www.taxishoes.ca Also at Nice Shoes Boots and sandals.
Teva http://www.teva.com Also available at Nice Shoes Sandals flip flops and slip ons.
Tigerbear Republik http://www.tigerbearrepublik.com The shop is under construction but check out their stockists http://www.tigerbearrepublik.com/#!stockists/c175r Feed. Inspire. Give. Help. Teach program. Their footwear is vegan but I wonder are the items donated vegan? The markers, paint brushes, paint sets, biscuits, diapers and baby formula. There is a bit of information here about non vegan ingredients. On a side note aluminium is not good as it is linked to causing dementia or alzheimer's. The food the SWCDC provides may also not be vegan. Also at Vegan Chic Sneakers, espadrille, sandal and boots.
Tretorn https://www.tretorn.com I can't seem to get past the country selection. http://us.tretorn.com Also at Nice Shoes Boots, boat shoes and sneakers.
TOMS http://www.toms.co.uk http://www.toms.com/featured-shops/vegan-styles
Treksta http://treksta.com at Nice Shoes Hiking boots.
T.U.K. http://www.tukshoes.com Creepers, lots of cute animal shoes and combat boots!
Union Street "All hand crafted in the UK exclusively for ethicalWARES". Ethical Wares mens desert boots, oxfords and a pair of old school loafers. The site reads "ladies vegan pumps" but there are none on the site right now.
Unlisted by Kenneth Cole http://www.kennethcole.com I can't find the Unlisted by Kenneth Cole on the site just leather, suede, merino wool and sting ray leather :( at Nice Shoes Boots, oxfords and a moccasin style.
Unstitched Utilities http://www.unstitchedutilities.com Vegan. Along with canvas they also use tyvek. "Tyvek is a flashspun high-density polyethylene fiber that is water resistant, highly breathable, extremely durable and very lightweight. Tyvek is vegan-friendly and sustainable, as it is a recyclable material as well." "vegan dyes and glues". "*VEGAN-FRIENDLY*". Sneakers, boat shoes,  Vegan Chic Update: I read a while back on a pin on pinterest that Tyvek is gmo!
Vans Atwood http://www.vans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchDisplay?storeId=10153&catalogId=10703&langId=-1&beginIndex=0&searchSource=Q&sType=SimpleSearch&searchTerm=atwood#orderBy=5&beginIndex=0&categoryId=&facet%5B%5D=ads_f12001_ntk_cs%25253A%252522Canvas%252522&facet%5B%5D=ads_f14001_ntk_cs%25253A%252522Footwear%252522 This shoe was recommended in the video below The Everyday Vegan vlogs about vegan shoes (04) - How to find vegan shoes? I also searched for "vegan" on the site http://www.vans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchDisplay?storeId=10153&catalogId=10703&langId=-1&beginIndex=0&searchSource=Q&sType=SimpleSearch&searchTerm=vegan#orderBy=5&beginIndex=0&categoryId= I don't know what kind of glue they use.
Vegan Chic http://www.veganchic.com a vegan store with lots of different brands.
Veganline.com http://veganline.com "It is a small mail-order firm with shoe buying-skills We don't own a shop or a factory, but have our shoes specially made out of expensive materials, or open wholesale accounts with companies that sell synthetic shoes already." I don't know if those companies sell other shoes that are not vegan. Synthetic shoes might not guarantee that glues used are animal friendly. Boots, sandals, Mary Janes, slippers, clogs, sneakers, flip flops, court shoes and lace ups.
Vegan Style http://www.veganstyle.com.au a vegan store with lots of different brands. http://twovegangirls.com.au/post/51094044888/spotlight-on-vegan-style
Vegetarian Shoes http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk Vegan. The Ashley is my fave! Great combat boots and uggs too. Also at AvesuMooShoes and Vegan Chic
Veja http://www.veja-store.com/en/ Available at Avesu Sneakers.
Very Volatile https://www.volatileusa.com/products.php?cid=75 https://www.veryvolatilela.com https://www.veryvolatilela.com/?post_type=product&s=vegan and Vegan Chic Cowboy boots.
Vibram FiveFingers http://vibram.com They use kangaroo leather :( Available at Avesu
Victoria http://www.victoriafootwearusa.com Not every product provides all materials information. There is no mention about animal friendly, vegan or what kind of glue is used. Canvas sneakers, sneakers with heels and slip ons. Available at MooShoes Cotton tennis shoes.
Vivobarefoot http://www.vivobarefoot.com/au Available at Avesu Sneakers, gum boots, loafers and ballet flats.
Vizzano http://www.vizzano.com.br It doesn't look like you can actually purchase from the site but it does have a store locator and online shop directory. Otherwise some styles are available at Vegan Style
Vogas Barcelona http://www.vogasbarcelona.com My pick is the men's lace ups. Also available at  MooShoes
Wicked Hemp "designs and sells quality vegan shoes for hiking and walking." "Introducing Wicked Sportif vegan shoes for women." "We will always use materials that are Eco/Animal friendly and low carbon footprint material." "All Wicked Hemp footwear is Vegan!!" Vegan! They are shutting down for the moment according to their Facebook page but they are still available at other stores for now including Vegan Chic hiking and walking shoes.
Will's at Vegan Chic Loafers, derbys, brogues, monks
Wills London
Wills Vegan Shoes http://wills-vegan-shoes.com Vegan. Flats, heels, boots, derbys, wedges, Mary Janes, slingbacks, loafers, brogues, sneakers, sandals, deck and boat shoes, oxfords, monks, hiking shoes and boots.
You're So Vegan http://youresovegan.co.uk a vegan store with a few vegan shoes.
Zamberlan http://zamberlanusa.com They have a section for hunting :( Also available at Nice Shoes hiking boots.
http://www.zappos.com/vegan a store with some vegan options.
Zette http://www.zetteshoes.com Vegan. Pointed toe, metallic gold, silver, bronze and pink. Also available at Vegan Style
Zoe & Zac http://www.summerrayne.net/payless I can't find the brand on the Payless site so this might not be current anymore. https://www.tradesy.com/shoes/zoe-and-zac/?num_per_page=36&sort=relevance Flats and wedges.

"Vegan." refers to 100% vegan brands. These do not include brands which are not 100% vegan but do have some vegan footwear available also. It also does not include vegan brands whose parent company have other non vegan brands and it excludes vegan brands of vegan shops where other non 100% vegan brands are sold. Lastly brands where I could not find enough information were not included. I haven't gone so far as to investigate whether or not the manufacturers are vegan and included that aspect although I do remember reading that some do use vegan manufacturers and others are influencing their and other manufacturers to start making other vegan products. Brands which have a parent company are less likely to be 100% vegan as the parent company's other brands are likely not to be vegan at all. Some parent companies may have more than one vegan brand but that is not to assume that all their brands are vegan. Brands which are 100% vegan are usually independent without a parent company.

I checked out http://www.cowjonesindustrials.com/index.html but unfortunately they are closing down.

Please note not all brands ship to every country.

Please let me know if I've left anything out and I'll be sure to add it to the list! Please provide the brand or shop name and their website so I can check it out.

I would prefer to deal with cruelty free brands and companies over brands that are not cruelty free but happen to have vegan versions or their parent company has other brands which are not cruelty free.  Brands that are not 100 % cruelty free or that have a parent company which are not 100 % cruelty free, their profits from our spending will go to fund the purchase of animal materials for other products, lines, brands and designs despite our ethical purchases. On the other hand we should encourage brands and companies to go more cruelty free right up to the point where they phase out animal materials that have caused suffering and death altogether.

http://www.nomadicstateofmind.com/road-sole/ "that similar of her ache sandals out of Mexico, they use a rubber tire on the bottom; this would fit the recycled desire of my four desires for soling.  we cut off some rubber off an old van tire, quite a grueling process; my hands looked like i had been mining coal for the day- which is when i realized how dirty tires were.  Not knowing how that would affect some ideals and product integrity i moved forward.  i attached the rubber tire with some glue i had; i had started collecting different types of glue to use on the rope to see what would work the best.  the first attempt went surprisingly well, or so i thought.  at first glance the new sandal seemed ok,  a little heavy, and not as flexible, felt more like i had stepped in some of that red Virginia clay mud that doesn’t really come off your shoes and dries hard enough to make an adobe house out of.  But still i was using a rubber tire.  -oH the cleaning, that was my first big hurdle.  i scrubbed the tire for hours, and black dirt just kept reappearing like it never left.  i had gotten it clean enough, or so i thought, after a few days the tire started coming off.  i realized the problem was from the tire grime.  Not a 100% or even close to lightness and/or flexibility, i still wanted to see if it could be done for a back up plan, or for (diy) folks.  Contacted a friend who knows a friend who makes a kind of hurache in Mexico to see how the cleaned the tire.  i abandoned the project after learned how this was done.  One of my largest concerns when either working on a new project or revising an old one is environmental impact.  The bath that a company was using to clean tires for glueing was not something i wanted to be part of.  the bath of acid would eventually end up in the rivers, therefore eventually ending up in the ocean."
"Rubber tire project scrapped for almost 8 years, we revisited it again when working with my friend Jesse on the boot project.  the tires on the boots would be sewn and glued, therefore not relying fully on a glue bond.  it also matched the weight of the boot well, and flexibility achieved oneness with the boot.  And to top it off, we could use a soap and water batch with steel brush cleaning as it didn’t have to be new.

Other vegan shoe links
http://vegankicks.com
http://vegan8.me/vegan-athletic-shoes/



Avoiding leather and other animal products when shopping for shoes or fashion is great and all but there are other factors to consider that maybe some haven't given much thought to, know much or anything about or just don't think about when making a purchase. Life is already hard enough. Leaving it to consumers to do their own research is overwhelming and daunting and probably puts some people off bothering to even begin on the quest of researching. So I hope this blog post and list is able to help you.

The issues with cotton include consuming too much water, gmo crops, pesticides and chemicals, herbicides, fertilizers and salinization. Crops better suited to each environment would be the ideal.
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/impacts/
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/transgenic_intro/
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/transgenic_intro/transgenic_impact/
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/freshwater_problems/thirsty_crops/cotton/transgenic_intro/transgenic_conclusions/
http://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/impact_long.pdf




White Gold - The True Cost Of Cotton

This is a bit old so I don't know how relevant it may still be today but we should enquire and make ourselves aware where materials are sourced from so that we don't support corrupt regimes or contribute to anything cruel and destructive. It would be even better if brands were open and had a list where materials were sourced, where the item was manufactured and I mean right down to what manufacturer so we know what building not just the made in so and so country somewhere on the hang tag so as to make informed decisions even easier when shopping. Put that information online (Some brands already do so but not all) so if we don't know if the origins are ok or not we at least know what to look up and investigate.

http://blog.clifford-james.co.uk/environmental-natural-synthetic/ 
This just confused me more. As I'm trying to be vegan I'm thinking of trying recycled material and I have bought acrylic yarn to knit and crochet with after I learned why vegans don't wear wool.



What new information did Pink etc discover to change their mind and withdraw their support? I haven't seen anything to change my mind. Since it is past 2010 now has mulesing in fact been phased out completely? 
As a consumer it is not easy to know where a product's wool has been sourced from. Even if the sheep are not mulesed there is enough cruelty in the above video to put you right off regardless. I'm sure there are some happy happy sheep out there somewhere and treated with compassion right up until they are of no use and slaughtered. Maybe if rarely they might be lucky enough to have real animal lovers where they can live, be sheared and retire in comfort but you would really have to seek individual places like that out and do a lot of research and investigating. So this article is from October 2015 and clearly indicates that mulesing has not been totally phased out. It is still the overwhelming majority. "An alternative to mulesing remains elusive, with liquid nitrogen injections, laser (hair) removal and sodium laurel sulphate on the skin around the breech still under trial." If it's not one thing it's another. 


I'm not sure many vegans take into consideration the environmental impacts and toxic chemicals involved in vegan alternatives. To be vegan does it mean that you really can't been green and eco friendly? Does it have to be one or the other? If you are going to help the animal by shearing it why be all high and mighty by purposefully making a point not to use the wool that was sheared? I don't get it. That is just wasteful. It may as well be used I think. 


I'd love to be green and environmentally friendly but there are no easy simple or obvious answers and solutions. Not only do I want to research what fabrics I would want to use in my fashion lines but for my own purchases from other brands and helping others. I'm thinking about using second hand/vintage materials such as cotton.

I've read and seen on TV bad things about bamboo fabric in the processing stage and the use of chemicals.
http://www.ecouterre.com/how-eco-friendly-is-bamboo-fabric-really/ This just confirms how non eco friendly it is. I don't know how many countless times I see eco and bamboo fabric bandied about and it gets very confusing or easy to just go with what you read or hear because maybe you haven't heard the other side to it. It also feels like people jump on the newest latest trend including fabric trends or maybe they actually want to do the right thing but haven't looked deeper into the process or because there are many down sides to so many types of fabrics it becomes more a case of the lesser of two negatives. Is bamboo fabric marginally better than other fabrics or should it just be a total no go?

I've been thinking of reading up more about hemp.
http://www.biofuelswatch.com/organic-clothing-pros-and-cons/ 
Polyesters and nylons might last longer but they don't breathe as well as cotton and are not suitable for wearing in hot climates or being active in.


Linen looks worth looking into more. Not a lot of negatives aside from wrinkling. Acrylic doesn't look so good so what should a person who is not consuming wool and still wants to be eco use instead? It's a similar situation with silk vs's nylon. Are there any good alternatives? I didn't see any here. Lyocell/tencel is the best of the bad bunch but contributing to deforestation doesn't make it a good substitute. 


I really would prefer to use natural materials over toxic chemicals and environmentally damaging synthetics. I'm thinking about sourcing second hand acrylic in future. Since I was thinking about recycled materials for faux leather it's disappointing to hear that recycled PET creates toxic pollution. I wouldn't buy second hand leather because I don't want to wear any animal skins whatsoever. The trouble I think with second hand is that all those items are bought or produced new at one stage, second hand is just another stage along the journey so I feel like it still in a way supports the original initiation of the journey. This is especially so when too much is bought and not used. The rest is waste that has been produced brand new but sold off as second hand. Does this mean that we are producing more than we need and ruining the environment at a faster rate than necessary? Does purchasing this excess support the on going over production? Or is it not over production but a required amount since people are still purchasing the excess but at a reduced price? I'd rather abstain from altogether although on the other hand I hate the concept of waste and do feel like it is better than just being dumped into landfills. Why go to all the bother of allowing the moth to damage the cocoon when they are just being made to suffer and starve to death?!




I love the idea of recycling, preventing things from going to waste, waste management and ultimately reducing waste. I love the feeling of something being special, unique and one of a kind. I'd like to make more than one of a kind though or outsource manufacturing. Maybe small batches could work. Buying something one of a kind I'd totally do and recommend. Recycling plastics would be good to a point. It would be better to turn old into new products rather than create more new plastic. It would be better to have new products that people can enjoy than old plastics littered or dumped somewhere or landfill I would think. But at the end of the day when it gets to the end of its journey and can't be recycled anymore then what? It is going to end up either at a final product or as waste. We just shouldn't contribute any more to that. Once again though don't forget that recycled PET creates toxic pollution so in that case should it just be made into the final end of journey product and leave it at that or just collect and gather it up and store it and not recycle it? The other thing is that by creating products with recycled plastic does that support the ongoing production and use of more plastic bottles and so not really helping the environment at all but creating more toxic pollution? One concern I have about repurposing and upcycling or recycling is the tacky factor, crafty, daggy and not stylish. I want to be kind to the world but I still want to be stylish and look at beautiful things. Respun natural fibres that don't last as long because they've been shredded making the fibres shorter is not as good quality and not as durable. The fabric that is shredded might be put to better use by upcycling them. Maybe shred the offcuts of this that really can't be used for anything else. Or could we maybe not shred but take more time and care to unweave so as to salvage longer fibres?

Soya fibre is the waste from the process of making tofu. It would be great to use since no extra crops would have to be grown but I wonder if it is similar to bamboo and requires harsh chemicals to break the fibres down? 

I would be interested in looking more into the history of textiles. Before the days of plastic and synthetics. I feel like we're destroying the planet at an alarming rate at the moment in a lot of areas which we need to reverse. How can we balance more environmentally friendly ways with animal friendly ways? 

I don't think I'm such a fan of biodegradable materials. I don't want them degrading when I'm not done with them. So basically I just want shoes in my collection that I love and will want to wear forever. I'd love to live forever but that's another story. But if I can't live forever wouldn't it be cool if some futuristic archeologist found my footwear and babbled on about it. Anyway I wouldn't want something degrading then I feel like that was a piece of crap, throw it out and then have to spend more of my money replacing it. That would use more resources and energy to produce and transport. Better to go with something more durable that lasts longer and is of better quality. 
A lot of people have grown addicted to consuming ever more amounts of products and producing more than is sustainable. Cheap throw away items or disposable fashion trends, fast fashion don't help. There is something to be said for Vivienne Westwood's view of buy less.




Buy good quality that lasts, maybe pay a bit more. Choose things that you like and will want to wear for years to come. Don't jump on the newest latest trends. Shop second hand and vintage items. Swap or donate clothes when you get fed up with a particular item so that someone else can enjoy it. Don't cycle through a new wardrobe every season. Choose mostly things that will never go out of style (that includes your own personal style however eccentric it might be). I feel like I sound overly preachy and bossy but you get the point. It's also harder to feel like an individual. How can you express your own individuality if all you're doing is wearing the same thing so many others are wearing. Don't follow trends, buy something because you like it not because someone says this is what everyone else is wearing.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG10312077/Vivienne-Westwood-Everyone-buys-too-many-clothes.html



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