Vegan Shoes Explained! +37 Vegan Shoe Brands to Support!

Vegan shoes are having a moment. And vegan shoe brands are killing it with beautifully made, cruelty-free products.

Not too long ago the the closest thing you could get to vegan shoes were cheap canvas or synthetic leather shoes from one of the big-box stores. Obviously, these shoes were not made to last. Plus, they pretty much looked as cheap as the store they came from.

Boy, have things changed! Vegan leather is now a thing! More and more big brands are realizing that if they want to please the growing number of ethical vegans out there, they too are going to have to produce vegan shoes.

By the way, if you want to learn more about what it means to be vegan and live a vegan lifestyle take a peek at my article on veganism.

Here are some other relevant articles you might like:

• 15 Best Vegan Winter Coats of 2023
• Vegan Shoes Explained! +37 Vegan Shoe Brands to Support!
• Vegan Hiking Boots 2023: 12 Seriously Cruelty Free Options
• Vegan Bags Guide – 13 Delightful Vegan Bag Brands You’ll Love!
• 20 Vegan Sneakers & Ethical Vegan Sneaker Brands!
• Vegan Sandals 2023 – 13 Best Vegan Sandal Brands

What are Vegan Shoes Anyway?

I can remember the very first time I saw a pair of shoes marked vegan. It was years ago and I thought to myself, “Why the hell are these marked as vegan? They’re not edible!”.

Fast forward to today. I feel pretty silly for having had that thought. Of course there’s such a thing as vegan shoes! Veganism extends beyond what we put in our bodies. It also includes what we put on our bodies.

The obvious first thought when it comes to buying vegan shoes is to avoid leather made from cows. But that’s not the only animal byproduct that can be found in shoes. Sheepskin, wool, snake, and alligator skin are also commonly used materials.

However, even if you buy all canvas or “fake” leather shoes they still might not be vegan. That’s because a sneaky product could be lurking within the shoes. It’s one you can’t even see too. Surprisingly, glue derived from animals can be found in a LOT of shoes.

When I first found out about this I was pretty frustrated and annoyed. I was doing everything I could to avoid buying animal skin shoes, only to find out my efforts were seemingly fruitless.

But, I eventually realized that there is no such thing as perfection. And there is no such thing as a perfect vegan. It’s more a matter of learning and doing the best I can with what I have.

37 Awesome Vegan Shoe Brands

Thankfully, companies like Will’s Vegan Shoes are transforming products like vegetable oil, apple peels, and pineapple leaves into vegan leather. Even recycled plastic bottles, cork, and rubber are being used to make incredibly beautiful materials that look, last, and feel like the real deal.

Getting your hands on real vegan shoes might still be a challenge. If you don’t have the luxury of sauntering down to your local vegan clothing store to pick up you next pair of vegan boots, vegan sneakers, vegan sandals, vegan hiking boots, or even vegan safety boots, then you’ve come to the right place.

Here are 37 vegan shoe brands making awesome cruelty-free products!

Have a look at my vegan shoe collection in the video below!

Please note – Some of my selections contain affiliate links. These allow me to earn a small percentage every time you make a booking. Using our links enables me to provide all the information found on this site free of charge. Additionally, Will’s, Ethletic, Ahinsa, and GGWL sent me sent me shoes to test and review. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

My Favorite Vegan Shoe Brands

Here are my go-to vegan shoe brands. The brands I know and love most!

Will’s Vegan Shoes

This is my absolute favorite brand of vegan shoes. Will’s Vegan Shoes have been a staple in my closet for years now.

After a few pairs of cheap synthetic leather winter boots fell apart within months of buying them, I decided to start investing in high-quality, authentic, PETA-aproved vegan shoes.

It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m now the proud owner of three pairs of Will’s boots, a pair of sandals, and one of their gorgeous vegan backpacks. I couldn’t be happier with them all!

What I love about Will’s, in addition to their beautiful shoes, is the fact that the company is truly sustainable. The packaging is carbon neutral, doesn’t contain plastic, the footbeds are made from recycled rubber, and rest of the shoes are made from eco-certified materials.

Plus, it’s a small company…and who doesn’t love supporting a small company?

Will’s has a huge range of vegan shoes including vegan work shoes, vegan dress shoes, vegan boots, vegan sandals, and more!

If you’re in Europe or the United States and are interested in checking out Will’s shoes here.

Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather

Frances first totally vegan shoe brand has arrived! As you’d expect from these aesthetically talented people, the shoes from Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather are stunning.

Clogs, cowboy boots, sneakers, sandals. The world is your oyster and you have plenty of options over at GGDWL!

I own two pairs of their vegan sandals and am absolutely in love with them. They’re so comfortable I could wear them pretty much every day the weather allows for it.

Plus, the “leather” is so soft and the color is stunning. I get compliments constantly.

Two thumbs up to this brand!

DISCOUNT CODE – Get 5% off your purchase with code VEGGIEVISA!

Ethletic

Ethletic is a German, fair-trade, vegan, and sustainable shoe company producing a wide range of causal urban shoes.

The reason I was initially drawn to Ethletic is because I had long been a lover of Converse shoes. However, I discovered that they used animal glue in their shoes.

Ethletic turned my frown upside-down when they sent me a pair of their trainers to test out.

The super comfy shoes are excellent from the get-go and don’t need to be broken in. They’re also stylish and unique. I’m a lifelong fan! In fact, I’ve owned three different pairs of Ethletic shoes so far.

Ahinsa

Barefoot vegan shoes? Yes, they exist and they’re handmade!

Ahinsa vegan shoes are designed by physiotherapists, so you know they’re made with your feet and your body in mind.

I’m a bit obsessed with these shoes and pretty much wear one of my pairs 5 or 6 days a week. Their website says “Unlike ordinary shoes, they won’t restrict your feet or keep them from making natural contact with the ground.”

This couldn’t be more true. When I put on a non-barefoot pair of shoes I can really tell the difference. From toe space, to the way I walk and connect to the ground, everything feels different.

Ahinsa, which are handcrafted in the Czech Republic and Croatia, makes boots, ballerinas, sneakers, running shoes, and sandals. So, regardless of the season, they have you (and your feet) covered!

One note regarding sizing. I wear a size or two large than I do with other shoes. So, take a look at their size guide to find the best fit before ordering.

Take a look at their Jaya boots, their winter ankle boots, or all of their shoes here.

KAVE Footwear

I adore KAVE Footwear. Not only are their sneakers vegan, they’re also made in the Czech Republic, where I live.

Additionally, every single pair of KAVE’s vegan sneakers are unique, so no one else on the planet will have a pair like the ones you buy. How awesome is that?

To read more about these amazing shoes, check them out in my Vegan Sneaker article.

Nae Vegan Shoes

Nae, stands for “No Animal Exploitation”. It is a Portuguese vegan shoe brand with a huge variety of sneakers, boots, dress shoes, and sandals for men and women. Additionally, they also produce vegan wallets, bags, and belts.

The company, which uses pineapple leaves to make leather for their shoes, maintains a philosophy to produce quality footwear while fighting human, animal, and environmental exploitation.

If you’re wondering about quality and durability, rest assured. I’ve own several pairs of Nae shoes and they have lasted me years!

Matt & Nat

Matt & Nat is the Montreal based creator of some of the most beautiful vegan wallets and bags I’ve come across. Until recently, however, I didn’t realize that they even made vegan shoes.

Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with that knowledge, and recently purchased a pair for a wedding. They’re elegant, unique, and incredibly well made. I highly recommend this vegan shoe brand.

Vegetarian Shoes

There are two things I love about Vegetarian Shoes (don’t worry, they’re actually vegan). One, their massive selection of shoes, and two, the fact that they’ve been around for nearly 30 years!

This British brand offers hundreds upon hundreds of shoes on their site. Boots, loafers, sneakers, sandals, heels, espadrilles, ballet slippers, and more. Plus, they have some of the best prices I’ve seen.

So if you’re on a budget (and even if your not) the Vegetarian Shoes website is a great place to start your vegan shoe shopping adventures.

More Vegan Shoe Brands

Here are some other fantastic vegan shoe brands that have an exceptional reputation!

Fair Shoes

One downside to buying vegan shoes is that it can be tough to find colorful or unique dress shoes for women. Fair Shoes is the solution to that problem. Need some metallic vegan stiletto heels? No problem. How about red suede pointed pumps? They have that too.

Fair Shoes is a Portuguese brand devoted to creating modern, vegan shoes to suit various lifestyles. All of their shoes are created under worker-friendly conditions and with respect to animals and nature.

So there’s absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Let the retail therapy begin!

ahimsa

Ahimsa is a Brazilian vegan shoe brand that was started in 2013. The company’s philosophy is love and they embrace spirituality, respect, and conscious awakening, a message that is echoed by the CEO’s journey to veganism.

After being diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, Gabriel Silva turned to vegetarianism as a way to treat his illness. After some time he began to think about veganism and consider the ethical aspects of the lifestyle.

Eventually he became vegan and created a fully vegan shoe brand to suit his lifestyle and the lifestyle of others striving to treat animals with respect.

Today the brand creates men and women’s causal and dress shoes. All vegan of course!

Vegan Shoes from Non-Vegan Shoe Brands

In addition to the aforementioned smaller vegan, some of the largest shoe brands on the market have started producing vegan shoes or offer accidentally vegan shoes.

Vans Vegan Shoes

Vans is among my absolute favorite shoe brands. Not only are their skater style shoes extremely comfortable, made to last, and super cool looking but many of their styles are also totally vegan.

You can even search for “vegan” on their website. My last search returned over 200 styles. If the particular style is vegan the description will include the sentence “The materials used in the manufacturing of these styles (including adhesives) are free of any animal by-products and therefore are 100% vegan.” How awesome is that?

Reebok Vegan Shoes

Reebok, one of the world’s biggest shoe brands, now offers a vegan line. After some urging by PETA, the company adjusted their Cotton and Corn line so that the design was 100% vegan. Now, the brand has several vegan styles to choose from.

Adidas Vegan Shoes

Putting most other big shoe brands to shame, Adidas has over 20 different vegan shoes to chose from. Not bad for a mainstream shoe brand.

TOMS Vegan Shoes

Remember TOMS? The shoe brand that made funky espadrille style shoes with leather soles that made your feet stink something rotten if you wore them without socks?

Well, they happen to have a huge line of vegan shoes including the original TOMS style, sandals, slip-ons, sneakers, and even flip-flops.

Let’s hope the vegan variety are a bit more breathable!

Dr Martens

Yes, that oh-so-popular 90s brand of chunky leather combat boots has a vegan variety. The English brand has stayed pretty true to the original design but you can also get sandals, loafers, and Chelsea style boots made from vegan leather.

There you have it! Some of the best brands making vegan shoes on the market. What do you think? Are you ready to go on an all vegan shopping spree yet? Is there anything I missed?

Do you know about an incredible vegan brand I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear from you. Just leave a comment for me below!

More Vegan Shoe Options

10 Brands Making awesome Vegan Sneakers!

1. 8000Kicks – Waterproof Cannabis Vegan Sneakers
2. Veja – French Vegan Sneakers
3. Bohempia – Czech Hemp Vegan Shoes
4. Native Shoes – Beast Free Vegan Shoes
5. soleRebels – Artisan Vegan Shoes
6. Freewaters – Vegan Shoes & Clean Water Cause
7. Inkkas – Vegan Shoes & Trees
8. Vivo Barefoot – Minimalist & Sustainable Vegan Shoes
9. Rothy’s – Casual Vegan Sneakers
10. Keep – Vegan, Unisex Sneakers

4 Brands Making awesome Vegan Sandals!

1. TEVA – Outdoor Sandals
2. Birkenstock Vegan Sandals
3. NOAH Italian Vegan Shoes
4. Lulu’s Shoes

8 Brands Making Vegan Work Boots!

1. Rock Fall – UK Company Offering Vegan Work Boots
2. Birkenstock
3. Lugz
4. STC Footwear
5. Vegetarian Shoes
6. ECO Vegan Shoes
7. Ethical Wares
8. Bogs