As demand increases for shoes free from animal products, brands are rising to the challenge to provide quality vegan footwear. These locally available brands have done the hard work of sourcing and producing shoes thinking of everything from animal-free leather alternatives to vegan glues and fabrics. As a bonus, they’re all ethically made and with the environment in mind. Tick, tick, tick.
Note: Not all of these brands are Australian, but they all ship to Australia! I’ve noted where they’re available under each brand.
Post Sole Studio
This Melbourne-based footwear label manufactures its shoes in-house as well as producing shoes for other local and international labels. Post Sole Studio offers its full range of shoes and sandals in a vegan alternative using a non-woven vegan fabric that perfectly imitates the properties of natural leather. If you find a shoe you love but want it in a different colour, you can get it custom made. Prices range between $349-$499.
aciae
Also pictured in header
aciae aims to help tackle the estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste that enters the ocean every year by working with post-consumer plastics to produce its product line of sustainable footwear. The brand’s initial line of footwear includes a selection of stylish and wearable flats in ballet, boot and loafer styles, available in classic colourways. aciae is committed to people and planet and shares extensive detail about its projects and path towards circularity and net zero operations on its website.
Radical Yes
Looking for the ultimate casual shoe to carry you between your daily events in comfort and style? Founded in 2013 by Kerryn Moscicki, Radical Yes produces the cutest ballet flats, lace ups and boots to bridge your day between work and play. Radical Yes is know for its bright colours, tassels and prints, and absolute comfort. The brand sticks with small runs, often producing less than 100 pairs in each style in each range, so it’s first in, best dressed – literally. There’s heaps of vegan options on here – just pop ‘vegan’ in the search bar to see the range.
Zette Shoes
Zette Shoes is the in-house brand by Aussie shoe retailer Vegan Style. Zette Shoes are made fairly in Europe (Spain, Italy & Portugal) from luxurious, cruelty-free materials. Each shoe style is named after a rescue cat they’ve fostered at Vegan Style HQ. The brand launched in 2014 with a women’s collection and has since grown to include classic dress shoes and also boots for men.
The Bondi Shoe Club
Casual, colourful and all about comfort – The Bondi Shoe Club makes practical shoes for all seasons. The Argentinian alpargata style slides are made from durable canvas, eco friendly glues and recyclable rubber soles. Best of all, they’re certified vegan. The Bondi Shoes Club gives 5% of its profits to Australian Marine Conservation Society to help preserve Australia’s incredible marine life and their homes.
Britt’s List readers can get 15% off at The Bondi Shoe Club with code BRITT15 at checkout.
Re-Tyre
Calling Margaret River home, this WA-based brand is making animal-free flat shoes for max comfort. Re-Tyre’s shoes are made from upcycled rubber tyre waste and other vegan and eco-friendly materials such as hemp, cork and denim. The men’s and women’s styles include thongs and slides to more substantial slip on shoes and lace-ups including high tops. They’re all ethically made in Bali, Indonesia.
Twoobs
Melbourne-based brand Twoobs has built a cult following with its fun and funky sandals. Twoobs are, and have always been, 100% vegan, and the brands holds a PETA accreditation to make sure of it. The brand works with high quality materials that are designed to last, in silhouettes that transcend seasonal trends. More recently, Twoobs has started using recycled materials for its shoes and takes back old Twoobs to be recycled into playmats for kids. The brand is also proudly carbon neutral.
Etiko
Ethical fashion pioneers Etiko make a wide range of animal friendly sneakers. The soles of the sneakers are made of natural latex rubber tapped fresh from a rubber tree and they use zero animal glues and non toxic dyes in production. The main part of the shoe is made from organic cotton canvas which is hand stitched by Certified Fairtrade employees – making them an all round sustainable and ethical option. Etiko is certified B Corp.
Veja
This Brazilian-based ethical shoemaker has a huge range of vegan sneakers made from upcycled and plant-based materials. A standard pair of its vegan sneakers involves ‘B-mesh’ made from recycled plastic bottles, vegan suede panels, logo V made of rubber, lining in jersey of recycled polyester and the sole made out of EVA and wild rubber from the Amazonian forest. If you’re in Australia – you can buy Veja shoes from online retailer The Iconic or Well Made Clothes.
Teva
US-based brand Teva has built a cult following for its unique sandal design, perfect for summertime hiking and adventure of all sorts. And now, they’re doing it sustainably, opting for recycled plastic and vegan materials. Since converting 100% of its iconic straps to recycled plastic in 2020, the brand has kept more than 40 million plastic bottles out of landfills – now, that’s something to celebrate!
Ekn
EKN’s shoes are hand made by experienced Portugese craftsmen, using natural materials from high quality suppliers. The German shoemaker promotes walking clean in a dirty world, which it does through its quality footwear including its vegan options for men and women. Boasting all organic materials, EKN says there are zero harmful chemicals used in its manufacturing process. All of its footwear is produced in limited quantities to ensure minimal environmental impact and maximum attention to detail. You can grab these online through Well Made Clothes.
Keep reading: 6 Brands for vegan handbags that are sustainable as well
