Since it’s now been a couple of years since we last shared some recommendations for non-leather shoes, it’s time for another roundup of the best vegan shoes for work. (Prior to that post, we also recommended six brands for the stylish vegan professional, for both clothing and accessories.) The brands below offer many casual styles, but they also provide office-appropriate options that include flats, pumps, oxfords, loafers, boots, and booties. What are your favorite vegan shoe and accessory brands? Are you able to buy them from mainstream sites/stores or do you have to get them from more specialized places?
{related: the best cruelty-free beauty products}
Here are five brands that offer some of the best vegan shoes for work:
BC Footwear
pictured above: one / two / three
Available at Nordstrom and Amazon, as well as BCFootwear.com, these shoes are cruelty-free and PETA-certified as vegan. In addition to not using leather for the main part of each shoe, the company also ensures that all components (linings, etc.) are not made from animal products — and that includes the glue, which is free from casein, gelatin, beeswax, etc. BC Footwear uses uses materials such as microfiber, bamboo, hemp, and high-grade polyurethane, and shoes in its Recycled collection (currently, only two styles are categorized that way) are made from scrap materials from production. The pictured shoes range from $79–$89.
Sudo
pictured above: one / two / three
Sudo doesn’t have a lot of specific information on its website regarding its production, etc., but it does note that the shoes it makes are “all vegan.” A rep for the company told me that Sudo closed its Boston brick-and-mortar store last year — but it still sells its shoes online, and many styles are available. The pictured ones are $69–$96.
Ahimsa
pictured above: one / two / three
Ahimsa shoes, which are also available at Amazon, are made in Brazil in the world’s only 100% vegan shoe factory, where almost all production is done by hand, and sustainability is a priority. The company’s vegan leather is made from polyurethane, and the website addresses the inherent environmental concerns on the vegan leather page. Ahimsa also makes a small selection of accessories. The pictured styles range from $85 (Amazon price) to $139.
Novacas
pictured above: one / two / three
MooShoes.com, which we mentioned in our last post on vegan shoes, sells cruelty-free shoes and accessories from brands like Matt & Nat, Birkenstock, and Olsenhaus — but they also have their own brand, Novacas (which, translated literally, means “no cows” in Spanish). The shoes (and bags) are ethically produced in European factories and are designed as “updated styles of classic favorites.” The pictured styles range from $130–$140.
Veerah
pictured above: one / two / three
Shoes from Veerah are cruelty-free and responsibly sourced (the sustainable materials used include apple peels, plastic bottles, and cork), and at least 1% of proceeds go to charity. Besides the shoes themselves, the brand sells unique, removable “accessories” for them, including fringe, ankle straps, and brooches. Depending on your office, they may not be work-appropriate, but they could work well as little desk-to-dinner additions. Veerah’s shoes are pricier than the brands above, and the pictured styles range from $268–$288.
What have you found to be the best vegan shoes for work? What shoe materials do you choose to avoid leather?
Anonymous
Has anyone here chosen adoption as a “first choice”? I’m curious about other’s experiences with the process, especially as prospective parents who chose adoption despite being able to have biological children (to the extent that is reasonable to *know* that)
Anonymous
It would be, if I wanted kids. I don’t really understand the need that your child have your super awesome genes. Just like I adopt my pets from shelters. It does more good in the world to adopt kids and give them a chance.
Adoption
I ultimately decided to have bioligicial children before adopting, but I considered exclusively adopting.
I read a lot of adoption blogs and listen to podcasts to prepare for the challenges. (I plan to adopt from foster care). The book Confessions of an Adoptive Parent is by a family that only adopted, by choice. Check out some podcasts too.
Senior Attorney
Now I just feel like I need add-on glitter straps for all my shoes…
Anonymous
I want all the glittery brooches! It looks like a good way to cut down on holiday shoe syndrome where I buy way too many pairs trying to match my dresses.
Anonymous
Thanks! I love the looks of some of these. I started trying to buy “mostly vegan” a couple years ago and that’s been mostly incidentally vegan- canvas for summer or inexpensive fake leather…it’s more the ease of trying things on in person rather than price, that keeps me from buying the more expensive options online so far (odd shaped feet!)
FYI for bags, Angela Roi is lovely and holds up great
Nicole
I have a good pair of black kitten heeled shoes from BC Footwear that I’m considering repurchasing, not because the shoes are low quality, but because I’m the worst at getting my shoes scuffed, and because I’m worried the style will sell out. They took very little to break in, are support comfortable and true to size. My only gripe with vegan shoes is that they are either too sporty or super high heels. I have two other pairs of shoes from BC, a pair of animal print flats that look super high quality and a pair of black boots that aren’t the most confortable shoe out there.
I second the Angela Roi recommendation for purses. I’ve also bought from JW Pei, the bag looks high quality, but it was bigger than I expected and the strap is not adjustable.
Ellen
I don’t get the issue with vegan shoes!?! After all, we are NOT going to eat our shoes or even chew on them so who cares? Really!
Madeleine
The animal who lost his or her life would care. There’s no need to wear someone else’s skin, especially when more and more fashionable alternatives are available.