Vegetarian footwear, made from non-leather materials like canvas, hemp, and rubber, is becoming increasingly popular among vegans and vegetarians who want to avoid animal-derived materials. Mainstream shoe companies like Converse and Birkenstock also offer vegan options. Some vegan shoes are made from recycled materials and produced in accredited factories with fair labor practices.
The vegetarian lifestyle practiced by millions around the world extends beyond a meatless diet. Driven by a desire to avoid using animal-derived materials like leather or snakeskin, many vegans choose footwear often called vegetarian footwear. These shoes are made from non-leather materials such as canvas, hemp, polyurethane, rubber, spandex, or cotton. They can also be made with composite materials that duplicate the feel and look of cowhide or suede. Individual shoe companies often have a proprietary blend of cotton and polyurethane that they market as a vegan leather substitute.
The issue of using leather products has been a source of debate between vegetarians and vegans for years. Some are comfortable with leather as a natural shoe material, but others equate the use of animal skins with the same cruel meat production practices. For this segment of the vegan and vegetarian population, an alternative market for vegetarian footwear has emerged in recent years. Some shoe stores cater primarily to vegans and vegetarians, with vegetarian shoes ranging from casual to athletic to dress. Many of these specialty shoe stores were started by practicing vegetarians.
Vegetarian shoes are not necessarily created by small shoe companies in niche markets. Many mainstream shoe companies produce shoes that would be acceptable for vegans and vegetarians. Some examples of mainstream shoes that accommodate the vegetarian lifestyle are canvas Converse basketball shoes, Doc Marten rubber boots, and Birkenstock sandals. In fact, many of the smaller companies producing vegetarian shoes today have been inspired by Birkenstock’s eco-friendly business model.
Some vegan shoes have features that go beyond their animal-friendly components. The materials used in making these shoes are often recycled from rubber tires or plastics. Production work is done in accredited factories by workers who are paid a living wage, not third world factories that employ children. Many vegetarians and vegans also strongly believe in a company’s social and environmental responsibilities, so information about the manufacturing process is often available online or in company literature.
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