More and more people are transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and the availability of vegan alternatives has greatly improved in recent years. Veganism is a lifestyle based on abstaining from animal products. In addition to food, veganism can also involve avoiding animal products, such as leather.
The demand for vegan sneakers has therefore also increased significantly. For many people, it is important that no animals have to suffer for their clothing or sneakers.
Vegan Sneakers are just beginning
There are more and more brands focusing on vegan production and searching for new ways to expand their range even further. Manufacturers are always looking for alternative raw materials and opportunities. Brands are beginning to attach great importance to fair and sustainable production, and this reflects in the increasing number of vegan sneakers.
Because this often involves more effort and higher costs, some sustainable vegan models on the market are often slightly more expensive than non-vegan sneakers.
If you want to consider your ecological footprint when buying shoes, you should therefore expect to dig a little deeper into your wallet. However, there are different types of vegan sneakers with different price ranges.
The subject of vegan sneakers is not so easy to grasp at first glance. There are a few points to consider when buying vegan sneakers.
Vegan Sneakers: Answering Your Questions
What sneakers do vegans wear?
Vegans mostly wear shoes that do not contain any animal-derived materials. Those who choose to follow a vegan diet and avoid animal-based products in their daily life limit their choices to synthetic or plant-based materials.
Often, you can't tell the difference just by looking at them. That's why vegans also wear sneakers that don't differ in appearance but exist of animal-friendly materials. Many vegans also value sustainable and eco-friendly production, which of course must be fundamentally distinguished from one another.
When is a sneaker vegan?
Sneakers are vegan if they're made without the use of any animal-derived materials. Non-vegan materials include various types of leather, wool, or silk. Vegan materials are usually synthetically produced.
Commonly used materials include artificial leather, rubber, plastic, or cotton. Plant-based materials such as hemp, wood, and cork are also vegan. To be fully vegan, a shoe's sole, glue, and all other details must also be made without any animal-derived ingredients.
The term 'vegan' does not automatically mean that the sneaker is environmentally friendly or produced under fair labor conditions. While some brands take care to produce sneakers that are both sustainable and vegan and of high quality, this cannot be automatically assumed.
How do you know if sneakers are vegan?
The best way to know if sneakers are vegan is if they have a vegan certification. Some brands label their vegan products with the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) logo, which ensures that no animal-derived materials are in the product.
To be sure that shoes are vegan, it's also useful to do your own research. For example, look at the material specifications of the shoe and consult information about the manufacturer. The likelihood of finding vegan options is usually higher with manufacturers who base their ethical standards on sustainability and animal rights.
Not all vegan shoes are labeled as such by the manufacturer, so it's important to inform yourself about the composition and production.
Vegan Sneaker Brands
Most popular sneaker brands are not exclusively vegan. However, more and more brands offer vegan alternatives and regularly expand their range. Big brands like Nike, PUMA, adidas, and New Balance also offer vegan or mostly vegan products.
There are also brands that specialise in vegan sneakers. Many of these brands also focus on sustainable and fair production. For example, the French brand VEJA produces shoes from organically grown materials such as recycled polyester, natural rubber, and organic cotton. The shoes with the distinctive V on the side have conquered the market in recent years and are now very popular, known for their environmentally and animal-friendly production.
Other relevant brands in the scene are Matt & Nat, Womsh, MoEa, LØCI, Cariuma, NAE, Flamingo's Life, Rothy's and Ethletic.
VEJA
Not all models of VEJA are vegan, as some individual collections contain animal materials such as suede. However, many shoes in the range are made of organic cotton, recycled polyester, natural rubber, and other synthetic materials.
VEJA focuses on vegan, sustainable footwear and is constantly working on techniques to improve and expand the vegan range. To be sure that the shoe is vegan, always check the product description.
Reebok
Reebok offers several vegan sneakers. The Classic Leather Vegan is the most popular vegan model of the brand. But the Club C Revenge Vegan and Nano 9 Vegan are also popular among people who prioritise animal welfare when choosing their shoes.
The shoes are made of synthetic materials. According to Reebok, they have the same quality and performance as the non-vegan versions. At Reebok, you can easily recognise the vegan versions because they have the word "vegan" in their name.
Nike
Nike also follows the trend and offers various vegan options. The Nike Flyknit collection uses a special sewing technique that produces less waste than conventional methods. Many models in the collection are vegan and more sustainable thanks to the production process.
There are many more shoe models in the range that do not contain animal products. Nike also switched to using animal-free glue in 2018. Some vegan models of the brand include: Nike Air Max 270 React ENG, Nike Air Max 2090, Nike Air Max 90 LTR, Nike Air Max 95 Essential, and Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit. However, the product description should always be consulted to determine if the shoe is truly vegan.
While the classic Nike Air Force 1 is made of at least 50% real leather, the Nike Air Force 1 Shadow is constructed of synthetic leather and textile and is available in many colorways. The Nike Air Force 1 React is made of synthetic materials and is also available in different colorways.
Billie Eilish has released several sneakers in collaboration with Nike, all made from cruelty-free materials. This applies to the Nike Air Jordan 1 KO, Air Force 1 High, and Nike Air Jordan 15. For the Air Force 1 Low, the singer, who herself is vegan, stated that she preferred ecological materials. Additionally, the sneaker is made of 18% recycled material.
As mentioned, a vegan material composition does not automatically mean that the shoes are also produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner, and checking all the ingredients used is essential to be sure.
adidas
adidas has a number of vegan alternatives that you can wear. What's more, adidas' vegan alternatives are made from at least 25% recycled materials.
You can find vegan versions of some of the most popular adidas models, including the Stan Smith, Continental 80, Ultraboost and NMD, as well as pieces from the adidas by Stella McCartney collection.
You can filter by vegan materials on the adidas website, making it very easy and convenient to shop for vegan sneakers.
New Balance
While most of the brand's sneakers aren't explicitly labeled as 'Vegan', New Balance's 574 model uses synthetic materials, and has some specific vegan colorways. For example, the NB574 'Angora', 'Timberwolf', 'Indigo' and 'Magnet' are made from 100% environmentally friendly materials of non-animal origin.
Saucony
Another brand where you can find vegan sneakers is Saucony. The American brand has some products in its range that exist of synthetic materials and are therefore vegan. On the Saucony website, you can always read which materials have been used in the product.
The topic of vegan sneakers is extensive, and there is a lot to consider. In general, if you want to be 100% sure, you should always check the materials yourself. Also, keep in mind that vegan sneakers are not the same as sustainable sneakers.
For more FAQs, visit the Sneaker FAQ page.
