How the hell do I find shoes?
Posted by Dragongurl on Jun 13, 2011 · Member since Nov 2009 · 48 posts
I've sort of posted about this before, but how can I avoid leather when it comes to shoes? I really don't want to buy any leather. Still, I can't find a good assortment of vegan shoes in my size. I don't know what to do. I'm not sure what to do, I really need new shoes. Is there ever a reason to buy anything with leather? I feel like I've exhausted all my vegan options.
What kind of shoes are you looking for? Many regular stores will have shoes that do not have leather (Payless, Target, etc.). Otherwise, lots of great online vegan stores have wide varieties of shoes (veganessentials.com Cosmos vegan shoppe..many others!)
There are many online options as far as shoes go. You can peep game on Mooshoes, Veganessentials, etc. As far as store options, many New Balance and Sauconys are vegan, as well as converse and vans. And, if you are not opposed to buying second hand leather, you can try a higher end 2nd hand shop or thrift store for some good buys. Hope that helps.
I wear mostly vans during the week, but have a couple vegan dress shoes that I've purchased online for special occasions.
For running shoes, there's Saucony, where maybe more than half of the styles don't have leather.
Yep, and we can give more suggestions about specific types of shoes (if it's other than running).
I'm looking for boots, dress shoes, and some nice casual shoes. Basically anything but sneakers. So far, I haven't been able to find a completely vegan shoe. Even if the outer is manmade, I often find that the insole is leather or suede (like classic TOMS for instance).
Well, if you haven't already, I would try checking some of the less expensive shoe stores (like Payless and Target). They often have synthetic casual shoes. For online stores:
http://www.zappos.com/vegan
http://www.mooshoes.com/category.cfm/vegan/womens-vegan-shoes
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/clothing/vegan/vegan-shoes.aspx
http://www.lulus.com/categories/179_257/vegan-shoes.html
is just a start! if you google "vegan shoes" you'll find a ton
http://www.urbanog.com/# has mostly synthetic shoes..but double check for each pair
I have some specific photos in my profile photo album of shoes I bought from Payless and a few other places that are all man made materials, including the in/soles. I searched online first before heading to the store because I have found that often shoes do not have the materials they are made from listed on them or on the tag, but you can find this information online 9x out of 10. If it isnt clear, by all means call the company and ask (I have also noticed the same shoes being advertised from different companies online where some say all man made materials and some say there is leather, nubuck, suede etc so in that case I would call the manufacturer to get the real answer). I have done this myself. It seems like a lot of work at times but for me it has been well worth it to research ahead of time so that I can buy and wear something I can live with. My hiking shoes I had to order from online because there is NOTHING anywhere near where I live that sells hiking boots (not trail running shoes) that are made without leather. I really paid attention to the reviews also before ordering and researched the policies about returning shoes that dont fit. I have a pair of Garmont Kiowa hiking boots I absolutely love that are vegan approved and fit perfectly that I ordered online. Dress shoes and some casual shoes are easier to find if you shop at Payless. Otherwise you will have better luck online. Smaller vegan specific stores online also tend to have fair trade shoes that arent made on the backs of cheap labor (like Payless unfortunately), but you do pay more for them. Moo shoes is a great vegan resource for casual and dress shoes and boots for women that practices fair trade. When I first started looking for shoes it seemed like EVERYTHING had leather but I did a TON of searching online and then typed a google for those specific shoes to see what stores sold them hoping to find one in my area. I have had to do a lot of shopping online in many areas of my life to find decent animal free products. But I have never had any trouble ordering and receiving stuff from online yet knock on wood. Good luck with your search and share the loot if you find something! :)
Just want to double check before I head off into my boot-buying fantasy weekend:
If the label says, "all man made materials," it should be considered vegan?
I'm checking precautiously (NOT A WORD!), because when I bought my roller skates, I had a conversation like this:
Sales Clerk: Those aren't made of leather.
Me: Perfect. That's what I want!
Sales Clerk: We can't call them vegan, though, because it's possible that the glue used contains horses or cows or something.
Me: Crap.
Or is this the kind of situation in which we revert to the statement, "we try to be as vegan as possible?" Like when we put anti-freeze in our vehicles.
jesus christ, do the best you can... just the act of buying anything or doing anything hurts something... don't sweat the absurd things... nobody is perfect, do your best!
yeah it's one of those vegan-as-possible things. Though I believe brands that actually claim their shoes are vegan (such as Earth's vegan shoes or Vegetarian Shoes) would actually be totally animal-free.
yeah it's one of those vegan-as-possible things. Though I believe brands that actually claim their shoes are vegan (such as Earth's vegan shoes or Vegetarian Shoes) would actually be totally animal-free.
Thanks, fb, for your helpful input. This is the guidance I was seeking. You are appreciated!
Or is this the kind of situation in which we revert to the statement, "we try to be as vegan as possible?" Like when we put anti-freeze in our vehicles.
I'd get them anyway. If you're really conflicted, try contacting the company and ask them what type of glue they use. So you know, vans and converse both use a non-vegan glue (well, I contacted them both several years ago.. maybe this has changed since then?), but I still purchase and wear their canvas style sneakers.