shoe trend
Vegan sneakers: These shoes do without leather
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The renunciation of animal products is not only reflected in the diet of many advocates of the vegan lifestyle, but also in their wardrobe. As a result, leather-free sneakers are experiencing a real hype.
Leather is bad for the environment. Conventional livestock farming releases huge amounts of greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals are used in the processing of animal skins – both of which contribute to a poor ecological balance. Now comes the big but: imitation leather is not environmentally friendly either. It’s usually made from plastic, which in turn pollutes our oceans. For this reason, vegan sneakers are not automatically “better” than leather shoes. Unless they are made from sustainable materials such as canvas, organic cotton, cork or natural rubber. Nevertheless, one cannot of course deny that it is still better to wear a sneaker for which no animal had to suffer and die in agony. In addition, there are more and more manufacturers who make their shoes at least from recycled materials. The bottom line is that vegan sneakers do more to protect animals and the environment than sneakers made of real leather. You can find out what they look like at the end of the assembly line here.
1. Veya
The French label is one of the hottest brands that vegan sneakers produce: After a total of five years of development, the company has succeeded in producing sneakers from environmentally friendly materials. And although over 60 percent of the substances are biodegradable and the sneakers can therefore be described as eco shoes, they look stylish and modern – and almost feel as if they were made of real leather. And even if the shoes are not the cheapest, investing in Veja’s vegan sneakers is definitely worth it.
2. Ethics
The German label is also known for its sustainable shoes made from fair trade and sustainable materials. The sneakers made of organic cotton and natural rubber (FSC-certified) are reminiscent of well-known brands such as Superga or Converse. This makes them particularly popular as well fashionable shoesthat are in no way inferior to their competitors. With the additional FSC seal, you can be sure that the materials come from the sustainable management of forest areas and plantations and that the vegan sneakers are produced ethically.
3. Zweigut
Cork is a material that is often underestimated – the manufacturers of Zweigut have also recognized this. The Hamburg-based label also makes high-quality shoes from old leather from car seats (which is still better than using new leather), but it also has vegan sneakers in its range. Those made of natural cork from the cork oak and canvas shoes are particularly robust and yet pleasantly soft. In addition, the material is water-repellent, but still breathable. If you are interested in the vegan sneakers, you will find a nice example here.
4. Vans
The American sports shoe manufacturer opened its doors in March 1966. To this day, Vans is one of the best-known sneaker brands around the world. Even though the company makes shoes out of leather, they offer their customers a wide range of choices vegan sneakers made of canvas for men, women and children. Here, responsibly promoted and sustainable materials are used for the production of vegan sneakers – because Vans also works with various environmental organizations.
5. Divadi
Awarded the “PETA approved vegan” label, the shoe manufacturer Divadi stands for leather-free sneakers. Translated, the name means “go and go” – this is intended to express the fact that one should always go further to discover something new. There is no better way to describe a pair of new shoes. Especially not when it comes to this specimen is: The sneakers made of vegan materials and natural fibers, viscose and locally grown rubber from Vietnam are very trendy with their velvet look.
6. Converse
The Converse brand is also a long-established company that has been making shoes since 1908. The best-known model to date is the Chuck Taylor All Star – better known as Chucks – and has sold over 600 million. In fact, it is also the only example that can be described as “vegan friendly”. In other words, the sneakers do not contain any animal materials. They don’t have to, because chucks are by far the most comfortable shoes you can wear (in summer!).
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