Go conscious! Top 10 brands for vegan boots

Sustainable companions: We present 10 brands for vegan boots that prove that trend awareness and animal welfare go together perfectly

Vegan boots
Source & Copyright by NAE Vegan Shoes

Author: Nadja Schaer

The autumn and winter season is just around the corner, and with it the search for the perfect pair of boots that will keep us warm and stylish during the cold months. leather due to its durability, breathability and robustness as the best choice for winter shoes. But that has changed! After all, innovative materials and manufacturing processes now ensure that vegan materials are in no way inferior to animal material. By choosing vegan boots, we are not only doing something good for our feet, but also for animals and the environment. Below we reveal what to consider when buying vegan boots. We also present our top 10 brands that skilfully combine sustainability and style.

What does "vegan" mean in shoes?

Vegan boots are free of animal materials such as leather, fur or wool. Instead, manufacturers rely on innovative, environmentally friendly alternatives such as recycled polyester or plant-based materials such as pineapple leather or cork. After all, these sustainable materials not only offer a high level of comfort, but also durability and weather resistance. This makes them the ideal choice for the cold season. Vegan boots are therefore completely on par with their conventional counterparts - both in terms of appearance and function.

How sustainable are vegan boots?

leather may be a natural product, but aside from the issue of animal welfare, its ecological footprint also leaves much to be desired. For example, tanning requires harmful chemicals such as chromium, which often pollute rivers and soil near tanneries. Vegan materials, on the other hand, do not require complex chemical processes for preservation, which means that the environmental impact is lower. The production of vegan materials, especially plant-based and recycled materials, also generates fewer CO₂ emissions compared to animal husbandry and leather production.

By using renewable raw materials such as cork or pineapple leather, greenhouse gas emissions are further reduced. Water consumption in the production of vegan leather is also lower than in the production of animal leather. However, it is important to pay close attention to the material, even with vegan boots. Products made from classic Plastics such as polyurethane or PVC have more negative environmental impacts than innovative plant-based materials.

Source & Copyright by O2 Monde

What materials are used for vegan boots?

Various synthetic leathers are used to make vegan boots, all of which are free from animal components. The most common materials include:

  • Polyurethane (PU): Polyurethane is the most commonly used material for artificial leather. It is flexible, soft, water-repellent and durable. PU artificial leather can be processed to be very close to real leather in texture and appearance. Dane PU requires less energy and water to produce compared to real leather. It also does not contain toxic heavy metals such as chromium. Nevertheless, artificial leather is based on fossil raw materials and is not completely biodegradable.
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): PVC synthetic leather is robust, but less breathable than PU and can appear stiffer. PVC is also criticized because it contains toxic chemicals such as plasticizers (phthalates), which can be harmful to both the environment and health. The disposal of PVC is also problematic because it is not easy recyclable .
  • microfiber: Microfiber synthetic leather is made of extremely fine polyester or nylon fibers that are tightly woven together. It is very soft, breathable and hard-wearing. This means that microfiber leather is very durable and is often water-repellent. However, like other plastics, microfiber is also based on petrochemical raw materials, which increases the ecological footprint.
  • Recycled Polyester: Recycled polyester is made from used plastic bottles or other plastic waste and processed into artificial leather. Thus, recycled polyester helps Plastic waste and is more energy efficient to produce than newly produced polyester. It offers good durability and flexibility. However, recycled polyester is not biodegradable and is based on fossil raw materials.
  • plant-based leather: Artificial leather can now also be made from plants or plant residues. This offers the most sustainable alternative to animal leather. Plant-based leather such as Pinatex (from pineapple leaves), mycelium (made from mushrooms) or AppleSkin (made from apple peels) have a better ecological balance than plastic-based leather types. Waste from the food industry is often used in production. In addition, significantly fewer emissions are generated than in leather or plastic production. In addition, all of these types of leather are biodegradable.

Source & Copyright by O2 Monde

What should you pay attention to when buying?

When buying vegan boots, it is worth paying attention not only to the “vegan” label, but also to the production method. Are the materials recyclable? Were they manufactured in an environmentally friendly way? There are numerous Certificationsthat help to identify sustainable and fair products, such as the PETA-Approved Vegan label or the GRS certificate for recycled materials.

The Top 10 Brands for Vegan Boots

There are now a number of labels on the market that offer high-quality and stylish vegan boots. Here we have curated our top 10 brands for you:

  1. Bohemian
  2. NAE Vegan Shoes
  3. PREV
  4. Piferi
  5. urban
  6. THE AGE
  7. O2 moons
  8. Stella McCartney
  9. MATT & NAT
  10. FEMME LA

 

  1. Bohemian

The Polish brand Bohema is one of the pioneers in the use of plant leather. The brand was the first in the world to produce shoes made of Cactus leather This vegan leather is obtained from the cactus plant, which requires little water to grow. This significantly reduces the ecological footprint. Bohema also uses other plant-based materials such as Piñatex and AppleSkin. Each pair of boots is handmade and produced locally in Poland. This way, Bohema ensures fair working conditions while minimizing transport routes. With trendy designs and a commitment to sustainability, Bohema is aimed at everyone who sees fashion as an expression of their style and ethical awareness.

Brand origin: Kolbuszowa, Poland
Where to buy: bohemaclothing.com

Source & Copyright by Bohema
  1. NAE Vegan Shoes

NAE, which stands for "No Animal Exploitation", is a Portuguese brand that convinces with its ecological philosophy. The brand produces vegan boots from innovative materials such as AppleSkin, cork and recycled PET. These materials are not only vegan, but also durable and hard-wearing, which extends the life cycle of the shoes. NAE is particularly proud of its ethically impeccable supply chainsthat on local production and fair working conditions. In addition to sustainable materials, NAE attaches great importance to aesthetic design that skilfully combines modern silhouettes and classic elegance.

Brand origin: Amadora, Portugal
Where to buy: nae-vegan.com

Source & Copyright by NAE Vegan Shoes
  1. PREV

With their cool, minimalist look, the vegan boots from the Turkish label PREV, a play on words from “plant” and “revolution”, are a real hit. PREV works with vegan leather, organic cotton and plant-based silk alternatives such as Cupro Bemberg™The plant-based leather that the company uses is made from apples, olives and tea waste. Production takes place in Italy and Turkey. The brand ensures that as little waste as possible is produced and no materials are thrown away. Even the smallest vegan leather waste is processed into new products. The brand pays attention to very high-quality workmanship to ensure that the shoes have a long lifespan.

Brand origin: Türkiye
Where to buy: prev.shop

Source & Copyright by PREV
  1. Piferi

The luxury brand Piferi was founded by former Jimmy Choo designer Alfredo Piferi. The brand stands for luxurious vegan shoesthat combine high fashion with environmentally friendly materials. To make its shoes, Piferi uses recycled plastic and synthetic leather made from natural raw materials such as corn. Piferi is a pioneer in the field of vegan luxury and is committed to ensuring that ethical fashion becomes a permanent fixture in the premium segment. The designs are often avant-garde, with sculptural shapes that give the shoes a futuristic touch. At the same time, Piferi remains true to its mission to minimize the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment by focusing on transparency and environmentally friendly production.

Brand origin: London, England
Where to buy: piferi.com

Source & Copyright by Piferi
  1. urban

The Spanish brand Urbànima stands for sustainable shoes with a Mediterranean flair. Their vegan boots are made from natural materials such as cork and wood, which are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. Cork is a particularly interesting material because it is biodegradable and is extracted from the bark of the cork oak without damaging the tree. Urbànima attaches great importance to craftsmanship., which is why all boots are made by skilled shoemakers who combine traditional techniques with modern designs. The brand is PETA certified, ensuring that its production is not only vegan but also ethically responsible.

Brand origin: Valencia, Spain
Where to buy: urbanima.com

Source & Copyright by Urbànima
  1. THE AGE

AERA has taken on the challenge of combining luxury and sustainability. The New York-based brand produces in Italy and uses exclusively vegan materials. AERA relies on innovative materials made from recycled and plant-based raw materials. Fair working conditions and transparency in the supply chain are also among the brand's principles. AERA not only carries the PETA-Approved Vegan label, but has also been able to B Corp certification The vegan boots from AERA combine classic elegance with modern accents and offer cruelty-free alternatives for fair fashionistas.

Brand origin: New York, USA
Where to buy: aeranewyork.com

Source & Copyright by AERA
  1. O2 moons

A top designer in the shoe industry is behind the New York brand O2 Monde. Founder Mirco Scoccia previously worked as a designer and creative director for luxury brands such as Bottega Veneta, Belstaff, Tory Burch and Khaite. This high aesthetic standard is also evident in the O2 Monde collection. The designs are sophisticated and modern, often with minimalist, clear lines that give the shoes a timeless character. The brand uses plant-based materials such as cactus leather, Pinatex or Vitigna, a plant-based leather made from waste from wine production. Orange leather from Sicily is also part of the portfolio, which has been awarded the PETA-Approved Vegan label. In addition, all shoes are made in Italy and are manufactured under fair working conditions.

Brand origin: New York, USA
Where to buy: o2monde.com

Source & Copyright by O2 Monde
  1. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney is a true pioneer in the world of sustainable fashion and animal welfare. Since the company was founded, it has completely avoided using leather in its collections. Instead, the brand uses innovative alternatives for its shoes, such as Alter Mat, VEGEA and recycled materials. Each pair is manufactured under ethical conditions and of high quality so that it can accompany us on our journey for a long time. The timeless designs also contribute to this, allowing us to go through everyday life in a fashionable and conscious way.

Brand origin: London, UK
Where to buy: stellamccartney.com

Source & Copyright by Stella McCartney
  1. FEMME LA

Celebrities such as Beyoncé and Hailey Bieber have already been spotted wearing FEMME LA shoes. No wonder, after all, the vegan shoe brand from Los Angeles is known for its minimalist yet glamorous designs. The brand offers a variety of styles, ranging from delicate sandals to trendy boots. Ethical production is also a focus at FEMME LA. Anyone who chooses vegan boots from FEMME LA is not only making a fashion statement, but also one for sustainability and animal welfare.

Brand origin: Los Angeles, USA
Where to buy: femme.la

Source & Copyright by FEMME LA
  1. MATT & NAT

MATT & NAT sets standards in terms of style and sustainability. Since its founding in Montreal in 1995, the brand has created high-quality vegan shoes that do not contain any animal materials. Instead, the brand relies on environmentally friendly alternatives such as PU and PVB - the latter is made from recycled resins that are biodegradable. The brand is known for timeless designs that are not only fashionable, but also durable and environmentally friendly. The brand has been awarded the PETA-Approved Vegan label for its commitment to animal welfare.

Brand origin: Montreal, Quebec
Where to buy: mattandnat.com

Source & Copyright by MATT & NAT

Conclusion: Vegan boots combine ethics & aesthetics

Anyone looking for a sustainable, animal-friendly and stylish alternative to traditional leather boots can look forward to a wide range of vegan boots. After all, brands such as StellaMcCartney, Bohema and Piferi manage to combine the highest aesthetic standards with ethical approaches. When buying vegan boots, it is worth keeping a close eye on the materials used. After all, plant-based plastics are preferable to those made from fossil raw materials. In this way, we manage to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible with our vegan boots.

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