There’s something about the words “durable shoes” that make you think of those dirty, ugly shoes the crusty hippies used to wear. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just because something is labeled as durable doesn’t mean it’s not fashion-conscious.
Sustainable and eco-friendly shoes are available in different styles, colors and materials. The point is, we all need to do our part to be more sustainable and help heal the Earth. While recycling your paper and plastic waste is part of the mission, let’s kick things into high gear and start shopping sustainably with our apparel and footwear. Contemporary shoe companies use materials like vegan leather, recycled fibers and recycled plastics to create their stylish designs.
If you’re in the market to up your shoe game, we’ve rounded up 8 chic eco-friendly shoes, from boots to sneakers for men and women.
Della Terra Jasper Marble Square Toe Vegan Heel Bootie, $224, dellaterra.com
Minimizing chemicals to fight climate change Della Terra uses vegan materials and conserves water and energy usage. Its packaging is made from 100% post-consumer recycled products.
Veja Urca sneakers, $150, veja-store.com
The unisex line Veja reuses recycled plastic bottles and cotton from scraps from the textile industry and recycled polyester to create their comfortable and fun sneakers.
Reike Nen Leaf Ankle Flip-Flop Sandals, $380, reikenen.com
Using a build-to-order process in their sample development facility, Reike Nen has reduced waste and unsold inventory to make their development more environmentally friendly. The brand has developed in vegetable leather and recyclable packaging.
Lane Eight Men’s AD 1 Trainer Sneakers, $130, laneeight.com
Constructed from vegan fibers, recycled fibers and recycled plastic in addition to its shoe boxes made from post-consumer recycled materials, and has partnered with invisible company include biodegradable, water-soluble mailing bags.
Bhava Bianca Mule, $199, bhavastudio.com
Bhava has always been an animal-free brand and does not use leather. Its shoes are created from Italian vegan leathers that do not contain aromatic amines, PCP, formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, azo dyes or chromium. These are classy shoes that are good for the environment.
Californian Shoes Slater sandals, $169, californiansfootwear.com
These stylish men’s sandals, but made from 100% recycled shoeboxes, environmentally friendly water-based inks and reclaimed materials.
Tracy Reese for Naturalizer Sunflower dress slide, $148, naturalizer.com
Designed by black fashion designer Tracy Reese for her capsule collection of sustainable footwear with Naturalizer, the shoes feature sustainable yarns and 100% recycled plastic insoles, linings sourced from Leather Working Group factories and recycled materials used in box packaging.
Converse Chuck 70 sneakers, $85, converse.com
This Converse shoe looks and feels like the classic sneaker was created from 100% recycled rPET canvas.
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