Styles

• You can find any style of vegan shoe you like, from work boots to sandals. New technology can simulate every component of a traditional shoe so you'll find all your favorite styles of shoes in a cruelty-free form. Ten years ago, this might have been difficult, but the demand for vegan shoes has increased greatly since then. Many companies began offering vegan options, and new vegan companies emerged as well.
  
  

Materials

• Many vegan shoes are made of vinyl, rubber, hemp, cotton or some combination of those or other vegan materials. Some are made of birkofelt (a synthetic felt), polyurethane, microfiber (made from a blend of polyester and polyurethane), nylon, vinyl, Vegetan Active (a synthetic material of polyurethane and cotton) or a similar variation, and a variety of other materials. Sometimes they are more biodegradable than nonvegan shoes, but vegan shoes are not necessarily "earth-friendly." Still, with a market that primarily supports the health of the environment, vegan technology is evolving in a direction that will ultimately support the health of the whole planet. In the meantime, consumers can choose these cruelty-free options in lieu of non-vegan options that are harmful to other animals and the environment.
  
  

Beyond Leather

• Many vegans and vegetarians prefer not to go for the leather look, believing it still promotes the use of leather. Often, people don't know that vegan shoes aren't leather until they ask, so some believe they should buy only shoes that don't resemble leather. Many companies sell shoes that don't simulate leather, such as hemp shoes, as well as faux-leather options.
  
  

Recycled Shoes

• Some companies have gotten even more creative by making shoes from recycled materials. Companies such as Splaff Flopps and English Retreads make vegan shoes from recycled inner tubes and tires. In buying shoes from these companies, consumers support two causes at once.
  
  

Where to Buy Vegan Shoes

• You'll probably need to shop online for vegan shoes, unless you're lucky enough to live in an area with vegan shoe sellers. You'll find many online options, though. PETA maintains a list of online vegan shoe stores (see Resources). You might find similar options on ebay as well.