High Street Vegan
Many of us have struggled to find a fashionable, ethical shoe, faced with a limited choice of moccasin-style ‘sensible shoes’ that hardly even hinted at being fashion conscious. Vegan shoes were previously limited to a few small brands trying to make a diff erence. Well thanks to the perseverance of those small brands (like greenshoes.co.uk, which started in the 80s, and vegetarian-shoes.co.uk, which started in the 90s) many global shoe companies have taken notice and created their own ranges.
To pass as vegan, every part of the shoe from the sole unit, to the upper, lining, laces and even eyelets, must be made from alternatives to animal-based fabrics. So these shoes are mainly made from man-made cotton, canvas and pleather, as well as natural rubbers. What seemed impossible a few years ago is fast becoming a reality.
Sara Colohan is a freelance writer based in London with published features in Tatler magazine, The Times and The Independent newspapers and LondonCalling.com. Thanks to her keen interest in all things vegan, she’s now writing for Simply Vegan, asking questions and discovering new and exciting options and products for anyone vegan or just interested in the vegan lifestyle. Sara also owns an emerging vegan chocolate brand called London Maker, londonmaker.com