by Kate McKee

Created on: December 08, 2009

 What are vegan friendly shoes? In a nutshell, they are shoes that are made entirely from materials that have not come from animals, and they have been manufactured in a way that causes no harm to any animal. The vegan lifestyle is more popular today than it has ever been, with more and more people making the choice to eat nothing that has animal ingredients, to use no products that contain animal derivatives, and to wear nothing that has come from an animal. True veganism also involves being vigilant about animal testing: if a product has been tested on an animal, then it is not a truly vegan product.

 Why vegan shoes? There are plenty of reasons, the most obvious being that it's better for the animals. But vegan materials are also better for the environment. 20 times more energy goes into the production of a leather hide than the production of a synthetic material. Leather needs to be treated with a range of chemicals in order to prevent it from decomposing. Looking at the bigger picture, agricultural animals are the single greatest source of greenhouse gas production which is leading to global warming.

 So, what are the alternatives to leather? There are plenty of options: firstly, a whole range of leather- look alternatives made out of plastics, microfibers, or plant materials such as cork oak or kelp. Ultrasuede is another commonly used vegan alternative: made from polyester, it has the added advantages of being stain resistant and washable. There are other materials, too: jute, cotton, hemp and canvas are often used.

 What about the cost? You'll find that vegan shoes can be as expensive or as cheap as their leather alternatives, but it depends on what you're looking for. Synthetic leather shoes are often cheaper than their leather counterparts, but if you are looking for a truly vegan option, you need to make sure that your synthetic leather shoes are genuinely animal free and cruelty free. Some 'synthetics' are actually a blend of real and synthetic leather. Many of the high street chains will not brand their shoes as 'vegan', even if they are, so it's hard to be sure unless you buy from a company that is certified.

 Where to buy? Buying vegan friendly shoes is getting easier, but online purchasing is still an better option than high street shopping. The industry is responding to public demand for alternatives to leather, and there are many small, specialist shoe manufacturers that have the vegan philosophy at the heart

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