In 2017, the World Footwear Yearbook estimated that 23.5 billion pairs of shoes were sold across the globe, with the sneaker or running shoes market taking up a large percentage of this.
But, what does that mean for us, our planet and our wildlife?
A huge proportion of these sneakers are sure to end up in landfill and the manufacturing process must have a significant impact on the environment.
Leather is the most common fabric used in the production of trainers, which through ties to the agricultural industry, contributes to a shocking amount of deforestation, as well as alarming greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, leather tanning is a major source of toxic pollution.
Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that Vegan sneaker brands and shoe companies are looking for ways to tackle this issue and provide footwear that is suitable for an ever-increasing environmentally-conscious and/or vegan customer base.
Not only have we chosen completely vegan styles, but also sneakers that have been made with sustainability in mind.
From retro styles to edgy contemporary sneakers, from hi-tops to plimsoles, there is sure to be a style for the animal lover in all of us to covet.
Best Vegan Sneakers and Brands
1. Veja – V-10 trainers Vegan Sneakers
Since 2005, Veja has been producing ecological sneakers that are produced under dignified conditions using raw materials from organic and agroecological farming, with no chemicals or pollutants. Of the 20+ styles in the vegan sneakers collection from Veja, our choice is the V-10 as it’s sharp and sophisticated with a minimalist aesthetic that is always on-trend.
Our Pick: V-10 Trainers
Features: Vegan, Organic, Fair Trade
2. Superdry – Basket Lux Low
Our Pick: Basket Lux Low Trainers in Green/White
Features: Vegan and 33% recycled upper
Superdry Vegan shoe brand has one foot on our ecological future and the other at the forefront of streetwear fashion with its collection of vegan sneakers and footwear. The Basket Lux Low shoes are certified by the Vegan Society, whilst still being strong, flexible, and watertight. Coming in a number of on-trend colorways, these stylish shoes have that pop of color you’ve been looking for. Team with wide-leg jeans and your favorite long-sleeve tee for a perfect off-duty look.
3. Superga – 2790 Linea Up/Down
Our Pick: 2790 Linea Up Down
Features: Vegan and cruelty-free
Love your planet and love your Vegan shoes, with Superga’s collection of canvas vegan sneakers that are eco-friendly and cruelty-free. The 2790 Linea Up Down style in classic white is sure to become your go-to style, for hanging out, running errands, or even work. Show off the statement flatform sole in cropped trousers and an oversized shirt. Effortless.
4. Adidas – Superstar
Our Pick: Superstar
Features: Vegan and recycled rubber sole
Adidas’ iconic styles have gone vegan and sustainable, including the irreplaceable Superstar. Made from recycled materials with animal-free based products, the classic ‘70s still retain that classic retro look. Timeless and ethical, pair with double denim for a contemporary look that nods to the past. Other icons in the vegan collection include Stan Smith, Samba, and Supercourt. Perfect for any shoe collection.
5. TOMS – Carlo Eco
Our Pick: Carlo Eco Sneaker
Features: 100% Vegan
Not only does TOMS have an extensive collection of vegan sneakers, but also with every purchase a third of the profit will go to partner organizations to improve the lives of those in need. So, when you wear your Carlo Eco Sneakers, not only will you be looking good in this pair of shoes, but you will also be doing good. It’s nice that Vegan sneaker brands are paying more attention to the environment.
6. Gola – Coaster Peak
Our Pick: Coaster Peak High Trainers
Features: 100% Vegan
All of Gola’s vegan sneakers are completely animal-free with no animal skin, whilst still maintaining high-quality construction and covetable aesthetics. The clean lines and sturdy soles of the Coaster Peak High shoe make them the ideal choice for everyday wear. They will look just as good with a floaty dress as they do with your favorite pair of ripped jeans and a white tee.
7. Humans Are Vain – Challenge V3
Our Pick: Challenge V3 Sneaker
Features: Sustainable Vegan
Ultra-cool vegan fashion label, Humans Are Vain, has a great selection of chic and stylish shoes with the Challenge V3 Vegan Sneaker being our top pick. The matte finish leather upper is complemented by the white sole made from recycled rubber. The sustainability doesn’t stop there – the lining is made from recycled plastic and corn fiber, and the heel panel is constructed from Italian apple leather —sustainable style at its best from one of the best vegan sneaker brands.
8. Will’s Vegan Store – Smart Sneakers
Our Pick: Smart Sneakers
Features: Vegan, Carbon Neutral, Fair Trade
Ethically made in Portugal with Italian vegan leather that is constructed from plants using bio-oil from organic cereal crops in a carbon-neutral process, the Smart Sneakers from Will’s Vegan Store will go with everything in your wardrobe. The gorgeous tan lace-ups are classically chic and can (and should) be worn anywhere and everywhere. Also available in black.
9. 8000Kicks
Our Pick: Explorer V2
Features: Waterproof, Hemp & Ethically-made
The original line from 8000Kicks hemp shoe range, they claim to have produced the most sustainable, durable and comfortable sneaker ever built!
Featuring the world’s first hemp insoles, these sneakers are 100% vegan, hugely versatile and even waterproof for traipsing through the rain!
8000Kicks offer an Explorer V2 line for both men and women in a range of colors.
10. Native Shoes
Our Pick: Apollo in Regatta Blue
Features: Vegan and ethically made
Native Shoes have been keeping us stylish and reducing our environmental impact since 2009, and the Apollo Vegan Sneaker is a perfect representative of this Vegan sneaker brand’s contemporary aesthetic. Comfortable and breathable, the Native Shoes Apollo sneaker is made from vegan microfiber leather and is available in over a dozen colors. Our favorite from Native Shoes is the vibrant Regatta Blue. Keep your outfit neutral to let the bright and bold royal blue really pop.
11. Buffalo London
Our Pick: Chai Vegan Trainers
Features: 100% Vegan
Buffalo London has a wide selection of Peta-approved vegan sneakers and our #1 pick is the 90s-inspired Chai Trainer. It’s a highlight in terms of both style and comfort, and the versatile cream color will look stunning with a wide range of outfits.
The chunky rubber sole adds a sports-luxe feel, whilst iconic branding finishes the edgy vegan sneaker. Fresh and trendsetting!
12. Ration.L
Our Pick: R-Kind Unisex Vegan Leather Trainer
Features: Vegan & Eco-friendly
Ration.L’s vegan leather trainer focuses on a simple, classic and gender-neutral style, perfect for everyday wear.
Made from a combination of recycled materials, non-toxic PU and organic cotton lining, Ration.L’s shoe range is Vegan Society certified.
The company takes its commitment to ethical footwear seriously, with its products manufactured in Vietnam under fair working conditions. For every pair of R.Kind’s sold, 5% of profits is donated to The Brain & Spine Foundation.
13. Flamingos Life
Our Pick: Retro 90s collection
Features: Sustainable Vegan
Purchase a pair of Vegan sneakers from FlamingosLife 90s Retro collection, and you help to bring clean water to remote areas of Uganda in collaboration with the NGO “Agua ONG”.
The Retro collection trainers are constructed from corn waste, cotton, bamboo and polyester, with a sole made with natural and recycled rubber. The eco-credentials of this trainer are as impressive as its style, with the brand utilising suppliers no more than 40km from its HQ to minimise its carbon footprint.
14. Nae
Our Pick: Jor Recycled PET Vegan Sneaker
Features: Vegan, Unisex, & Ecological
Standing for No Animal Exploitation, Nae guarantees its quality footwear is 100% vegan. The Portuguese brand is known for producing fashion-forward styles with a strong unisex sneaker selection. Our top pick is the Jor Re-Pet Vegan Sneaker, a unisex jogger that is made from recycled plastic bottles. Available in black and white, you and your SO can work out in matching shoes. An added bonus is that the EVA soles are super lightweight.
15. Vans
Our Pick: Checkerboard Slip-On Platform
Features: 100% Vegan
Skater brand Vans has a huge selection of vegan sneakers and is there a style any more iconic than the classic Checkerboard Slip-On style? We love the version with the platform rubber sole, not only does it give you a little extra height, but it’s also contemporary and cool too. All the materials from the textile upper to the signature rubber sole are free of any animal by-products and therefore, are 100% vegan. Head back to the Nineties and team with wide-leg jeans and a logo tee.
16. Ethletic
Our Pick: Fair Trainer
Features: Fairtrade, Sustainable Vegan
Add a touch of fun to your look with these white shoes from Ethletic. The timeless canvas Vegan sneaker minimizes your ecological footprint while maximizing your style. The Vegan sneaker is 100% vegan made from Fairtrade certified organic cotton and natural rubber from sustainable forestry. The Ethletic website also allows you to tip the skilled craftsman that made your sneakers in Pakistan.
17. Thousand Fell
Our Pick: Men’s Slip On
Features: Vegan & Responsibly Sourced
With a brand ethos all about sustainability, it’s guaranteed that your Slip-on sneakers will be durable enough to last you a lifetime. Thousand Fell’s sneakers are crafted from recycled bottles and rubber, as well as sustainable materials like palm leaf fibres and coconut husk. Plus, they also collect used sneakers, and the materials are further recycled or upcycled. Stylish all year round, wear with skinny jeans and fisherman’s jumper during the colder months and Bermuda shorts and tee in the summer.
18. NAE
Our Pick: Dara Recycled Vegan Basic Sport Trainers
Features: Vegan & Cruelty-Free
If you’re looking for something with a bit of flair, then these pink sports trainers from NAE might be just your thing!
With a low-top, sporty look, they’re still versatile enough for everyday wear. Importantly, they are breathable and feature moisture-wicking technology, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. And they achieve all of this with high-quality, vegan materials – a combination of recycled microfiber and polyester, with an EVA-padded insole.
19. COG
Our Pick: Topsy Unisex Grape Leather Vegan Trainers
Features: Slim design, removable soles
Made by French brand COG, these unisex trainers are made from 100% PETA-approved vegan and certified OEKO TEX 100, incorporating lining made from recycled PET, which is partially fished from the Mediterranean Sea.
The brand make a range of men’s, women’s and unisex vegan trainers in trendy European designs and colorways that you will want to wear everyday.
20. V.GAN
Our Pick: Nut Hi Top Trainers
Features: Vegan & Sustainable
The perfect trainer for kicking back in style, the Nut Hi Top Vegan sneaker has your off-duty look covered. Completely free of animal products, it’s crafted from durable black canvas and sustainable and ethically sourced materials. A contrast rubber sole, laces, and iconic branding finish off these Vegan sneakers. Wear with anything and everything – this is a Vegan sneaker for all occasions.
21. Fila
Our Pick: Disruptor 2
Features: 100% Vegan
Fila has released a number of their iconic trainer styles that are made from completely vegan materials, including the famous Disruptor 2. You’ll be unstoppable in these Vegan shoes, which provide the perfect balance of comfort and style. The chunky silhouette is bang on trend, with a ‘90s vibe that would look great with some high-waisted mom jeans and a baggy tee. The crisp white shade will add some light and life to whatever outfit you pair them with.
22. Hummel
Our Pick: Seoul Premium Vegan Trainer
Features: 100% Vegan
Hummel’s handball-inspired Vegan sneakers are now available in an all-vegan interpretation. The upper of Seoul is made from premium vegan leather and suede and sits atop a minimalistic, recycled rubber outsole. The sustainable alternative of the court-style classic is available in a number of colorways – including those with bold ‘80s and ‘90s tones – but our top pick is the super wearable sharp white with grey accents.
23. Genesis
Our Pick: G-Iduna Vegan Trainers
Features: Vegan & Recycled
We love the classic running style of the G-Iduna from Genesis, not just for its appearance but also for its eco-credentials. The upper is made from eco-friendly (carbon-reduced) leather, with mesh constructed for recycled plastic bottles. The insole is made from recycled EVA foam and the cork soles come from sustainable productions. Even the shoelaces are made from recycled PET plastic bottles. Genuinely sustainable Vegan sneakers.
24. Stella McCartney
Our Pick: Pureboost X
Features: 100% Vegan
Looking for a vegan running shoe? Look no further than the fashion-forward Pureboost X from Stella McCartney’s collaboration with Adidas. The high-performance trainer offers a sock-like fit and exceptional grip, making these Vegan shoes ideal for running on most terrains, whilst being chic and edgy for everyday wear too. Boasting a striking silhouette, the black woven upper of this vegan running shoe is complemented by the iconic boost sole for the ultimate in comfort.
25. Minuit sur Terre
Our pick: Jules Unisex Vegan Recycled Grain Trainers
Features: Vegan and recycled rubber
Created in 2017 by vegan founder Marie Viard Klein to fill a gap in the market of shoes that were ethical, vegan and stylish, Minuit sur Terre offers a fabulous range of PETA-Approved Vegan shoes. The brand is also committed to ethical processes and educating consumers on vegan living.
The Jules Unisex Vegan Recycled Grain Trainers come in a range of colors and as the name suggests, are made from eco-friendly cereal products and recycled rubber, and recycled laces created from plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.
Check out their fabulous range that proves you can look on point with a clear conscience.
26. Matt and Nat
Our pick: AAHANA Women’s Vegan Sneakers
Features: 100% PETA Approved Vegan, matching outsoles
If you fancy a bit of color in your life, we love these AAHANA Women’s Vegan sneakers by cruelty-free brand Matt and Nat.
A simple, minimalist design for the everyday, this range comes in white as well as fabulous colors such as green, teal and pink. Made entirely from recycled materials, you can keep your feet and conscience happy at the same time!
Growing up in New Zealand I have always had the gift of living in a beautiful, natural environment. With all the changes happening in the world, I wanted to actively try and make a difference (be it big or small) in helping protect nature that we have.
