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Cult colorways, zero leather - sounds good? Then check out our vegan sneakers now. A lot has happened in the last few years: not only Veja and Converse partially renounce the use of animal products. Big players like adidas and Nike are also following suit and bringing more and more eco friendly trainers to the market.
Vegan sneakers do without materials that are of animal origin. So you'll look in vain for genuine leather uppers. The same goes for wool or silk. And did you know that often glue is also produced on an animal basis? If sneakers carry the "vegan" label, only glues that are free of animal products are used.
A look at sneaker trends shows that vegan styles are becoming increasingly established. That's because sustainability has also reached the sneaker industry. Many labels are focusing on leather alternatives and recycled materials - and the streetwear cosmos is running hot, because animal welfare, environmental protection and CO2 reduction have never been more present.
Similar look and feel, but completely different source material: vegan leather looks confusingly similar to real leather, but is produced without the use of animal materials. Many brands use plastic, mostly polyurethane (PU for short), recycled rubber or discarded PET bottles to produce vegan leather.
Away from recycled materials, plastics don't exactly have the best reputation when it comes to sustainability. They are produced on the basis of petroleum and often with high energy expenditure. For this reason, more and more brands are discovering natural materials of plant origin for themselves, for example:
Eco friendly sneakers made from these materials are more than presentable - especially with the right finish. A waxed surface leaves an impression even on die-hard sneaker heads. Few identify the difference from the leather classic.
Faux leather, by the way, is not the same as vegan leather. The crucial difference lies in the manufacturing process. Faux leather is based on oil, while vegan alternatives are often based on plant fibers, such as pineapple palm leaves, cork or natural rubber. These materials are biodegradable - and are thus doubly convincing in terms of sustainability.
The good news is: vegan shoes are no longer a niche. Discover eco friendly sneakers in various colorways, uppers and sizes in our range. We present our favorites and favorite brands.
Pioneer in the matter of vegan sneakers is the French label Veja. The crew around the two founders Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion spent a total of five years working on developing sustainable sneakers. With success: more than 60 percent of the materials are biodegradable. Thus, the minimalist Vejas are rightly considered eco-shoes.
No animal materials are used in the label's vegan line. Instead of leather, Veja uses waxed cotton canvas, among other materials. The finish that creates the leather-like finish is based on C.W.L. This is corn starch that comes from food industry waste.
Branco was Veja's first fully vegan sneaker. However, there are now numerous other silhouettes. For example, the V-10, the French label's bestrunner, is available as a vegan sneaker.
Who doesn't know him: the characteristic Chuck Taylor All Star from Converse is just as at home in classrooms as it is on the executive floor. Whether it's a hightop or lowtop version, with its canvas upper and natural rubber sole, the father of all sneakers has been vegan for more than 70 years.
From the '90s running silhouette to the basketball high-tops to the archetype of all bathing slippers, the Adilette: vegan Sneaker from adidas are part of the standard repertoire of the Franconian global player. Here, adidas relies on recycled materials of a special kind.
Since 2012, the brand has been cooperating with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans and is even part of the founding team. The partnership's declared goal: to reduce plastic waste pollution in the oceans - and to transform waste into clothing and sneakers. That's something to be proud of, in our opinion.
Next Nature is a great name for a series that is meant to do great things. Top dog Nike relies on recycled materials and vegan production. Whether basketball original Air Force 1, performance running shoe or sandal in 90s look - parts of uppers and sole are made of production leftovers and recycled materials.
Reebok is also on the fast track when it comes to vegan sneakers. From its leather-free Original Classic to its futuristic silhouette, the sporting goods manufacturer continues to prove its innovative prowess. Say yes to good vibes and eco friendly Reebok sneakers!
With the Green Leaf Standard New Balance takes a step towards nature-friendly materials: recycled polyester and eco cotton instead of conventional materials. So-called "Preferred Leather", however, is not vegan - but from responsible and certified extraction.
The sneaker industry has discovered sustainability for itself. Not only the well-known brands, such as Veja, adidas, Nike, New Balance and Converse rely on recycled fabrics and vegan uppers. Also labels like Hoka OneOne, Puma, Ralf Simons and Salomon are doing away with the use of materials with animal origins. The result? Stylish shoes for men and women that make the world a little bit better and where animal suffering and waste of resources could soon be a thing of the past.
