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Vegan shoes: beat the January blues with a new pair of cruelty-free treads

Vegan, but make it fashion: IMAXtree
Vegan, but make it fashion: IMAXtree

The four week period known as January can be difficult to navigate.

The hours of sunlight are depressingly short, one's soul is depleted due to the abstinence of vino (thanks alot, Dry Jan) and the promise of summer and its warmer climes seems a very, very long way away.

While some abstain from hair removal (see Janu-hairy), and some from boozing, there are also those who opt out of consuming, and wearing, animal products.

In 2019, 250, 000 people signed up to the official "Veganuary" movement, the highest-ever recorded figure, with much more following it without signing up officially.

MooShoes is a vegan-owned business that sells an assortment of cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. (MooShoes)
MooShoes is a vegan-owned business that sells an assortment of cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories. (MooShoes)

The sartorial debate surrounding leather is particularly pertinent: searches for "vegan leather" have increased by 17 per cent since the beginning of January, according to Lyst.

The greenhouse gases emitted from the raising of livestock, of which leather is a byproduct, are concerning - agriculture, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, is responsible for up to 18 per cent of the total release of greenhouse gases worldwide.

Stella McCartney launched her eponymous label in 2001 with "vegetarian" principles, meaning she has never used fur, leather skin or feathers and since 2013 she has used “alter-nappa” for her best-selling Falabella bag, shoes and ready-to-wear – a blend of polyester and polyurethane with a recycled polyester backing.

While McCartney is the unequivocal luxury eco-trailblazer for the vegan accessory market, there are other brands also keeping it conscious, without compromising on those all-important style credentials. These are the ones you need to know.

Beyond Skin

East Sussex-based Beyond Skin was established in 2001 with the clear focus of creating luxury and on-trend vegan footwear.

Designed in England but ethically handcrafted in Spain using luxury Italian fabrics, Beyond Skin has built a cult following for its fashionable, animal-friendly pieces (Medusa snakeskin boots, we've got our eyes on you.)

Prices: £102.50 - £375

Matt & Nat

The idea behind MAT(T)ERIAL and NATURE originally came to life in 1995, in Montreal.

Over the years, the brand has experimented with different recycled materials - cardboard, rubber and cork, to name just a few - and since 2007, has made all of its linings out of 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Matt & Nat is dedicated to its cruelty-free mantra and has everything a footwear fashionista could desire: boots, trainers, mules.

Prices: £30 - £132

Susi Studio

LA-based Susi Studio knows that being conscious doesn't mean being frumpy.

Its vintage-inspired shoes tick all of the sartorial boxes, while also all using sustainable and recycled materials.

Even better is that with certain purchases, 30 per cent of the proceeds raised are donated to Mercy for Animals.

Prices: £55 - £88

MooShoes

MooShoes opened in 2001 as the first cruelty-free shop of its kind in New York City with its sister store launching in Los Angeles in 2014.

Founded in 2001 by vegan sisters Erica and Sara Kubersky, the business which sells an assortment of cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories.

The New York store is also home to a slew of rescued cats who were adopted from a selection of local organisations.

Prices: £30 - £268

Bhava

Bhava specialise in conscious footwear without the cruelty: the New York-based brand designs a range of vegan shoes, but its best offerings are its Ganni-esque boots.

Best of all, Bhava promises that none of its shoes are produced until they're given a "thorough NYC test drive for comfort and durability."

Prices: £96- £214

Grenson

Grenson was born in 1866 when its founder William Green began making shoes in the loft above the Corn Merchants in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

Fast forward to 2020 and the brand is still going strong, even more so now that it's launched its first-ever vegan offering.

The collection has shoes with uppers made of fibres that mimic cowhide, insoles made of recyclable paper and welts comprised of Microlight rubber - currently the only non-leather material available for this purpose. All of the collection's soles are also rubber and contain no animal products.

Prices: £185 - £290

Dr. Martens

Tough, durable and loaded with its intrinsic stompy DNA, Dr. Martens' vegan range is worth the investment.

The bootmakers ditched the leather in favour of planet-friendly materials, but the designs are exactly the same as those the It-girls are sporting, meaning there's finally a way to stay on-trend for vegans.

Prices: £109 - £169

Scroll through the gallery above for the best styles from these vegan-friendly footwear brands.

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