Finding the perfect shoes is complicated. But finding shoes that are also sustainable, ethical, and vegan is another story. The good thing is that brands are increasingly embracing sustainability as one of their key pillars lately. The bad thing? Unfortunately, these brands are still a minority. If you've ended up here, it's probably because you've been searching for shoes that fit your needs for a while now, but you just can't find them. But don't despair. With this guide, we're sure you'll finally find your ideal sustainable, vegan, and ethical shoe.

Momoc Shoes

For: Women
Price: €60 – €140
Based on: Spain
Made in: Spain

Unique shoes with original prints and feminine cuts, easy to wear, comfortable and perfect for everyday activities. Plus, they're sustainable, vegan and handmade in Spain with recycled materials . Momoc does not believe in mass production – its collections are made following the model of the pre-order . “We like to collaborate with causes we truly believe in. We are currently collaborating with Reforestum to offset our carbon footprint . That is: for every pair of shoes purchased, we capture 60 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere.”

Matt & Nat

For: Women and men
Price: $45 – $175
Materials: Recycled plastic and cork bottles
Based on: Montreal, Quebec
Made in: China

Matt & Nat's name comes from Material and Nature. This vegan shoe brand offers everything from comfortable heels to sneakers. “It's important to us not to use leather. We don't like to harm animals and we care about the well-being of our planet. Our collections are designed by a small team in Montreal, Quebec. We develop prototypes and collections based on our sketches, and we use our signature vegan leathers and eco-friendly materials like recycled nylon, cork, and rubber to make our shoes.”

Minute on Earth

For: Women and men
Price: 110€ – 180€
Materials: Vegan leather, made from grapes and apples
Based on: France
Made in: Portugal

Minuit Sur Terre was born out of frustration. Its founders couldn't find vegan shoes that combined fashion with ethics, so they decided to create their own. "We are committed to offering vegan products made with materials that don't come from animals and that have the lowest possible environmental impact." What's interesting about this brand is the revolutionary material they use to make their shoes: a vegan leather made from grapes and vegetable oils. They've recently even incorporated a vegan leather made from apples into their designs.

Bhava

For: Women
Price: $135 – $325
Materials: Cork and organic cotton
Based in: New York
Made in: Spain & Mumbai

For Bhava, there are four victims of the current fashion system: animals, the planet, workers, and consumers. “We believe that compassion goes beyond using alternatives to leather. Compassionate design also has to respect the environment, working conditions, and protect you, our loyal fans, and your feet. (…) Shows like Sex and the City popularized running around town in stilettos. (…) We love running around New York like that too, but we’re not as keen on the long-term disfigurement, pain, twisted ankles, and other issues that come with poor-quality shoes. That’s why every shoe we produce at Bhava is first tested on the streets of New York to see how comfortable and durable it is.”

Ahimsa

For: Women and men
Price: $89 – $199
Based on: Brazil
Made in: Brazil

Ahimsa believes in manufacturing shoes sustainably, respecting all forms of life. Its factory is the only 100% vegan factory in the world. Its mission is to challenge our habits, manufacture sustainably, respect all forms of life, and encourage a more conscious attitude.

Rothy's

For: Women and Children
Price: $65 – $245
Materials: Plastic bottles
Based on: USA
Made in: China

Rothy's seeks to "transform eco-friendly materials into stylish products you can wear anytime." This eco-friendly brand uses recycled plastic bottles to make its shoes. This practice has helped prevent 39 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfills. They also use vegan, recycled, and carbon-free rubber, TPU, and recycled foam for the soles, and vegan adhesives. "In keeping with our goal of being zero waste, we've combined the best of 3D knitting technology with hand-assembled technology to create our own unique style."

Good Guys Don't Wear Leather

For: Women and men
Price: $65 – $190
Based on: France
Made in: Portugal, Spain, Italy

In 2011, shoe designer, artist, animal lover, and vegan Marion Hanania created GOOD GUYS DON'T WEAR LEATHER, the first 100% vegan French brand. GOOD GUYS shoes are completely cruelty-free and sweatshop-free—the shoes are made in Portugal, respecting fair trade. “All the materials we use are eco-friendly and handmade in Europe by certified manufacturers. We use most of all microfibers, also called 'vegan leather' or 'eco-suède.' They're made in Portugal, Spain, and Italy. We sometimes use canvas, natural rubber, or wood for the soles.”

Coclico

For: Women
Price: $210 – $535
Based on: New York
Made in: Spain

Coclico offers eco-friendly and sustainable shoes designed in New York and handmade in Spain. These shoes are high-quality, durable, and cruelty-free. The brand also offsets its carbon footprint. The result is a combination of modern minimalism and traditional quality.

Avre

For: Women
Price: $95 – 145
Materials: Recycled Plastic
Made in: China

“AVRE was born from the need to transform the footwear industry with the dream of creating a sustainable shoe brand for empowered women.” It uses recycled plastic bottles to create comfortable and fashionable shoes. Created by Julie and Connie, AVRE was born with the goal of improving the world and thus benefiting new generations. “39 years of family history in the footwear industry has allowed them to witness the negative impact that fashion has on the environment. Wanting to think beyond, they developed this innovative way of designing and manufacturing shoes.” They also donate 10% of their profits to charities. Girls in Tech and Oceana .

Sylven New York

For: Women
Price: $275 – $500
Materials: Apple vegetable tanned leather, vegan nappa (made from 100% recycled fibers) and recycled rubber
Based on: USA
Made in: USA

“Casey Dworkin was born on Earth Day and as a result has been dedicated to sustainable practices since she was a little girl. (…) When she decided to start her own company, she felt the need to create a brand that placed equal importance on design, mission, and craftsmanship—it was time to combine her affinity for fashion with an affinity for sustainability. Recently, Casey has been working to redesign footwear from the inside out, focusing on materials and components like apple leather (a vegan material made from organic apple waste), linings made from wheat and corn derivatives, naturally treated leathers made from tree bark, and vegan leathers derived from 100% recycled fibers.”

Mireia Playà

For: Women
Price: 40€ – 158€
Materials: Suede or artificial suede, latex, corn nappa
Based on: Spain
Made in: Spain

“Life is our reason for being” is the motto of this Spanish vegan shoe brand. “And not just animal life, but also the life of the people who make our products and the planet we live on.” Mireia Playà is a brand dedicated to creating vegan shoes that, in addition to not using any animal-derived materials, carefully manufactures and transports its products to reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment. These unique pieces combine the latest social and fashion trends with a feminine, groundbreaking, and modern style, perfect for all occasions.