Find out which retailers offer vegan-friendly shoes and boots, and how to spot them
Finding synthetic alternatives to leather shoes is a breeze, as most large retailers stock their shelves with leather-free alternatives. Some mainstream brands have even created multiple styles, especially for vegans, proving that ditching your worn leather boots for shiny new vegan alternatives isn’t so hard after all.
However, it’s not only the leather symbol you have to look out for when buying shoes, as some large retailers still use animal-derived glue in their products. Animal-derived glue is often made by boiling an animal’s connective tissue or bones, so even if you purchase leather-free shoes they still may not be vegan-friendly.
Synthetic alternatives are easily available and used by certain retailers, so always check with the company to see what they use before purchasing. Keep a lookout for the Vegan Trademark, the international mark that guarantees no animal products, or animal testing on behalf of the manufacturer. You can search for Trademarked shoes and boots using our Trademark product search.
Also remember that if you are in the market for some new shoes, check out some local charity shops. Not only will you be getting a bargain, but you can also help reduce animal cruelty within the shoe industry and the large amounts of textile waste within the UK at the same time.
- Read our guidance on ethical vegan shoe companies.
For fully vegan shoes, browse Blowfish Malibu, Grendene Brands, Grenson, Eco Vegan Shoes, Ration.L, Ridorse Future, BeFlamboyant and Freerangers among others. You can also find certified vegan ranges at Kurt Geiger, New Look, Gola Classics, Superdry and Asda. Our Trademark search is a great place to find more vegan shoe brands.
