Although, I grew up wearing a pair of metallic blue Nike Cortez, switched to lilac Adidas Superstar in my late teens and I’ve always had a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars lying around the house, I’m less interested in buying from these big brands lately.
It is true most of their iconic models are very durable and may last you for years but they operate in a non-transparent manner and over produce on a global scale creating huge amounts of waste. Some of them have also been linked to child labour, wage theft and the exploitation of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region.
If you’re also interested in switching to smaller, ethically made, trainers like me this article is a good starting point. I recently invested in a pair of Good News Shoes, which you can see in these pictures. They are made using recycled rubber for the sole and a very sturdy organic cotton material for the upper. Besides their sustainability credentials, they’re also a small brand with relatively few models available compared to the brands mentioned above, which is a very good sign.
Below you’ll find 8 other sustainable footwear brands I find exciting in the sustainable space. These suggestions are based on my personal preference as well as my knowledge of sustainability. They were independently chosen. If you like this selection and wishes to continue discovering ethical brands producing well on a weekly basis, head to Substack and become a member of my Slow Fashion newsletter.
Independent and sustainable footwear brands to know
All Kind is a vegan British brand that produces in Spain. They launched in 2020 with 6 models of trainers – one high top, three low lace shoes and two slip ons, on top of the other ranges including loafers, boots and stilettos. They work with eco-friendly dyes across their collections and soles are made of recycled materials.
Lusquinos is a Portuguese brand producing in Portugal. The brand is committed to a zero plastic and chromium (metal) and no toxic dyes approach. They only work with local manufactures and use cork alongside organic cotton, leather and jute to make their shoes.
Caval is a French brand using chrome-free leather form Italy, recycled rubber soles and GOTS certified organic cotton laces to make their trainers. Their unique selling point is mismatched pairs. So far 20 000 people have jumped on the trend according to them. They produce in Portugal.
Veja is a pioneer in the sustainable footwear space. I already mentioned them above as I’ve had a pair for years. They are widely accessible now and you also find them in fast fashion stores. Their sustainability credentials are really good as well as the various projects they take part in or support financially. They produce partially in France.
Komodo is one of the oldest, most established, ethical brands in the UK. They were launched in 1988 with the idea of making the apparel industry more sustainable! They use organic cotton, and recycled materials such as upcycled tyre rubber to make the various parts of their shoes.
Sante + Wade produce their footwear in Portugal where working conditions for garment workers are generally better than in other parts of the world. Shoemaking is also a leading industry in the country and globally recognised for its excellence. Their trainers feature chrome-free leather linings and a branded insole made from recycled cork and breathable memory foam.
Yull Shoes started in 2011 as one of the only independent shoe brands manufacturing high heels in Britain. They’ve since developed the range to introduce trainers as well. They produce in small quantity using a mix of eco-friendly and vegan leather, minimally tanned. I like that each design is totally unique.
Trash Planet is a plant-based sneakers brand from England that launched in February 2020. All the shoes are made in Portugal from recycled mesh, recycled corn and recycled soles. Their products are Oeko-Tex certified (i.e. guaranteed free from toxic chemicals). I love that they also implemented a take back program meaning you can return your shoes to them at the end of their life in exchange of £20 off your next pair of Trash Planet.
