If you’re striving to be more conscious with your fashion choices, a great place to start is with footwear. The best sustainable shoe brands offer everything from everyday white sneakers and comfortable flats to casual boots and evening heels—all thoughtfully made with environmentally friendly materials.
As with green fashion brands (and any sustainable products, really), it starts with learning about the company and its practices. When it comes to footwear, sustainable materials such as responsibly sourced and treated leather, organic cotton canvas, and recycled plastic are to be expected. Keep an eye out for materials derived from plants, sugarcane, and even fruit that Skechers Womens Outlet are as impressive and innovative as they are earth-friendly and low-impact. Materials may be at the forefront of what makes a shoe sustainable, but if you buy ethically made, quality items and treat them with care (get well-loved shoes resoled to extend their life), they will serve you for many years to come. To start, take a step in the right direction with our picks for the most sustainable shoe brands to know now, from affordable picks to splurge-worthy finds.
- Best for Sneakers: Allbirds
- Best for Heels: Aera
- Best for Sandals: Teva
- Best for Flats: Rothy’s
- Best for Boots: Nisolo
Allbirds started with a merino wool sneaker inspired by the cofounder’s New Zealand roots, and has since evolved into a sustainable lifestyle brand with a loyal following. The shoes are still the main draw, though: There’s a minimally designed lace-up or slip-on for everyday, running, and travel. Aside from the ethically sourced wool and recycled plastic, renewable (and innovative!) materials such as eucalyptus tree fiber yarns and sugarcane-derived foam are used in the designs to reduce the need for petroleum-based ones.
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If you want to add that dash of je ne sais quoi to your wardrobe (and who doesn’t?), look to Veja. The trainers are at once colorful and classic, and go with everything from denim to dresses. Founded in 2005, the French footwear brand has always been environmentally minded, Skechers Shoes Outlets and now uses a wide range of innovative materials such as recycled plastic and cotton (purchased at fair trade in South America), wild Amazonian rubber, chrome-free leather, sugarcane, and even rice waste—there’s also a vegan selection. Plus, all the sneakers are ethically made in Brazil by workers who receive fair wages.
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With old-school appeal and a modern-day spin, Cariuma is all about versatile kicks made with earth-friendly materials. The signature canvas low-tops feature organic cotton for the upper, cork and bio-based memory foam insole, natural rubber bottoms, and recycled plastic finishing touches. And, for every pair purchased, the company will plant two trees in the founders’ native Brazil to combat deforestation.
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4Adidas by Stella McCartney
Fashion designer Stella McCartney is known for her luxury eco-conscious collection, but for a more accessible way to get in on her designs, try her performance styles for Adidas. The sleek and cool sneakers are focused on sustainable materials such as Parley Ocean Plastic, recycled polyester, and partially recycled EVA midsoles.
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Instantly recognizable by the woven design and blue heel trim, Rothy’s flats are knit with a thread derived from plastic bottles, which reduces production waste and makes them flexible Hoka Shoes and comfortable to wear all day (in fact, the brand says that there’s no break-in period required). Other renewable materials used in the various shoe components include algae, castor bean, and hemp. Plus, the shoes are machine-washable, which keeps them looking new for years to come.
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Searching for eco-friendly, yet stylish, heels? Aera is the first luxury footwear brand to achieve certified B-Corp status. The chic sandals and heels are constructed in Italy with vegan materials that replicate the look of leather. In addition to recycled plastics and other eco-friendly materials, there are synthetics used, so the brand acknowledges this by offsetting their environmental impact by 110 percent through reforestation and water restoration certifications.
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As a heritage brand inspired by life on the water, it makes sense that Sperry wants to sustain and protect the oceans. In an effort to do so, the SeaCycled capsule reimagines classic silhouettes like the boat shoe and sneaker mules in recycled materials and reclaimed leather.
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Flip-flops tend to be pretty disposable, but Oka-B offers spa-like versions that are constructed to last and be recyclable. Their sandals are not only comfortable thanks to the arch support and massaging footbed but made with a blend of recycled and bio-based materials. To close the loop, when you’re finished with your pair, send them back to the Georgia factory to be repurposed—the whole collection is made in the USA to cut down on transportation emissions.
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