Finding vegan sneakers can be hard.
So many brands get close, but still miss the mark by using an animal-based glue or unsustainable materials.
The right pair of sneakers should always be comfortable and stylish, but now with sustainability in the focus, why not look for a completely vegan sneaker brand that helps animals, and the environment?
Vegan Sneakers We’ll Look At
- 1. Thousand Fell
- 2. On Running
- 3. Vessi
- 4. Etiko
- 5. BeFlamboyant
- 6. Matt & Nat
- 7. Clae Bradley Vegan
- 8. SUAVS
- 9. Flamingos Life
- 10. Will’s Vegan Store
- 11. Yatay
- 12. Saye
- 13. Bohempia
With the emergence of some great vegan sneaker and trainer brands whose ethos is rooted in sustainability, it’s never been easier to find high-quality shoes that look good, and do good too.
If you don’t have time to read the full article, check out our top picks in the handy table below.
Recommendation Key Features Price
Best for minimalist style Thousand Fell •Recycled materials including recycle PET
•Recycling scheme available from $100
thousandfell.com
Best for activewear On Running •Large selection of vegan workout shoes and running shoes
from $129.99
onrunning.com
Best for simple everyday sneakers Beflamboyant • Vegan leather sneakers made from corn and recycled materials from €99,95 beflamboyant.com
Best vegan alternative to Converse Etiko •High-tops and Lo-tops available from $100.00 AUD
etiko.com
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of our favorite vegan sneaker brands that will keep your feet happy all day long.
Let’s jump in.
Our Recommended 11 Best Vegan Trainers
1. Thousand Fell
Sustainability: Turning coconut husk, sugar cane & recycled bottles into stylish vegan sneakers.
Price range: $$
Drawbacks: Although the TF’s have a stain proof coating, reviews say that shoes can get scuffed easily.
Thousand Fell is an innovative vegan brand dedicated to pushing the footwear industry into a more sustainable future.
These sneakers are crafted in a family-owned factory in Brazil. The uppers are made from recycled materials, and the insole is made of recycled rubber taken from old yoga mats. The structural details of the shoe are made from a combination of coconut, sugarcane, and palm, and the laces are made from recycled PET.
Despite looking like leather, we promise that Thousand Fell’s sneakers are 100% vegan and cruelty free. They’ve also been coated in an Aloe Vera liner so you won’t need to spend weeks breaking them in, and can wear them sockless. They stock a variety of lace-up sneakers (pictured), as well as slip-ons.
Shop Thousand Fell
2. On Running
Sustainability: All vegan materials, shoe recycling programme
Price: $$ – $$$
Drawbacks: Expensive for casual shoes as On Running shoes are more technical than others on the list
On Running makes fully vegan high-performance sneakers that are perfect if you have an active lifestyle and need the shoe to match.
On’s sneakers come in a range of styles and to suit activities from running to hiking. Most of their shoes have a sporty look – such as the Cloudflow sneaker (pictured) but, they’re also expanding and creating more minimalist style, tennis-inspired shoes.
All of On’s shoes are made with all vegan materials, and while it’s not always specified, we reached out to them and their team confirmed this.
Materials include recycled plastic bottles, and polyesters, and a range of non-animal based leathers.
The brand has started to release impact reports to improve transparency and give you all the details on their progress you need to know.
All in all, we like what On Running are doing and they’re an excellent choice for sustainable and vegan sneakers that will keep your feet comfy all day.
Shop On Running
3. Vessi
Key Features: Waterproof and breathable 100% Vegan sneakers, 100% recyclable packaging with zero use of plastic.
Price range: $$
Drawbacks: Feet may get hot and sweaty in warmer climates due to waterproof nature of the shoes.
Canadian shoe brand Vessi creates stylish vegan sneakers that are waterproof, breathable, and designed for all-day comfort.
Vessi sneakers get great reviews, with over 3000 five-star reviews on the Vessi website.
Vessi uses 100% animal-free materials. The waterproof uppers in Vessi sneakers are created from Dyma-tex, a patented polyurethane PU material, which is 100% waterproof and will keep your feet dry and prevent overheating.
Shop Vessi
4. Etiko
Sustainability: All vegan sneakers, Certified B corp, great alternative to vans or converse.
Price: $$
Drawbacks: Ships from Australia, so shipping time and distance may be a negative factor.
Etiko creates completely vegan sneakers, in a Fair Trade Certified process with no animal glues or toxic chemicals.
Etiko was the first fashion brand in the Southern Hemisphere to become Fair Trade Certified. They pay their employees around the world proper living wages and are transparent about their process.
If you’re looking for a vegan sneaker ideal for everyday wear, it’s hard to go wrong with Etiko.
Shop Etiko
5. BeFlamboyant
Sustainability: BCOME seal of transparency, PETA-approved vegan, wide range of sustainable materials
Pricing: $$$
Drawbacks: Reviews say can be rigid to put on at first, but Beflamboyant have released a newer model with a softer vegan leather.
Beflamboyant is a 100% vegan shoe brand, with the PETA-approved vegan seal, as well as being licensed by The Vegan Society.
Each shoe is handcrafted in Portugal using materials like corn waste, recycled cotton, recucled foam for the insoles, recycled PET, and much more (the list of impressively sustainable materials goes on). The shoes are shipped in zero-waste packaging, and Beflamboyant also plants a tree for every pair sold.
Shop Beflamboyant
6. Matt & Nat
Sustainability: Cruelty-free, recycled and plant-based materials
Pricing: $$$
Drawbacks: Some styles contain high percentage of virgin plastic.
MAT(terial) and NAT(ure) is a brand that’s all about connecting these two elements to create ethical and vegan products. Steadfast in trying to protect the planet, Matt + Nat’s design philosophy is about creating beautiful products that are sustainable and eco-friendly.
This results in vegan sneakers (among other products) that are made from recycled and plant-based materials. Matt + Nat vegan sneakers are timeless, elegant, and use the brand’s signature vegan materials to create stylish shoes that are functional yet eco-friendly.
Shop Matt & Nat
7. Clae Bradley Vegan
Sustainability: Innovative vegan materials
Price range: $$ – $$$
Drawbacks: Not all Clae shoes are vegan, make sure to only check out its vegan shoes
Clae are a well-known brand, and their Bradley Vegan shoe is a stylish vegan sneaker option.
It’s simple, minimalist, and we’re a big fan of the look. As well as that, it’s always good to see popular brands like Clae moving into more sustainable and ethical materials.
It comes in several colorways, including white (pictured), brown, navy, and black.
Shop Clae Bradley
8. SUAVS
Sustainability: Vegan sneakers created from recycled plastic bottles
Price: $-$$
Drawbacks: The Zilker model is not waterproof
Texas-based recycled shoe brand Suavs creates lightweight, travel-friendly shoes from recycled materials. All SUAVS shoes are made with animal-free materials and are entirely vegan.
SUAVS sneakers are breathable and moisture-wicking, thanks to a 3D knitted upper, and feature a flexible rubber sole available in either white or gum.
Shop SUAVS
9. Flamingos Life
Sustainability: Retro style vegan sneakers from eco-friendly materials, including bamboo and corn waste
Price: $$-$$
Drawbacks: Reviews say the shoes can cause blisters when breaking in.
If you’re looking for a classic retro-inspired vegan sneaker, check out Flamingos Life – a sustainable shoe brand that’s creating its sneakers from completely animal-free materials.
The brand takes its inspiration from the 70s, 80s, and 90s to create stylish vegan sneakers as an eco-friendly alternative to leather sneakers. By using non-animal materials, Flamingos Life can use 66% less CO2 and 78% less water.
Also available to shop on Unitedbyblue.com.
Shop Flamingos Life
10. Will’s Vegan Store
Sustainability: Vegan, Cruelty-Free
Pricing: $$
Drawbacks: Styles sell out easily due to small batches
Will’s Vegan Store has been an important fixture in the sustainable fashion movement since 2012. As their name hints, each pair of sneakers is made from completely vegan materials – from uppers and linings to the glue that holds it all together.
Their vegan leather is created from bio-oil sourced from organic cereal crops native to Northern Europe. Linings are made in Spain from recycled rubber. And, their shoes have also earned a stamp from approval from The Vegan Society. Each product is registered with the society and embossed with their trademark to make it official.
All products under the Will’s Vegan Shoes brand are made in Italy and Portugal and follow strict fair trade and employment laws to ensure manufacturing is completed as ethically as possible.
Shop Will’s Vegan Store
11. Yatay
Sustainability: Vegan, sustainable and recycled materials, eco-friendly business practices
Price: $$$ – $$$$
Drawbacks: More expensive than other brands on the list.
Yatay’s made-in-Italy sneakers are Peta-approved, and for every pair sold a tree gets planted thanks to their partnership with One Tree Planted.
They’re a relatively new brand, having only been around since 2018.
They don’t use animal leather and instead rely on a mix of bio-polyols and recycled polyester, with the look being completed by 100% hemp laces. The rest of the shoes incorporate materials such as recycled plastic bottles, recycled rubber, recycled foam, and bio-resins.
All in all, Yatay’s sneakers are highly sustainable and look great. We definitely recommend checking them out.
Shop Yatay
12. Saye
Sustainability: Vegan sneakers are ethically made from sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled materials.
Price: $$-$$$
Drawbacks: Mixed reviews, with some customers saying shoes are lower quality than others on the market.
Saye is a Spanish-based vegan shoe brand that ethically creates sneakers in Portugal using bio-based vegan leather and recycled materials, including recycled rubber and plastic.
The brand has six retro-inspired models, each created from animal-free materials.
Saye’s sneakers are stylish, and many customers say their shoes are comfortable. However, these positive reviews are conflicted with a few reviews online reporting poor quality and poor customer service, with an avergae rating of 3.8/5 stars on Trustpilot.
Also available to shop at Thought.com, knowtheorigin.com, and Atterley.com.
Shop Saye
13. Bohempia
Sustainability: PETA-Approved Vegan certified shoes made ethically in the EU
Best for: Vegan alternative to converse
Ships to: the EU & International
If you’re looking for vegan skate shoes, check out Bohempia, a fun European brand creating its shoes from hemp.
The brand is PETA-Approved Vegan certified and uses sustainable materials and ethical production.
Bohempia creates two styles of vegan shoes, a barefoot range that features a minimal sole and a classic range which are flexible and lightweight.
Hemp is a fantastic shoe material thanks to its antimicrobial, thermoregulating, and moisture-wicking properties, meaning you won’t suffer from sweaty feet as you might in PU plastic sneakers.
Shop Bohempia
Wrapping up: Best Vegan Sneakers
Vegan trainers are great because they tend to be great for your feet…and great for the planet too.
Each of these brands has created their own innovative mark when it comes to vegan sneaker designs and their brand philosophies are all about creating positive social impact.
By using recycled materials, post-production waste, and exploring different sustainable materials, each of these vegan sneaker brands have created unique and eco-friendly products.
It’s never been easier to find a pair of sneakers that are comfortable, stylish, and don’t harm the planet!
If you’re looking for winter wear, check out our favorite vegan combat boots, knee high boots, cowboy boots, and vegan sweaters.
If you’re looking for other sneaker reccomendations, have you thought about hemp shoes? Take a look at our guide to find out more.
