Let’s talk shoes, shall we?
Ethically-made shoes that are cute to boot seem impossible to get your hands (or should I say feet?) on. Seriously, searching for a fashionable flat or a beautiful bootie is a shot in the dark.
This post took almost a full week to come together because I had to dig to the darkest depths of the interweb to round up some sustainable stompers that weren’t terribly sensible* (read boring). But find them, I did! Take a look at the stylish collection of eco-friendly footwear below.
Nicora
What kind of shoes: Stylish handcrafted booties, flats, sandals and combat boots
Style: Classical, versatile, clean and timeless
What makes it great: Made in the US. Domestically sourced, premium grade, and environmentally friendly
Price Range: $54 (sale items)-$279
Teysha
What kind of shoes: Stylish handcrafted guate boots, smoking slippers, and sandals
Style: Unapologetically bold and beautiful! Crazy colorful prints
What makes it great: Handmade in the Americas, fair wage for artisans
Price Range: $95-$395
Rock + Pillar
What kind of shoes: Ankle boots, d’orsay flats, slip-ons, heels, moccasins, sneakers, and sandals
Style: Hip, beautiful classic shoes with a fun twist
What makes it great: Handmade in Peru, ethically produced by artisans
Price Range: $75-$215
Poppy & Barley
What kind of shoes: Dress shoes, flats, booties, sandals, oxfords, mules, tall boots
Style: Luxurious, classy, elegant
What makes it great: High-quality materials and ethical manufacturing
Price Range: $178-$425
Sawa
What kind of shoes: Sneakers, high-tops
Style: Blend of vintage and modern, cute prints combined with minimalist sleek designs
What makes it great: Quality materials, made entirely in Africa
Price Range: $50-$150
Po-Zu
What kind of shoes: Sneakers, boots, sandals, mary-janes, flats, wedges/heels
Style: Natural, fun, customizable, modern take on vintage classics
What makes it great: Slow-fashion, ethical footwear with sustainable manufacturing processes
Price Range: $100-$193
Ix
What kind of shoes: Huaraches
Style: Cute and casual
What makes it great: Handmade in Guatemala, each purchase provides clean water to children
Price Range: $89-$99
The Root Collective
What kind of shoes: Ballet flats, d’orsay flats, smoking slippers
Style: Chic, stylish, feminine, and flirty
What makes it great: They partner with artisans in Guatemala to produce handcrafted shoes and provide living wage for workers
Price Range: $94-$119
Oliberte
What kind of shoes: Leather, sneakers, booties, flats, wedges, moccasins
Style: Natural leather, vintage, classy
What makes it great: premium leather, fair-trade certified, sustainable shoes that support workers rights in sub-Saharan Africa
Price Range: $30-$130
Indosole
What kind of shoes: Sandals, slip-ons, moccasins, lace-up shoes
Style: Vibrant colors and prints, simplistic design
What makes it great: Shoe soles are made from repurposed tires, organic cotton
Price Range: $35-$75
Veja
What kind of shoes: High-top and low-top sneakers
Style: Sporty, casual, fresh, minimalistic, variety of patterns and materials
What makes it great: Each style is produced differently, but they include very transparent details about the materials and production with each product, such as sustainable materials and design
Price Range: $85-$125
Muzungu Sisters
What kind of shoes: Curated collection of lace-up sandals, gladiator sandals, and loafers
Style: Refreshingly fun and playful, daring
What makes it great: Ethically-sourced handmade luxury, produced by 16 different artisan communities across four continents
Price Range: $188
Native Shoes
What kind of shoes: Sneakers, slip-ons
Style: Sporty, sleek, with a variety of prints and color options
What makes it great: Sustainably produced without using any animal products or hazardous dyes and chemicals, packaged using recyclable materials
Price Range: $48-$100
What is your go-to sustainable shoe shop? Share in the comment section below!
