George K.
Society is becoming increasingly more aware of the impacts our ways of life have on other animal species. For this reason, veganism is becoming more popular among individuals. However, this entails more than simply not eating meat or other animal products, it also applies to our everyday fashion and skincare choices, as so many animals in order to provide us with these products.
When it comes to fashion, we must be aware of what we buy and what we wear. Not only because products may have been created from animal products, but also their creation did not rely on animal or human exploitation, which continues to be a serious issue around the world.
In this article, we will discuss what you should know if you are buying a pair of vegan shoes.
What are Vegan Shoes?
Essentially, vegan shoes are items that have not been created from animal materials or through the exploitation of human beings. You may not really think about this when you go clothes shopping but many items are actually created in sweatshops, buy individuals in different countries who are not getting paid nearly as enough as they should. Veganism embraces the principles of humane environments and treatment for both humans and animals. You may be surprised at the amount of very popular brands that do not stick to these principles.
What Materials to Choose?
If you want vegan shoes, there are a few materials to look for that indicate they are vegan. Below there are a few examples of materials to select when buying vegan shoes:
- Hemp
- Bamboo
- Cotton
- Any additional materials made from natural fibers
What Materials to Avoid?
Just like there are materials you should select, there are evidently some that you should avoid at all costs. Some may be straightforward such as animal skin, but others perhaps not so much. Many fashion items including shoes are made with glue that has gelatin as an ingredient. Gelatin is made from connective tissue and bone, therefore derives from animals. It is important that you look for this particular factor as everything else on your pair of shoes may be vegan-friendly, apart from the glue. The materials to avoid include:
- Leather
- Suede
- Snakeskin
- Alligator skin
- Wool
- Sheepskin
- Fur
- Alpaca
Choosing The Right Vegan Shoes
If you want to choose the right pair of shoes for yourself, you may see that it is more difficult than you think, considering the range of options available, as well as to ensure that the shoes are 100% vegan and are also stylish and comfortable for you to wear. The experts behind https://vegomm.com/vegan-dress-shoes/ recommend finding the brands that sell vegan shoes so that you can find the right fit for you.
Check The Labels
When looking to buy vegan shoes, you cannot quickly assume that they are vegan simply by looking at the shoe itself. Believe it or not, companies often advertise their products as ‘vegan-friendly- when this in fact not the case. For this reason, it is crucial that you check the labels before buying the item. This label should clearly indicate which ingredients have been used in the making of the shoes – be particularly aware of labels that indicate ‘other materials’ in the list. This is often a sign of poor disclosure from the company, meaning they may be purposefully trying to conceal certain materials used.
Familiarize Yourself With Symbols
In addition to checking the labels for the listed materials, as we discussed above, you also need to familiarize yourself with different symbols used in these labels as they will have different meanings. A symbol that represents the hide of an animal suggests that the shoe is created with leather. On the other hand, if you see a symbol of woven patterns, it shows that the shoe is made from natural or synthetic fibers.
Check The Company Website
Buying shoes in a store may not always provide you with full information on whether they are 100% vegan-friendly. Surely, you may ask professionals at the store, as they should have the answer to your questions, although you can never be too sure. One of the best ways to check if the pair of shoes you fell in love with are vegan-friendly is to actually check the company’s website. Here, you should be able to find all the information about materials as well as manufacturing procedures. This will evidence whether the shoes are not made from animal materials as well as proving that the company in question supports and abides by human working rights
If you are thinking about buying a vegan-pair of shoes, make sure to read the information discussed above to ensure what to look for, and to get the perfect pair for you.
