© Will’s Vegan Shop
Looking for sneakers that are beautiful, comfortable, and sustainable? We round up our top 10 — sustainably made, kind to the planet, and stylish enough to work with any outfit.
By Olivia Würfel
MATT & NAT — MARCI Women’s Vegan Sneakers
The Canadian label MATT & NAT, now more than 25 years in business, has committed to avoiding leather and every other animal-derived material. The white MARCI eco sneaker stands out with its pale pink sole and black heel detail, and is 100% vegan.
The brand experiments constantly with unusual, recyclable materials — the lining of every shoe, ours included, is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Don’t worry, though: they’re every bit as soft and comfortable as you’d want. MATT & NAT collections are now sold in 800 boutiques across Canada, the United States, the UK, Germany, Japan and Australia. Sustainability, it turns out, pays off. Find the shoes at the Matt and Nat online shop.
Price: €95
kūlson — “one” sneaker
The minimalist eco sneaker from kūlson is designed in Berlin and handmade in Porto, Portugal, which means every pair is genuinely one of a kind.
It’s not vegan, but it is made from REACH-certified Italian leather sourced as a byproduct of the food industry, which would otherwise go unused. The rubber sole is 70% recycled material, and the brand promises exceptional durability, which is what makes these white classics sustainable in the long run.
Buying kūlson sneakers also supports the fight against ocean plastic — 4% of every sale goes toward removing plastic and fishing nets from the sea. Find them at the kūlson online shop.
Price: €219
ethletic — Fair Sneaker Hiro II Just White
ethletic offers a sporty, ankle-high sneaker in the Hiro II, ideal for cooler days. It’s made from organic cotton and natural rubber, with a removable coconut-fiber insole that absorbs moisture and resists bacteria.
ethletic trades exclusively under Fairtrade or FSC standards and was the first company in the world to introduce a “global tip” option on its website — click to add a small amount that goes directly to the textile workers in Pakistan who make ethletic shoes.
And for anyone who needs a bit more color in their life, ethletic offers a wide range of colors and prints. Find the sneakers at the ethletic shop.
Price: €109
Flamingos’ Life — Classic 70s All White Grey
This vegan eco sneaker channels a 1970s aesthetic and is, like the others here, lovingly handmade — in Spain, in this case. Flamingos’ Life sneakers are marked by the letter F, worked into both the inner and outer sides of the shoe.
Together with the NGO Eden Reforestation, the brand ensures that every pair sold plants not one, not two, but five trees in Madagascar or Mozambique.
You can even track the brand’s impact live on its website — a running tally of trees planted and plastic collected so far. Find the sneakers at the Flamingos’ Life online shop.
Price: €130
EKN — ARGAN MID
ekn footwear produces its eco sneakers in a small workshop in Portugal, keeping transport and delivery distances short. Alongside eco-conscious production, the brand holds itself to high labor standards for its workers, and each style is made in limited runs, which keeps quality consistently high.
The vegan ARGAN MID is a snow-white, ankle-high sneaker made from recycled vegan leather that’s fully breathable. It has a removable insole and an organic cotton lining — warm feet, guaranteed. Find the shoes at the ekn footwear shop.
Price: €180
Will’s Vegan Shop — LDN Biodegradable Trainers
Ever worn wooden shoes? If not, Will’s Vegan Shop offers the perfect introduction — though don’t worry, these have little in common with the stiff wooden clogs of old.
The LDN is made from wood fiber, making it biodegradable, vegan and carbon-free. The fiber comes from sustainably managed, FSC-certified forests with fully traceable sourcing. The shoes are produced in Portugal, shipped to the Netherlands, then sent on to you with a carbon-neutral delivery. Order them at the Will’s Vegan online shop.
Price: €117
VEJA — V10 CWL White Steel Butter Sole
Corn, castor oil, rice, sugarcane — if those sound more like a recipe than shoe materials, you’re not alone in thinking so.
The V10 CWL features the V motif VEJA is known for, worked into both sides of the shoe — here rendered in a sweet baby blue. This eco sneaker is made from C.W.L., a vegan leather alternative crafted from rice and corn waste sourced from the food industry.
Conventional, disposable sneakers typically spend around 70% of shoe revenue on advertising. VEJA skips advertising altogether, funneling that money instead into better, more sustainable production and fair wages — a trade-off we can get behind. Find the sneakers at the VEJA store.
Price: €130
nae vegan shoes — Basic Micro White
These unisex low-tops are exactly what you want if you’re after a classic, minimalist sneaker. They’re Oeko-Tex certified, with a lining that’s breathable, eco-friendly and anti-allergenic.
They’re made carbon-free in Portugal, and their water-repellent microfiber means you can wear them comfortably even on rainy days.
The brand name nae stands for No Animal Exploitation — the company’s guiding principle. For nae, animal welfare comes first, closely followed by making genuinely great shoes. Find the sneakers at nae’s online shop.
Price: €99
MONACO DUCKS — Sneaker MOD.3 Vegan
This snow-white shoe gets a sharp look from a red accent at the heel. It’s made — hold onto your glass — from wine-making byproducts. All the more reason for a toast.
With their fully vegan shoe, MONACO DUCKS makes a statement against fast fashion. The lining is moisture-regulating, both breathable and absorbent, so your feet stay comfortably dry.
Beyond the products themselves, the entire company operates carbon-neutral. Find the shoes at the MONACO DUCKS online shop.
Price: €165
And if you’d rather shop secondhand, you’ll find the best options in our guide to online secondhand shops.
