20 Pledges for 2020: The footwear brands bringing sustainable shoes into the sartorial sphere

Make sure every step is a sustainable one

(Veja)

When you think about fast fashion, shoes are often the last thing to spring to mind.

I tend to consider everything else first: crop tops, tights, underwear, swimwear. Because shoes tend to be more durable and long-lasting anyway, it can be easy to neglect them when we think about shopping sustainably.

But shoes can have a major impact on your carbon footprint too, pardon that pun.

There are more than 20 billion pairs of shoes produced each year.

And because they’re more likely to show signs of wear and tear than, say, a jumper or a pair of jeans, we’re more likely to dispose of shoes once we’re done with them as opposed to donating them to a charity shop.

Let’s consider the materials that shoes are made from, too. Leather is renowned for being toxic to the environment due to the way the tanning process contributes to water pollution.

If you think trainers might be any better, think again. The modern-day trainer is packed with plastic; it’s everywhere from the malleable soles to the pointy heels to the knitted polyester top. And because of the ways that trainers are usually glued together in complex ways, they are almost impossible to recycle.

But there are plenty of emerging footwear brands that are rewriting the narrative, and bringing sustainability to your shoe collection, one step at a time.

Let’s start with Veja, perhaps one of the best-known sustainable shoe brands.

This brand uses fair trade and organic materials to produce its slick and simple trainers that are loved by celebrities and fashion influencers.

The signature “V” that crops up on the side of every pair has become synonymous with minimalistic sensibilities and ethical shopping, given that most people know that many of Veja’s shoes are vegan.

They’re not cheap – I bought a pair for £90 – but they are very comfortable, long-lasting, and most importantly, eco-friendly.

Elsewhere, if it’s sandals you’re looking for, head to ABLE. This Nashville-based brand prides itself on ethical and sustainable production.

Their woven sandals are beautifully designed and come in vibrant hues and prints, with leopard print and scarlet shades aplenty.

Best of all, the shoes (and the clothes) aren’t just sustainable, they also have a real ethical impact given that ABLE is committed to employing mostly women and offers complete transparency in its wages.

Plus, the brand spent three years developing its own evaluation system that monitors its manufacturing partners on safety, equality, and wages.

And finally, for your eco-friendly boot fix, look no further than Dr Martens. The established boots brand is renowned for its chunky soles and high platforms.

But did you know it’s also part of the Leather Working Group, which raises environmental standards throughout the leather industry and ensures all of its tanneries are audited by for emissions to air, solid waste streams, energy consumption, and water usage?

Now that’s bound to put a spring in your step.