Vegan Living: Accidentally Vegan Shoes

One of the most challenging things when I first became a vegan was finding shoes. And not just vegan shoes, but stylish, not made from hemp vegan shoes. As much as I would love to buy a pair of the shoes Natalie Portman designed for Te Casan, $185 for a pair of ballet flats is out of the question.

Luckily, there are some more affordable options in the realm of accidentally vegan shoes. I have been shopping at Payless since before I became a vegan because I've always been frugal (not to be mistaken for cheap, of course). In the past couple of years they have really started to pay attention to trends. This fall, I got a pair of purple peep toe ankle boots with a four-inch heel. They look like suede, but all of the materials are manmade. And because they're from Payless, they only cost $25.

Target also offers inexpensive stylish shoes, as do some department store brands. Chinese Laundry and Steve Madden occasionally sneak out a pair made completely with synthetic materials. If you're looking for an exercise shoe, New Balance is a reliable brand. Just pay attention because some of the shoes are made with leather or suede or have a detail made out of animal hide.

This year I've become a big fan of Asics' Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81 line of sneakers. I got my first pair in May after wearing a pair of Pumas for so many years that my toes had pushed through the mesh and my boyfriend was embarrassed to be seen with me. The Tigers are colorful and comfortable, and the line has expanded to include more colors. So far no holes!

With all accidentally vegan shoes you're going to have to read that little materials labels inside the shoes, just to be sure that they are in fact vegan. Some lines of shoes will have one model made in synthetic materials and another in suede, and even Payless tries to get upscale from time to time with a few pairs of leather shoes. But with a little patience and some research, you can find shoes that you, your budget and cows will love. I'm always looking for an excuse to go shoe shopping, so tell me some brands of accidentally vegan shoes that you love.

Comments

[PhatP]

This is part 2
The important part of all this is bringing up the issue. Many people forget that being vegan is not just about NOT eating dead animals and NOT drinking their body fluids but its also about not wearing their skins and fur either. The leather industry is a brutal part of the animal exploitation business and leather is not just a byproduct of the meat industry but rather a whole underworld of violence and killing that is rarely ever brought up.
I've been vegan almost 20 years and its never been difficult finding cruelty free shoes or cruelty free foods! No never ever.
What's difficult though about being vegan is actually knowing the truth about how simple it really is to be vegan if .....And I must stress the IF part here...if you actually care about unnecessary suffering and the world we all live in.
Living Vegan!

[PhatP]

This is part 1.
I do appreciate this post even though I must admit finding fancy shoes to wear are not a huge priority in my life. Although as a source material of self expression I may be stocking up on a lot of inexpensive shoes now. That is if I decide to attend any upcoming press conferences of lets say Ken Salazar, Obama's new Secretary of Hunting and Federal Land Grabbing. I'm thinking a pretty pair of vegan combat boots, one aimed low and then one high might be just the right message of disaproval to send to the new Cattle Czar. He wears a big Brokeback Mountain belt buckle, glasses and an oversized dork cowboy hat for anyone wanting to participate in some self expression.
Now being a guy I will say there are a lot of non leather, non animal skin shoes available out there.
But rather than waste your time on making suggestions about my favorite vegan shoe line...(although I'm a huge fan of Payless Shoes, Vans, Converse, Streetside and well...enough) Just google vegan shoes and you'll do JUST FINE...... online.