I’m routinely asked where I source my shoes from. In all honesty, sustainable shoes are hard to find. And this is coming from someone who lives, breathes, and dreams about sustainable fashion.
Shoes are complex to make, and require lots of different components and different materials. It is far easier to create a sustainable t-shirt or pair of jeans than a shoe. Consider: the soles, insoles, outers, uppers, glue, laces, buckles…
However, there are some incredible designers, makers, and brands, making the shoe industry a little less damaging. Here’s a quick guide to the best brands making sustainable shoes in the UK, including my own collection.
What To Look For In Sustainable Shoes
If this is the first Curiously Conscious guide you’re reading, start here. As with all of my sustainable shopping guides, I like to better define what ‘sustainable’ truly means. While there are efforts to crack down on greenwashing, the term ‘sustainable’ can be a little misleading.
To me, sustainable shoes should encompass the following:
- Social sustainability: providing clear, accessible knowledge of who makes the shoes, and how these people are being treated fairly, with safe working conditions and fair pay.
- Environmental sustainability: shoe brands should transparently listed out the natural and regenerated materials they use, as well as practices to lower their impact (e.g. reducing energy and water use, avoiding harmful chemicals).
- Slow production: I expect all sustainable fashion brands – including shoe brands – to drop four or less collections per year, or at the very least, make an attempt to reduce the amount of items they produce.
- Circular practices: circularity encompasses a lot, from designing products that are long-lasting, resellable, and recyclable, through to inviting customers to repair or return products.
In my guide to sustainable sneakers, I quoted Tansy Hoskins’ book Foot Work*: “Every single day in 2018, 66.3 million pairs of shoes were manufactured across the world. That adds up to a total of 24.4 billion pairs.” This is far, far too many.
It’s also important to note that while we have a responsibility to buy better, we also need to call for degrowth in the footwear industry. You can help by buying less, taking care of the shoes you already own, donating your shoes when you’re done with them, and supporting fair fashion campaigns.
My Sustainable Shoe Collection
Grenson Nanette Boots
Let’s start with one of my most worn pairs of shoes. These are my Grenson Nanette boots*, and they are the hardest working pair of shoes in my wardrobe. I grew up in Northamptonshire, so I have a fondness for shoemakers from the area, which includes Grenson. These were an upgrade on my Dr. Martens 1460 Boots, and I’ve worn them at least twice-weekly for the past five years. They require barely any maintenance – just a quick clean and polish every now and again – and I know I can easily replace the soles or laces when the time comes.
Purified Plastic-Free Sneakers
I have two pairs of sneakers: my everyday low-tops, and a pair of running shoes. My running shoes are admittedly not sustainably-made, but came from a specialist shop which could help me with a long-term injury.
My everyday sneakers are potentially the most sustainable shoe in my collection. These are the Walden Sneakers by Purified. I was invited to try them earlier this year, and I was so happy with them that I wrote an in-depth review! Out of all the sustainable sneakers I’ve worn, these are up there market leading shoes, which is saying something. I also think they are great value for money. Read my full review →
Jonak Mary-Jane Heels
My favourite pair of heels have to be my Mary Janes from Jonak. These shoes actually inspired the creation of my Mary Jane Socks, which I worked on collaboratively with Peper Harow. Finding a great pair of shoes is one thing, finding socks to match was another! Now, I have both.
Now, I will say that Jonak is similar to Grenson, in that they create high quality shoes based on traditional shoemaking principles. They produce long-wearing, classic designs, and for that, they deserve a place in this guide (and in my wardrobe). However, they are not the place to go if you are looking for sustainable innovations – for example, plastic-free or vegan materials.
Alohas Red Heeled Pumps
Alohas is a shoe brand that is throwing around the word sustainable, but in my eyes, aren’t actually being sustainable. I wanted to include them here as an example of what not to look for.
In my full review, I gave Alohas a meagre 5/10. This pair of bright red pumps look pretty, but they were badly made, and made me question not just the ethics of Alohas, but also their quality assurance. Read my full review →
Second-Hand Knee-High Boots
I am not opposed to buying my shoes second-hand, but it really depends on the pair. I learned my lesson the hard way with a pair of Vetements Sling-Backs that I loved wearing, but required lots of care and attention due to the sling being stretched, and the heels constantly breaking.
A good example of a sound second-hand shoe is my pair of Wandler Knee-High Boots. I scored these on Thrift+ for just under £30. Considering these boots retail for £400+, for the price, they are unbeatable. These shoes are incredibly comfortable – I walked 10,000+ steps every day in them when I visited Milan! – and they look great too.
If you’re open to second-hand shoes, check out my guide to second-hand shopping for the best sites to bookmark.
17 of the Best Brands for Sustainable Shoes in UK
So, here’s my list of sustainable shoe brands available in the UK. Please do note that the brands I’ve listed all serve the UK, but may source their shoes, materials or production elsewhere. Please check with the brand if you want to know more about their supply chain!
AllBirds*: Eco sneakers made with natural materials and low carbon footprint.
Ancuta Sarca: Bespoke, high-end, high-design upcycled boots and heels.
Be Flamboyant: Vegan leather sneakers made in Portugal.
Black Tulip*: Sneakers and boots made with LWG leather and sustainable principles.
Bulibasha: First-ever footwear brand using woven natural coconut fibre.
Cariuma: Skate shoes, low-tops, and high-tops, with better production practices and materials.
Castaner*: Classic espadrilles and heeled espadrilles made with cotton in the EU.
Dr Martens*: Specifically their vegan leather range, which I owned and loved. Read my review →
Good News: Chunky sneakers that care about people and planet.
Grenson*: British shoemaker making high quality boots and shoes since 1866.
Jonak: French shoemaker crafting high quality pumps and flats, like my Mary Janes.
Nicki Hoyne: Heels, trainers, and flats, made with responsible materials in Spain.
Prota Fiori: Luxury heels made with cutting-edge vegan leathers.
Purified: Groundbreaking plastic-free sneakers, made ethically, in unisex sizes.
Veja*: Market-leading sustainable sneaker brand, made ethically in Spain.
Waves: Natural rubber flip-flops made in Sri Lanka, with plastic-free packaging.
Will’s Vegan Shoes: Beautiful brogues, Chelsea boots, trainers and more – all PETA-approved.
I hope this guide helps! Let me know if you pick up a pair of sustainable (or second-hand) shoes!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links (denoted with '*').
