Vegetarian/Vegans what kind of shoes do you where?

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

I've been wondering about this for a little while. It seems like most sneakers, dress shoes, loafers etc all are made at least partly out of leather. So do y'all take that into considertaion, or do you as an individual just havbe a preference to different kinds of shoes so it doesn't affect you? ( An odd question, I know)

[seemunkee]

1. My daughter found some nice pumps on Friday that were vinyl

Zappos has lots of them too.

[LeftyMom]

2. I get sneakers from No Sweat or New Balance

Not all of new Balance's shoes are vegan but they make a lot of non-leather shoes, many in the US. The No Sweats are similar to Chuck Taylors, but made by union labor (Nike bought Converse and makes Chucks in China now.)

[yewberry]

3. That can be a huge pain in the butt.

I don't wear leather, so shoe-shopping is never fun. Fortunately, most shoes list their materials right inside them.

There are actually a surprising number of vegan shoes available. There are lots of places online to buy them like www.mooshoes.com (and then you get to wait to see if your mail-order shoes fit! Fortunately, my feet seem to be a pretty average fit.) You do have to spend more for high-quality shoes, but I guess that's not really any different from buying leather shoes.

I've got Chucks and Skechers (canvas) and Garamond Vegans (hiking boots). Easy Spirit makes a faux-leather line of black heels, and there are often fabric shoes (like linen or corduroy) here and there. I even found a pair of loafers that were leather-free.

It's not too bad. There are more shoes available than there are backpacks and briefcases.



edit: sp

[otherlander]

4. Chuck Taylors, usually.

I have pink ones, green ones, and blue ones. When it's warm enough I'll wear Tevas. If I have to wear shoes shoes for something- which isn't very often- I have these silver dress sandals and one pair of fake leather shoes.
I :loveya: hightops.

Edited becus i carnt spel

[Rob H.]

5. Most of my shoes are leather

...but I've had all of them since before I was vegetarian and I'll replace them when they wear out with something more animal-friendly. (I also got laid off about a month ago :( so I can't afford to do anything about it right now.)

[LeftyMom]

6. It took me a while to get rid of my pregan shoes

Some people purge all of that stuff and give it away, but I didn't think that was realistic in my case, because I wear a funny size and I didn't think there were a lot of people clamoring for grungy sneakers in a 9 1/2 wide. Finally wearing them out and getting new things was nice, I always felt like a bit of a hypocrite grabbing veggie burgers out of the freezer case with cow on my feet even if nobody else ever noticed.

I've found that I find a lot of vegan casual shoes at discount places like Ross and Marshalls but especially Nordstrom Rack. Ladies dress shoes too, but men's non-leather shoes I think one pretty much has to order.

Still, while it's nice to be able to get rid of those things right away and be able to divorce once's self from animal exploitation, for me wearing those shoes out (and wouldn't you know the damned things lasted forever?) gave me a certain clarity of purpose I'd not have had otherwise, a realization not that I wanted no part of cruelty anymore, but that I really wanted no part of cruelty anymore and hated it with every fiber of my being. Having to confront it everytime I put on those shoes in the morning was for me the difference between being a health food vegan who sorta cared about the AR aspect to being somebody who cares much more about the AR aspect and would be vegan even at great detriment to my health.

[Coventina]

11. I still have a pair of Dr. Marten's. Those things last FOREVER!

So I know exactly what you are talking about.

:hi:

[querelle]

13. Holy Shit!

I've had a pair of Doc Marten boots for the last fifteen years. You are right. They never wear out. I love them and wear them constantly. People think I'm a "80's has been" when I wear them, but i don't give a fuck. They are the most comfortable boots I have ever worn and have lasted such a long time.

Q

[flvegan]

7. New Balance or Vans for sneaks, I have vegan Timbos

I refuse to own dress shoes, regardless. But alternatives are out there for them.

I have one pair of shoes that I've had for around 13 years or something, still good as new that have leather on them. I hardly ever wear them though (combat boots).

[NMMNG]

8. Right now I wear sneakers most of the time

The pairs I'm wearing are some junky, cheap vinyl ones I bought at Kmart a couple of months back. Eventually when I get the money I'd like to get some sturdier vegan sneakers but I can't afford the $50-$100+ a pair price tag right now.

I still have casual dress and dress footwear from my pre-vegetarian days that is leather. I'll keep it until it wears out, but I won't buy any more. All future footwear purchases will be vegan.

[RebelOne]

9. I am a vegetarian, but I do wear leather.

I have a lot of foot problems and I can't wear vinyl shoes.

[Fountain79]

10. ahem.... wear.....not where....n/t

[Sapere aude]

12. Being vegetarian is not about animal hides to me anyway.

[graywarrior]

14. Leather.