In recent years, it’s been clear how the vegan movement has grown and increased significantly. As the numbers grow, non-vegan companies around the world started to offer vegan-friendly options to the public.
Like many companies worldwide, people have seen a rapid increase in vegan shoes Australia. From gumboots to ballet flats, sandals, sneakers, thongs, and slides, it is easy to find the best pair of vegan shoes to complement your outfit.
What are vegan shoes?
Vegan shoes are those pairs made from materials not coming from animals. These contain 100% natural materials and are made in strict humane environments. The problem, however, is the fact that when creating a pair, there are other different materials involved in the making of vegan shoes that may not be so vegan-friendly, as the glue.
Just so you have an idea, the vegan-friendly materials used to make vegan footwear include jute, bamboo, hemp, cotton, and other materials coming from natural fibres.
On the other hand, the materials to avoid include suede, leather, snakeskin, wool, alligator skin, fur, sheepskin, and alpaca.
Now that you have a grasp of what vegan shoes are, it’s time to learn how to accurately identify these types of shoes so that you don’t get confused when shopping for your new pair.
Here are some helpful tips to consider.
Check the Material
The first and easiest way to check a vegan pair of shoes is to check the material. If the pair is made from snakeskin, suede, or leather, for example, you know right then and there that these pairs aren’t vegan-friendly.
However, natural materials aren’t always vegan-friendly
Everyone knows that shoes with fur, skin, or leather materials are non-vegan. The real mistake some people make when buying vegan-friendly shoes is when they look for pairs with natural materials, thinking that these are vegan-friendly.
For example, kicks made from hemp may look vegan-friendly, but some of these pairs are secured together with glue made from animal derivatives. So it’s always better to double-check.
Check the Label
It pays to take your time and glance the inside of the pair for the label. Labels are there to let you know the precise material of the shoe. It would help if you also looked for phrases or terms like “100% synthetic”, “vegan-friendly”, or “all manmade.” Labels that say “other materials” without an actual list of these materials is questionable, so you may want to pass and go to your next option.
Be Familiar with the Symbols
Aside from labels, symbols are also used to help you know the shoe materials. Symbols representing hides of animals is a clear indication that the pair is made from leather. On the other hand, when you come across woven pattern symbols, these are indicators that the shoe has synthetic or natural fibres. These are very easy to understand.
The challenge here is when you see the diamond symbols. These symbols are there to represent the presence of other elements used in the making of the shoe. It’s confusing, and even frustrating since you’re not so sure what these materials are. Could they be natural and vegan-friendly?
Looking for vegan shoes in Australia is challenging, so it’s best that you do your research first before buying a new pair. Check the manufacturer’s website, read reviews, and get yourself familiarized with the basics of this eco-friendly pair of kicks.
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