Vegan shoes

**redshoes** · Jul 25th, 2011 05:06 PM

I've recently turned to a vegetarian diet with a view to becoming vegan. I have a question about shoes. How strict are you about where your vegan shoes come from? It seems very easy to buy all sorts of non-leather shoes these days. Amongst my leather shoes I have a few pairs of non-leather ones myself, from trainers (actually 100% vegan those ones, from Simple Shoes) to heeled shoes - just because I liked them really. They're from before I became vegetarian. Trying to inform myself, I've read that shoes might have glue that may include animal ingredients but somewhere on this forum I found information that said this is unlikely these days. But there is the possibility that non-leather shoes from high street shops still might not be 100% vegan?

Must a true vegan only buy from certified, 100% vegan shoe suppliers?

Also, I've seen websites that sell 'vintage' vegan shoes (I'm a vintage kinda gal) but I'm not sure how they are passing them off as vegan when presumably they don't know about the glue situation? Or should we not worry about that if they're from the 1940's and it's 'recycling'?! I don't know! Is it possible to get one's panties in too much of a bunch over this stuff? Please help me out here, guys! Thanks.

(ps:Yeah, I love shoes & I did buy some 'other materials' shoes from River Island today. I'm getting there, slowly.)

**harpy** · Jul 25th, 2011 11:41 PM

Hi redshoes - welcome.

I don't think there is a definition of what a true vegan must do - it's about the art of the possible, and different people have different ideas about what's possible. Some people will only by from vegan suppliers while others take a chance on the high street ones. I have a mixture myself although I tend to get most from the specialist places simply because it saves messing about. Re vintage, I guess as you say you would have to take some things on trust. Again, it's a matter of choice whether you do.

Yes, personally I think it is possible to get too worked up about the details and waste energy that could be put to better use and/or make veganism seem too difficult so you get discouraged. But some people find details important.

**redshoes** · Jul 26th, 2011 08:58 AM

Thanks for your reply, Harpy. Your views tally well with how I feel about it. I was interested to see different people's take on the subject. I'm not interested in making life impossible, just doing the best I can. I think I'll carry on buying non-leather shoes and from vegan suppliers where possible and practical. I feel heartened and excited to continue my journey towards veganism. Thanks again!

**harpy** · Jul 26th, 2011 05:09 PM

Good luck redshoes, and let us know if you find any particularly good shoes!

One way I decide these things is to think about what you're trying to achieve and what will make it happen. I think buying non-leather shoes from high st shops probably sends the message "there is a demand for non-leather shoes" so on balance that's probably a positive result.

If you have time/inclination, writing to customer service depts to ask questions like "do your shoes use animal-based glue?" is quite a good idea as well because it lets the shops know that people are concerned about these things.