Who said vegan couldn’t be sexy?
Thanks to a greater understanding of the environmental impact the use of animal products has, the number of vegans across the world is growing.
This doesn’t simply mean that more people are choosing to consume a vegan diet, but many are also adopting a completely vegan lifestyle.
This includes adopting the use of vegan materials such as vegan leather, vegan suede and avoiding clothing made from animal products such as fur.
In this article from the team at Vegan Footwear brand KOI Footwear, we will be exploring just how much vegan footwear has grown in the last few years and why so many people are opting to make this eco-conscious decision.
Why are people opting to go vegan?
One reason for the rise in veganism is that In the last few years there has been a lot more talk around the topic of going vegan.
This has led to wild and often heated debates around the use of animal products, in both the food and clothing industries.
The truth is, thanks to social media and the widespread sharing of information, people, particularly younger generations, are far more clued up on the use of animals and animal products for the production of food and clothing.
Having watched and read enough documentaries and articles exposing the meat, dairy, fur, and leather industries, young people have taken it upon themselves to take a stand.
Committing to vegan and vegetarian diets that allow them to avoid buying into industries that treat animals so horrifically.
This is not to say that older generations do not care for the treatment of animals, but it is the opening of our eyes that has led to such a shift in behaviour.
With this being said, there is now a greater demand for vegan products, including vegan clothing and vegan footwear.
What’s so different about vegan footwear and clothing?
Now, you may be wondering, what do vegan shoes and clothing look like?
Scrap that image of canvas tote bags and cork sandals from your mind. Despite both these materials being vegan, the vegan fashion industry has advanced quite impressively.
And no, this isn’t because of a greater use of plastics and synthetic fibres. Vegan clothing and footwear brands have done a great job of making use of natural, biodegradable materials that look incredible!
So, when shopping for vegan shoes or vegan clothing pieces you may not even realise that they are in fact vegan.
The modern vegan fashion industry has been able to replicate fashion favourites such as leather shoes, leather bags, fur jackets and create their very own, animal-friendly alternatives.
These look just as amazing as the original, without the need to harm the environment and innocent animals.
Vegan shoes
Going a bit further into the industry, you will find a plethora of vegan brands dedicated to the design and creation of vegan shoes.
Since animal leather and harmful plastics are so widely used within the production of footwear, such brands are on a mission to change the fashion footwear landscape.
Brands like Koi, have been able to release super sexy and fun footwear designs, while continuing to stay true to their vegan commitment, thanks to the use of vegan leather and materials such as Water Based Polyurethane, a process where water is reused and never wasted.
While an ‘animal-free’ shoe may still have some impact on the environment, due to the nature of fashion production, it is entirely less harmful than the production of real-leather. Which not only uses animal products, but is also extremely bad for the environment.
The chemicals used within the production of leather are not biodegradable and are therefore harmful for the environment in which they are used. In itself, the leather industry is incredibly destructive.
So, by purchasing vegan shoes, not only would you be avoiding the killing of innocent animals but also removing the need for such environmentally harmful manufacturing to take place.
The future of vegan footwear and clothing
As we move forward, and more people switch to a vegan lifestyle, it is almost certain that the industry will evolve.
Discovering new and greater ways to create footwear and clothing designs that look great and are sustainable too.
Brands are already finding new materials such as Piñatex which is derived from pineapple leaf fibres.
And if you are considering switching to a vegan lifestyle, now may just be the time to do it! It’s never too late.
