Vegan diets, vegan cosmetics and now vegan shoes. If you’re not that familiar with the concept, you might be wondering what vegan shoes are all about – and do shoes really need to be vegan? The answer is: Yes! Here’s more about ethical shoes.
Does this PVC match my outfit?
You might not pay much attention to your footwear, other than if it looks good with what you’re wearing, but there are a host of baddies lingering in those soles. According to National Geographic, many shoes contain harmful glues, synthetics and petroleum-based materials such as PVC. Plus, some of these, such as PVC, are not even recyclable because of their harmful nature. During the recycling process, PVC forms dioxins that are otherwise known as some of the deadliest chemicals known to man.
Enter vegan shoes
Vegan shoes are kind to the environment and they’re a declaration of your eco-friendly lifestyle. Fashion, after all, can be the greatest statement of all. Vegan shoes are made with planet-consciousness in mind as they contain eco-friendly materials. So that means that all materials which resulted in the death of an animal, such as leather, are also avoided. There is emphasis placed on using eco-friendly resources in the manufacturing process, such as hemp, canvas and cotton.
Say no to leather!
It makes sense that if you are not eating animal-based products that you would also try to make your fashion and style lie in sync with your green lifestyle choice. But vegan shoes are also better for your feet: they’re often made with materials that allow your skin to breathe and do not irritate it.
If you think of leather shoes, the case is very different. Not only is leather a form of animal cruelty, but the chemicals used to treat leather have been known to be linked to dizziness, skin and respiratory infections, nervous disorders, asthma and other serious illnesses such as cancer. The use of these chemicals can’t be avoided since they are required to prevent the animal skins from going rotten.
There’s also a danger for people working in tanneries. Many die from cancer that is possibly caused from exposure to chemicals used in the processing and dyeing of leather.
We can’t forget the harm to our planet. In order to raise the animals whose skins are later used as leather, large amounts of water and lots of pastureland which must be cleared of trees are required. This has the result of placing pressure on and destroying our environment.
Starting the trend
Vegan shoes are the healthier choice, with more eco-friendly shoe brands surfacing. Last year Christian Dior made vegan versions of their shoes especially for actress Natalie Portman’s role as the new face of Miss Cherie for Dior (lucky girl!). These shoes were used for print and commercial ads. It would have been lovely if Dior had produced the line at the level of regular consumers!
An environmental activist, Portman also started her own line of luxury vegan shoes in 2007 but production sadly didn’t last long. However, other big names in Hollywood have been linked to vegan shoes, such as Stella McCartney. She caused huge hype in the late 1990s when she launched her animal-free clothing and shoes range. She even partnered with athletic giant Adidas to create a vegan-friendly line.
Such fashion movements have definitely helped to increase awareness for vegan shoes. They also show that vegan does not have to be equated with a lack of fashion.
Home grown gorgeousness
Here on home ground, g-mo / grandt mason originals is South Africa’s first vegan brand, having started back in 2002.
‘That was around the time when I stopped wearing leather and couldn’t find any decent boots,’ says g-mo owner, Grandt.
So a need led to the creation of an exciting eco-friendly shoe brand! The g-mo label is built around the concept that every pair of shoes is unique, eco-friendly and individually conceptualised.
‘We’re proud to say that we have never used animal products in any of our footwear,’ Grandt says. ‘We use recycled fabrics like army tents and truck covers and beginning of roll, end of roll and swatch books from Cape Town’s top upholstery distributors.’
Customers can even customise their shoes by combining fabrics from the g-mo fabric library or bringing their own – but avoid bringing silk or wool.
To make an appointment contact Grandt on 072 258 0002 or g@g-mo.co.za.
These stunning shoes are vegan, but they lack nothing in the fashion stakes! Check out all the prettiness online at http://g-mo.co.za/
