Updated: January 2024
An American-Chinese Entrepreneur Marina Chen has launched a collection of recycled vegan shoes for women named Vivaia.
From lightweight flats to trendy mules, Vivaia is our go-to brand for eco-friendly vegan shoes for this summer and beyond.
It can be difficult to find reputable vegan clothing retailers whose products offer a good combination of comfort and function. One such retailer that has popped up out of China as of late to address our waste crisis through their products is Vivaia.
Seeking to see what the hype was all about, I bought a pair of Vivaia shoes, and now after my own experience, I can tell you in this genuine Vivaia shoes review not only whether or not these shoes are worth it but if the company is legit or a scam.
Go to Vivaia or see other vegan flats here.
A Comprehensive Vivaia Shoes Review
Born in June 2020, Vivaia has a mission to create eco-friendly footwear for women. Most of their shoes have a recycled plastic bottle upper that is paired with other vegan materials like natural latex, rubber, and microfiber.
For the unique knitted upper, Vivaia chips the plastic bottles and extrudes them into thread. The thread is knitted with seamless 3D machines that cause no extra waste. With zero waste production as the goal, Vivaia shoes also come in recyclable packaging.
Vivaia shoes are made in Dongguan, China to ensure the efficiency of production and competitive price of the shoes. The factory works partially on renewable energy and takes care of the workers’ physical and mental wellbeing and safety.
Alongside their vegan flats, Vivaia also has a great range of vegan loafers, mules, sneakers, sandals, and vegan boots for women. The styles look chic and elegant, and are available in many bright and pastel colorways.
Their name carries symbolic weight as the I represents the plastic water bottles used in manufacturing. The V and A represent the shoes that the company makes.
Where Are Vivaia Shoes Made?
Though their headquarters are in the United States, Vivaia shoes are manufactured in Dongguan, China.
Who Is the Founder of Vivaia Shoes
Marina Chen, a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, is Vivaia’s founder. She specifically has experience sourcing materials for fashion accessories, which she has brought to her work with Vivaia.
Are Vivaia Shoes Vegan?
No, not all Vivaia shoes are vegan. The company also has styles that are made with wool. When shopping for Vivaia vegan shoes, you need to be careful and make sure wool is not listed among the materials.
At best, we can consider Vivaia as a vegetarian company. The company does not use leather or suede. Their vegan collection is a lot more prominent than their wool styles.
Vivaia Shoes Fit, Sizing & Comfort
In my experience, Vivaia shoes and boots run true to size if you use your US size, as they fit my feet perfectly. Their soles and fit even adapted to my foot size. Other users report that the knitted fabric may be tight on their feet at first but comes to adjust and stretch with time, which is an experience I can confirm.
But if you have wide feet, it may be wise to buy a half size up from your typical size with the pointed styles. Once they break in, they are comfortable and can be worn all day without any real problems. They breathe and stretch, and their comfort makes me guess they would be suitable for traveling in warm environments.
Vivaia Shoes Sustainability
Sustainability is at the core of Vivaia shoes’ mission and thus it is a safe bet that their practices are sustainable. Other companies source the recycled materials they use, such as plastics discarded into the oceans, and they are constantly seeking new materials to repurpose. Their practices all try to keep new material out of the waste cycle. They even ship their shoes in 100% recycled cardboard.
The only waste that would worry the sustainability-minded consumer is the future disposal of their shoes, but given that the shoe is made from renewable material, the company may even develop a means of recycling their shoes in the future.
Vivaia Shoes Materials
Vivaia’s shoes and boots use wool and plastic bottles as the material for their knitting in addition to rubber, vegan leather, and the plant Artemisia Argyi.
Vivaia Shoes Ethical Practices
The fact that Vivaia produces their shoes in China does often turn heads and make people worried but their practices should please shoppers with high ethical standards. When I looked into their practices and factory agreements, I could see that they were transparent with their guidelines and their reasons for producing in China.
They claim much of their factory’s energy comes from green energy and they perform regular audits of their factory to make sure that it meets their standards. Additionally, they made sure their factory conformed to their needs as far as price, efficiency, and working conditions.
While I was a little skeptical, I can also see that they are willing to field any questions regarding their ethical practices, so you can probably trust them as far as their ability to conduct an ethical business.
What Range Vivaia Shoes have?
Vivaia’s flats range (in US woman’s sizes) from size 5 to size 11. Their style of shoe, on the other hand, offers an even wider range. Vivaia makes boots, shoes, sandals, sneakers, flats, loafers, and heels. These shoes come in a whole host of colors and patterns that I could not even hope to list.
They have even begun a new endeavor, men’s sneakers, which run from size 6.5 to 9 in US sizes.
Are Vivaias True To Size?
As mentioned earlier, Vivaias generally run true to size but the pointed shoe runs small for people with wide feet. To solve that problem, just order a half size up.
Are Vivaia Shoes Waterproof?
Most Vivaia shoes are not waterproof, but they have begun making a water-repellent style. Even with this style though, they are probably not best for the winter or cold days.
Where To Buy Vivaia Shoes?
As far as I know, Vivaia’s shoes are only available from two places at the moment: Amazon and Vivaia’s website. They are not available in retail stores.
Vivaia Shoes Pricing
Vivaia shoes may be pricier for some people but I find their prices reasonable because of their durability and comfort. Their most popular style, the Aria 5 flat, runs about $97 on average, which is a price you can expect to pay for most of their other shoe styles, such as their loafer.
Their boots can range from $129 to $179 depending on their length, and their sandals cost about $119.
Which Countries Do They Ship To?
Vivaia ships to 5 continents. They ship to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, all of the European Union, most of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Shipping Terms
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the shipping cost of Vivaia orders has increased to $12.99, although the company will provide free shipping on orders over $99. You can expect your order within 5-12 days of payment.
Return Policy
All products purchased from Vivaia shoes are eligible for return or exchange within 30 days of arrival. All items must be returned without damage and with all their original tags intact. To begin the refund process, you can use their refund portal.
What I Like About Vivaia Shoes: Pros
I need shoes I buy to meet a few requirements beyond their look. I need them to be comfortable and last a long time. Comfort is a desired quality in a shoe, but I want them to last a long time so they do not end up contributing to the waste treadmill quickly.
Vivaia shoes meet this requirement with flying colors. Their breathability, comfort, and adaptability mean I will wear these for a while. That also means that should I develop any foot problems in the future, such as bunions, I can still wear these shoes with no problem.
Beyond their functionality, my pair of Vivaias looks fantastic. They can transform and spruce up several outfits, whether I wear them for date nights, business, or other occasions.
Beyond my experience, however, there are several pros to Vivaia shoes. They come in a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes – meaning there is a style available for every woman and every occasion.
I also love that their materials and manufacturing minimize waste and that most of their shoes come from recycled plastic.
What I Don’t Like About Vivaia Shoes: Cons
Though I have had a great experience with Vivaia shoes, there are a couple of things that may pose some problems. Luckily, they are not things like the shoes running small or large or anything about the shoes themselves.
While I had no problems with their customer service, I have heard some horror stories about their customer service, enough that it was worth mentioning here. People I know reported something that many online customers reported too.
They said that when they attempted to get a refund for order errors (wrong style or size shipped to them), the company would not give them a full refund, which feels like punishing the customer for a mistake that was not theirs.
Others report that it was hard to get a hold of the company to ask about other problems but they have since fixed that problem by opening up a 24/7 contact line and a return portal.
My Favorite Vivaia Vegan Shoes
Here are our favorite Vivaia vegan shoes. Shop flats, mules, sneakers, and sandals made with recycled vegan materials.
Vivaia Vegan Flats
Vivaia’s vegan flats are light as air and available in many beautiful colors. With a breathable and flexible upper and arch-supported insole, these shoes provide all-day comfort.
Vivaia Giselle Mule
Style your summer outfits with this gorgeous vintage-inspired vegan mule. The shoe has a soft microfiber insole made from renewable fibers and an ultra-flexible rubber outsole.
Vivaia Evermore Sneaker
These beautiful white vegan sneakers have a timeless sporty style and wide comfortable fit. The recycled upper is paired with Natural Artemisia Argyi herbal insole.
Vivaia Gloria Sandal
Vivaia vegan sandals have a recycled plastic knit upper and a soft vegan leather insole. The stylish Gloria sandal comes in three beautiful colorways.
Vivaia Vegan Boots
Vivaia also offers a collection of women’s vegan boots. You can find vegan ankle boots, over-the-knee boots, sock boots, and many other trendy boot styles. Just be careful since some of the boots may contain wool.
Vivaia vs Rothys
At the moment, Vivaia shoes’ main competitor is Rothys. In comparison to Rothys, Vivaia shoes offer the following:
- Vivaia shoes are generally cheaper (by about $30)
- Vivaia provides a better range of styles
- Vivaia shoes have a more durable knit pattern
Should You Buy Vivaia Shoes: Final Verdict
Vivaia shoes have the perfect balance of eco-friendly design and lightweight comfort. We hope you found your favorite new summer shoes from their selection.
Go to Vivaia or see more vegan shoes.