Published: January 2024. Author Liis Hainla
Demand for vegan shoes are surging. We compiled all relevant vegan footwear industry statistics on this page. The reasons behind the higher demand include the increasing consciousness of the consumers: incresed interest in sustainability, green choices, veganism and need to reduce carbon footprint.
Second driver is the companies interst to gain market share of the vegan consumers, as they are willing to pay more for products (3). This can create a flywheel effect: increase in marketing shows as increase in demand among new consumers, which in turn create higher demand for companies to produce vegan footwear.
The global vegan footwear market generated $156,898 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $300,199 million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.8% from 2021 to 2030. The North American market was 33.8% of that at $53 million in 2020. (1)
Roughly 3-6% of the US population is vegan, however, that figure doubles for millenials. (9,10,11). The millenial population is driving growth for the demand for vegan footwear. (1)
2018 the vegan footwear market grew by 32% in the US and 16% in the U.K. (6)
Unlike the largest consumer segment for all shoes men, millenial women are projected to be the largest growing segment for vegan footwear. (1)
Vegan Footwear Market
- The global vegan footwear market generated $156.898 million in 2020 (1)
- The North American market was 33.8% of the global at $53 million. (1)
- The market is projected to reach $300.199 million by 2030 (1)
- CAGR is estimated at 6.8% to 7.2% (1,5)
- Women account for 52.8% of the end user, followed by men and children. (1,5)
- Millenial women are expected to be the fastest growing segment (1)
- The millenial population is driving growth for the demand for vegan footwear (1,5)
- North America is the largest market followed closely by Europe (5)
- Two largest markets for vegan shoes in Europe are the U.K. and Germany
- North America & Europe account for over 60% of the global market (1, 5)
- 32% of new footwear entering the US market can be classified as vegan (2)
- Shoes on the market labelled as vegan increased 27% year-on-year in the US and 36% in the U.K. (13)
- 48% of consumers were willing to pay more for animal-free footwear (3)
- According to a survey, 23% of respondents said it is very important that footwear is animal-free. 37% replied with somewhat important (4)
- In 2018 the vegan footwear market grew by 32% in the US and 16% in the U.K. (6)
- The most popular materials include polyurethane, cotton, recycled plastics, Hemp, and microfibers (12)
- Marks and Spencer report 200% increase in searches for vegan footwear on their analytics (7)
- Marks and Spencer brough over 350 new styles for their vegan footwear collection in the spring of 2019 (7)
- Of U.K. consumers aged 16-34 32% “like” the idea of vegan footwear, and 22% of the total population
- 62% of the so called zoomer generation prefer to buy from sustainable brands (8)
- Roughly 4-5% of the US population is vegan, however, that figure doubles for millenials
- Luxury brands have also joined: Luis Vuitton launched it’s first vegan shoe in 2021 and in June 2021 Gucci launched their own vegan shoe
- Roughly 3-6% of the US population is vegan, however, that figure doubles for millenials. (9,10,11).
Sources & References
- (1) Allied Market Research: “Vegan Footwear Market”
Available at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/vegan-footwear-market-A14110 - (2) Statista: “Share of new footwear styles of vegan footwear U.S. 2018-2019”
Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010863/animal-free-footwear-s-share-of-new-footwear-styles/ - (3) Statista: “Willingness to pay more for animal-product free footwear U.S. consumers 2019”
Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010959/willingness-to-pay-more-for-animal-product-free-footwear-us/ - (4) Statista: “Importance of footwear being animal-product free to U.S. consumers 2019”
Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010937/importance-of-purchasing-animal-product-free-footwear-us/ - (5) Future Market Insights: “Vegan Footwear Market”
Available at: Europe and North America together accounted for above 60% of the global market in 2019. - (6) GetVegan: “Rise of Vegan Fashion”
Available at: https://getvegan.com/rise-of-vegan-fashion/ - (7) Drapers: “Veganism in Vogue”
Available at: https://www.drapersonline.com/insight/analysis/veganism-in-vogue-why-animal-free-fashion-is-booming - (8) First Insight: “Gen Z Shoppers Demand Sustainability”
Available at: https://www.firstinsight.com/white-papers-posts/gen-z-shoppers-demand-sustainability - (9) Report buyer: “Top Trends in Prepared Foods 2017”
Available at: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4959853/top-trends-in-prepared-foods-exploring-trends-in-meat-fish-and-seafood-pasta-noodles-and-rice-prepared-meals-savory-deli-food-soup-and-meat-substitutes.html - (10) Gallup: “Snapshot: Few Americans Vegetarian or Vegan”
Available at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/238328/snapshot-few-americans-vegetarian-vegan.aspx - (11) Ipsos: “Vegan Trends in the U.S”
Available at: https://www.ipsos-retailperformance.com/en/vegan-trends/ - (12) TopVeganShoes: “What are Vegan Shoes Made of?”
Available at: https://www.topveganshoes.com/what-are-vegan-shoes-made-of/ - 13 fashionabc: “Vegan Fashion: A Market Trend On The Rise”
Available at: https://www.fashionabc.org/vegan-fashion-market-trend-rise/