Updated: January 2024
Vegan leather was once considered inferior to the real thing but things could not be more different today.
More designers than ever are making the switch from animal skins to faux since vegan leather has become the more eco-friendly, more versatile, and a far more humane choice.
To praise and promote brands that offer great quality vegan leather shoes, we have made a list of the best options available in the US right now.
Vegan Leather Oxfords
Vegan Leather Heels
Vegan Leather Boots
Vegan Leather Sneakers
Vegan Leather Sandals
What Is Vegan Leather?
Vegan leather is an imitation leather made from a variety of synthetic and natural materials. Most commonly, vegan leather shoes use PU leather – a versatile thermoplastic material that is soft, waterproof, and has a significantly smaller environmental footprint compared to animal leather.
It is also increasingly popular to make vegan leather shoes from recycled materials such as plastic bottles and food waste. You can buy amazing shoes made from leftover apple skins, pineapple peels, and even from Mexican nopal cactus.
We absolutely love these vegan materials:
- Apple leather: VEERAH heels and boots
- Cactus leather: Carmona shoes and boots
- Bio Leather: Yatay vegan leather sneakers
Gone are the days animal leather was the symbol of luxury footwear. In 2024, vegan leather is blowing designers away for its sustainable, versatile, and innovative qualities. With zero beautiful animals hurt.
Best Vegan Leather Shoes For Women And Men
Looking for well made vegan leather shoes? See our guide of top brands for vegan leather shoes, boots and sneakers crafted with premium quality faux leather.
Top pick! Immaculate Vegan
Immaculate Vegan is a beautifully curated collection of vegan leather shoes for men and women. Discover the latest vegan leather boots, heels, sneakers, and loafers from Allkind, Collection & Co, Good Guys, Carmona, and many other vegan brands.
Shop the most ethical and sustainable selection of vegan shoes featuring cactus, apples, and other innovative leather alternatives.
Ahimsa
Ahimsa shoes are made ethically in a vegan shoe factory in Brazil. They have a wide selection of quality vegan leather dress shoes, boots, loafers, and sneakers for men and women. Their leather is PU-based and breaks in wonderfully.
Bourgeois Boheme
A real vegan treat – Bourgeois Boheme – has an elegant collection of vegan leather dress shoes, oxfords, and vegan boots for men and women. The premium shoes are handcrafted in Portugal from PVC-free leather.
NAE
Nae is a beloved cruelty-free brand with a wide array of vegan leather shoes, boots, sandals in many shapes and colors. The shoes are made with an ecological OEKO-TEX certified microfiber that is free from harmful chemicals.
Dr. Martens
The vegan range by Dr. Martens might have lost the leather but not the attitude. Shop the toughest, most durable vegan leather lace-up boots, Chelsea boots, oxfords, and sandals in Doc’s signature unisex styles.
SHOP DR. MARTENS HERE – see styles marked ‘Vegan’
MATT & NAT
Born in Montreal, MATT & NAT offers a contemporary collection of vegan leather shoes, boots and accessories for men and women.
Their signature leather is sustainable and PVC-free. Paired with recycled nylon, cork, and rubber, the brand crafts minimalist vegan designs inspired by nature.
Will’s Vegan Store
Will’s Vegan Store is one of the most trusted brands for high-quality vegan leather boots, shoes and sneakers for men and women.
Their vegan leather is made with bio oil sourced from organic cereal crops grown in Northern Europe. All the clean, classic designs are made carbon-neutrally and ethically in the EU.
BC Footwear – affordable pick
BC Footwear is a beloved vegan brand from LA offering women’s vegan shoes in elegant, laid back designs. A great budget-friendly option for vegan leather flats, sandals and boots.
Lulu’s – affordable pick
Though not a vegan brand, Lulu’s has one of the best vegan shoe collections for women. Modern and chic designs of faux leather boots, heels, flats and sandals, available at super affordable prices.
GUNAS
A great New York brand GUNAS is famous for gorgeous vegan flats and handbags. The shoes are sustainably made from ecological PU leather and recycled plastic.
Taylor + Thomas
Taylor + Thomas is a luxury artisan shoe collection designed in downtown LA. Their stunning boots and shoes are made with sustainable water-based PU leather and suede from recycled plastic bottles.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney has revolutionized luxury fashion with her sustainable vegan label. Shop premium vegan leather sneakers, heels, flats, pumps, and wedges made from eco-friendly recycled polyester.
Vegan Leather Oxfords
For businesswear and special occasions, we recommend these amazing vegan Oxfords, vegan dress shoes and vegan loafers for women and men.
- Bourgeois Boheme – vegan leather dress shoes and loafers
- Ahimsa – vegan leather Oxfords and loafers
- Immaculate Vegan – collection of best brands
- Call It Spring – affordable vegan leather shoes
- Kenneth Cole – affordable vegan leather men’s shoes
- Brave Gentleman – luxury vegan leather men’s shoes
Vegan Leather Heels
Well-made vegan leather heels are soft and comfortable. Discover these amazing brands that make sustainable vegan heels in any style you like.
- Veerah – apple leather heels
- Immaculate Vegan – collection of best brands
- Cult of Coquette – vegan heels and pumps
- Lulu’s – affordable vegan leather heels
- BC Footwear – affordable vegan leather heels
- Call It Spring – affordable vegan leather heels
- Coconuts By Matisse – affordable vegan leather heels
- Mohop – American-made vegan leather clogs
Vegan Leather Boots
In search for quality vegan leather boots? Check out the latest vegan boots from Dr. Martens, Ahimsa, Good Guys, and other trusted brands. See also best vegan leather boots here.
- Dr. Martens Vegan Boots
- Immaculate Vegan
- Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather
- NAE Vegan Boots
- Ahimsa Vegan Boots
- Dunes Chelsea Boot
- Matt & Nat
- Vegetarian Shoes
Vegan Leather Sneakers
Vegan leather sneakers can be worn all year round. See our top styles from Stella McCartney, Immaculate Vegan, Will’s, and other awesome eco-friendly brands of vegan sneakers.
- Immaculate Vegan – top pick!
- Ahimsa Vegan Leather Sneakers
- Matt & Nat Vegan Leather Sneakers
- Stella McCartney Sneakers
- SuperDry Vegan Lux Sneaker
- Adidas Vegan Superstar Sneaker
Vegan Leather Sandals
Quality vegan leather sandals can take you to all your summer adventures and holidays for years to come. Discover top vegan sandals from the collections of Dr. Martens, Birkenstock, and others.
- Birkenstock Vegan Leather Sandals
- Dr. Martens Vegan Cambridge Sandal
- NAE Vegan Leather Sandals
- Immaculate Vegan Sandals
- Reef Men’s Vegan Twnipin Sandal
- Reef Women’s Vegan Leather Slides
- BC Footwear Vegan Leather Sandals
- Blowfish Malibu Vegan Leather Sandals
What Are Vegan Leather Shoes Made Of?
Vegan leather shoes (aka pleather, faux leather, imitation leather, synthetic leather shoes) are an animal-friendly alternative to real leather shoes. Vegan leather is free from animal skin, suede, fur, silk, or any other animal ingredient.
Vegan leather shoes are typically made from polyurethane (PU) – a synthetic polymer that is versatile, cost-effective and water-resistant.
Vegan leather can be also made with natural plant fibers such as grains, cork, apple peels, pineapple leaves, and algae. Also, a variety of recycled materials can be used.
FAQ About Vegan Leather
Vegan leather is more eco-friendly than leather. Vegan leather takes fewer resources to make and it causes almost no pollution compared to the contaminating leather industry.
Yet since synthetic vegan leathers like PU and PVC do not biodegrade, you might want to explore more sustainable vegan leather options.
For example, vegan shoe brand Will’s uses vegan leather made with bio-oil from organic cereal crops. Women’s shoe brand Veerah uses organic apple peel leather and Gunas eco-friendly polyurethane.
Stella McCartney’s vegan leather sneakers made with recycled polyester are also a great sustainable option.
Vegan leather made from PU is very waterproof. PU leather does not absorb water like leather does, and thus keeps your feet nice and dry.
Over time, vegan leather can crack and tear. It is thus always better to invest in top quality vegan leather shoes that can serve you for years.
To increase the longevity of your vegan leather shoes, we recommend using vegan dubbin – a polishing agent that softens the leather and makes it more resistant to cracking.
No, vegan leather is not toxic, especially if it is made from eco-friendly PU or plants.
Though once popular vinyl leather (PVC) can contain some toxic dioxins, so you might want to steer clear from that.
To make sure your vegan shoes are free from harmful chemicals, look for brands that use vegan leather complying with the international OEKO-TEX® textile standard.
Pleather is a type of vegan leather made from plastic polymers such as polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride.
In addition to plastic, vegan leather can be made from a variety of natural plant-based and recycled materials
Vegan leather is an ethical alternative to animal leather.
Each year, more than a billion animals are slaughtered and abused for their skins. The global leather industry is also causing irreparable damage to our environment and contributes to the painful social injustices of this world.
Choosing vegan leather shoes made with eco-friendly materials in a fair and sustainable way is the most ethical choice you can make. For the animals, the people and our planet.
Vegan leather shoes are super easy to clean. Simply wipe them clean with a damp cloth. On tougher stains, soak the cloth first in soapy water.
Softer vegan leather shoes usually break in well and quick. When going with sturdier vegan leather shoes, use the help of dubbin – a polishing agent that makes vegan leather softer, more pliable and easier to break in.
Summary
Hope you enjoyed our guide on vegan leather shoes and found what you were looking for.
Animal leather is becoming a thing of the past while vegan leather is only getting better. It is exciting to see new designers and material innovations entering the vegan market constantly.
We keep updating the list of brands every month, so you can stay up-to-date with the latest vegan leather shoe brands.