Updated: January 2024
You would assume that without the need to raise a whole animal for its skin, vegan shoes would be less expensive than leather ones. Well, that is not always the case.
Here are a few reasons why vegan shoes often end up costing more than leather shoes.
Click here if you are interested in affordable vegan shoes!
1. Lower demand
Buying vegan shoes it not that mainstream yet and niche products tend to be more expensive to produce. But luckily this is changing.
As we know, in recent years veganism and conscious consumerism have risen substantially. This creates more demand for also vegan shoes and garments. More demand means more sales, and thus companies are able to lower their prices and still make a living.
More demand also creates more competition, which creates downward pressure on prices.
2. Innovative materials
Since industry farming has made the price of leather artificially low, using plant-based materials can ironically cost more.
Vegan companies usually look for innovative natural materials with the lowest environmental impact. Developing sustainable and plant-based materials made in a carbon-neutral way can be costly.
3. Fair working conditions
For most vegan brands, it is important that their workers are guaranteed fair pay and safe working conditions. And fairness shows in higher prices.
Instead of picking the cheapest manufacturer, vegan companies choose to work with smaller family-owned factories. Vegan shoes are often also produced in countries like USA, Spain, or Portugal where the regulations are stricker and minimum wage is higher than in developing countries.
4. Small batch production
Many vegan shoes are handmade in small artisanal workshops, instead of large automated factories. Handmade shoes have a higher quality yet each pair costs more to craft.
In addition, an increasing number of vegan companies are choosing to produce only on-demand to minimize waste.
5. Charity projects
Supporting different causes is often included in the mission of vegan companies. When purchasing a pair of vegan shoes, some of the money might be used to help animals, nature or local communities.
Vegan brands like Ethletic are working together with local communities to help boost their growth and competitiveness on the global market.
6. Brand positioning
As always in fashion, some vegan brands choose to position themselves in the luxury vegan shoes category. Higher brand value can also inflate the prices.
We believe there should be vegan options that appeal to every type of customer, from the more affluent type to the bargain shopper.
Summary
Making ethical products is never cheap. Brands that are fair, transparent and utilize innovative vegan materials are at the forefront of the slow fashion movement. Sometimes this ends up costing more than traditional methods. But it is always worth supporting companies that do things right.
Luckily, as vegan shoes are more in demand and become more affordable, there is no reason to buy shoes and clothing produced in a way that is harmful to animals.