There is a growing range of sustainable options when it comes to stylish women’s footwear, which is great for those of us looking to make more ethical choices. But sometimes, too much choice can be as difficult as not enough! And on top of that, how can you avoid brands that are just greenwashing?
At Beagle, we’re here to help. We’ve curated some of our favourite women’s footwear brands that are both stylish and sustainable, so you can put your best foot forward. Whether you’re looking for shoes made from vegan materials or ethically made and tanned leather, we have something for you.
Just to let you know, this blog post contains affiliate links – so if you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission.
Allbirds were set up in New Zealand in a bid to replace synthetic trainer materials with a natural alternative: merino wool. They are 100% carbon-neutral and have committed to, in their words, a “five-year to-do list—goals that will let you hold us accountable.”
Allbirds have a range of Everyday Trainers in their iconic sloping shape that will go with any weekend outfit – check out their Plant Pacers in a natural white colour. And for those wetter autumn days, there are the Mizzles Trainers especially designed to keep out the rain.
Most encouragingly, Allbirds’ website contains lots of data about what materials and energy sources they use, as well as their sustainability targets – go check them out!
Vegan, unisex, creative with an edge. If any of these words appeal to you, Koi Footwear might be your jam. From chunky lilac trainers to platform Mary Janes, their range is simultaneously cute and spiky, with a splash of 90s throwback and punky spirit thrown in.
Being a vegan brand will tick the sustainability boxes for a lot of people, but there is more to it than that – and
Koi are open about the fact that they are still improving.
The Chinese factories they work with are audited under the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) Code of Conduct, and they use recycled cardboard shoeboxes. There is more to do, but Koi look like they are genuinely working on it.
Looking for Converses, but a more sustainable version? Look no further than Novesta, a heritage brand with roots in 1930s Slovakia.
Novesta use Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) organic cotton uppers and natural rubber outer soles for their two signature models, the Star Master (a low-top style) and the Dribble (their high-top basketball boot). Go for a classic in white or black, or mix it up with some camouflage or neon.
Keen to prolong the life of their shoes, Novesta have also ensured that their shoes are washable and the insoles easily replaceable. We love to see it.
Alohas are revolutionising the footwear game with their on-demand business model designed to avoid overproduction and reduce waste.
While being bang on trend and bringing out new styles each season, Alohas make the shoes to order – so they only make as many as people want to buy. As an incentive to pre-order, you can also get up to a 30% discount by buying in advance, which we love.
At the time of writing, you can pre-order a pair of Aloha’s. Their brown vegan leather boots retail for about £114 – perfect for autumn and winter!
Nisolo put sustainability at the heart of their brand strategy, even playing a small part in the film The True Cost, which shines a light on the environmental and human impact of fast fashion.
At the same time, they sell beautiful shoes made from Leather Working Group-certified leather, from woven mules to mid-heeled clogs. And if you’re on the hunt for sustainable autumn shoes, look no further than their comfy Chelsea boots. These are shoes that will take you from work to play and back again.
Nisolo, who are climate neutral-certified, developed their own ‘Sustainability Framework’ to push themselves and their industry towards true accountability.
This cult sneaker brand have become a household name in recent years, with their iconic V-marked trainers gracing the feet of everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Emma Watson – and we’re all for it, given their eco credentials.
Founded in 2005, Veja use organic cotton and Amazonian rubber – which might ring the alarm bells at first, but we found out they buy it at four times the market price, directly from rubber tapper cooperatives. Phew.
Veja are transparent about the prices they pay for materials and production and use B-mesh, a fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, for some of their models.
A pair of Veja’s classic V12s will set you back £130.
Style and sustainability
Keen to kit out your wardrobe but want to help people and the planet while doing so? That’s what we’re here for! Just download our browser extension which offers sustainable alternatives to products you’re searching for online, making it easier than ever to buy better.