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A vegan sneaker is a shoe designed without the use of animal-derived materials such as leather or animal suede. However, recognizing a truly vegan sneaker is not always that simple: glue, lining, finishes, and small components must also be taken into account. Materials, differences from leather, manufacturing, and misconceptions: here is what you need to know before choosing your vegan sneakers.
What is a vegan sneaker?
A vegan sneaker is a shoe designed without any animal-derived materials.
The most obvious difference usually concerns leather. A vegan sneaker uses other materials to replace animal leather and suede.
But you have to look further than the exterior of the shoe.
A sneaker comprises a multitude of components: upper (also called the top or exterior of the sneaker), lining, laces, insole, outsole, reinforcements, decorative elements, and products required for its assembly.
Therefore, it is the entire shoe that must be considered when talking about vegan sneakers.
What materials can replace leather in a vegan sneaker?
There are many solutions available today.
Some are synthetic, while others incorporate recycled materials or plant-based resources.
Notably, there are bio-materials incorporating components derived from corn, grapes, apples, olives, mushrooms, or even cactus, as well as various recycled textiles.
Not all of these innovations have the same composition or the same properties.
One must also pay attention to the vocabulary: when a material is presented as "corn-based" or "grape-based," it does not mean that 100% of its composition comes from that plant.
Why use corn-based materials to make vegan sneakers?
Plant-based resources open up new possibilities for designing alternatives to animal leather.
At Mood Walk, for example, we use a corn-based bio-material made in Italy for the exterior of our sneakers, combined with vegan suede from Spain.
This combination allows us to design our different models without using animal leather while retaining the creative possibilities necessary for sneaker design.
Corn therefore constitutes part of the solution, not the entirety of the sneaker.
Example of an entirely vegan sneaker made from a corn-based bio-material, vegan suede, recycled cotton, recycled mesh, and rubber: the Dream Big Silver Navy from Mood Walk
Vegan and eco-friendly: are they the same thing?
No. A vegan sneaker is not automatically an eco-friendly sneaker.
This is probably one of the most important distinctions to remember.
"Vegan" primarily informs about the absence of animal-derived materials. This term is not sufficient to measure the overall environmental impact of a shoe.
To go further, one must look at other elements: the nature and quantity of materials used, the potential proportion of recycled or plant-based materials, the origin of components, manufacturing, transport, durability, and end-of-life.
Conversely, a shoe using certain natural materials is not necessarily vegan if it contains leather or another animal-derived component.
The two subjects may overlap, but they are not synonymous.
Is a leather-free sneaker necessarily vegan?
Not necessarily.
The absence of leather on the exterior is a first clue, but other components must be examined.
Some animal-derived materials can be less visible, and the complete composition is not always immediately identifiable.
To choose a vegan sneaker, it is therefore better to look for a clear indication from the manufacturer regarding the entire shoe, rather than relying solely on the exterior appearance.
How do you recognize good vegan sneakers?
There is no single criterion.
Before buying, several questions can be useful:
Does the brand clearly state that the shoe is vegan?
Is the composition of the main parts of the sneaker available on the brand's website?
Are the leather alternatives used explained?
Is the country of manufacture indicated?
Does the brand explain the origin of its main materials?
Have comfort and durability been taken into account?
The more precise the information, the easier it becomes to compare two pairs beyond a simple marketing slogan.
Are vegan sneakers comfortable?
The vegan nature of a shoe does not alone determine its comfort.
This depends on many elements: shoe construction, shape, sole, inner foam, lining, and breathability.
It is therefore perfectly possible to design comfortable vegan sneakers, provided that these elements have been considered at the design stage.
At Mood Walk, for example, we use a soft and breathable recycled mesh lining, as well as a removable recycled foam insole in our Dream Big and French Touch models. For the Wild Walker and Master Mind models, the lining is made of corn-based bio-material. Both options are breathable and ultra-absorbent to ensure maximum comfort.
Our vegan sneakers are designed to accompany you in your daily life, in the city, on travels, and on days when you walk a lot.
Where are vegan sneakers made?
All over the world.
The term "vegan" gives no indication of the place of manufacture.
A vegan sneaker can be made in Europe, Asia, or elsewhere.
It is therefore information to be verified separately.
Mood Walk sneakers are made in Portugal, and all components come from Italy, Spain, and Portugal, i.e., using a short supply chain.
We chose to build our project around this European expertise and Portuguese manufacturing.
Can you make vegan sneakers in Europe?
Yes.
Portugal has a long tradition of shoe manufacturing and is now home to many workshops and manufacturers.
At Mood Walk, the various components of our sneakers are assembled in Portugal to give birth to the Dream Big, Wild Walker, French Touch, and Master Mind models.
This European manufacturing is a choice distinct from the vegan nature of the shoe: they are two complementary pieces of information, but this responds to the same goal of reducing the carbon footprint of our sneakers and manufacturing resistant, quality products under the best possible conditions.
Can you have customizable vegan sneakers?
Yes, and it is an avenue we wanted to explore with our Wild Walker and Master Mind models.
This Mood Walk model features interchangeable straps, which allow you to change the appearance of the sneaker.
The same pair can thus evolve according to the chosen straps, mood, or outfit.
Personalization allows you to think about the sneaker differently: rather than considering its design as totally fixed at the time of purchase, certain elements can continue to evolve.
Are vegan sneakers reserved for women?
No.
A vegan sneaker describes a design and materials, not a gender.
Many models are now designed with a unisex approach.
This is also the philosophy of Mood Walk: offering vegan sneakers for women and men, with colors and silhouettes that everyone can make their own. Most of our models and colors are unisex and range from size 35 to 47.
Are vegan sneakers necessarily more expensive?
Not necessarily, but certain alternative materials, European manufacturing, or small-scale production can influence the price of a pair.
Comparing only the final price can therefore mask important differences between two sneakers: materials used, country of manufacture, production volumes, construction, or even the level of finish.
The right question is not just "how much does this pair cost?" but also "what is behind its price?" and "how long will it last?"
What to check before buying a pair of vegan sneakers?
Start with the composition and do not stop at a single highlighted material.
Then look at the country of manufacture, the origin of the main components when available, and the information provided by the brand.
Finally, think about the real use you will make of them.
A sneaker is only truly interesting if you want to wear it regularly.
Style, comfort, versatility, and quality therefore remain essential, even when looking for an alternative to animal leather.
Mood Walk: our vision of the vegan sneaker
At Mood Walk, we wanted to move away from the opposition between style and convictions.
Our sneakers are designed without animal leather, made in Portugal, and use a corn-based bio-material made in Italy, Spanish vegan suede, recycled mesh, recycled cotton, and recycled foam.
But we believe that a vegan sneaker must above all remain a sneaker that you love.
A pair that you choose for its silhouette, its colors, and its comfort. A pair that you wear in the city, at work, while traveling, or on vacation.
Because changing the way sneakers are made does not mean giving up the pleasure of wearing them.
Also discover:
Corn sneakers: how can sneakers be made from corn?
