By Ariel Azoff of The SNSPost & Heartsleevesblog.com
1. Cri-de-Coeur: Parsons graduates Gina Ferraraccio and Julie Dicterow are the designers of this line of gorgeous vegan footwear. Made from non-animal materials including vegan leather, vegan suede, and reclaimed wood, the design does not compromise on style! From the website:
Cri de Coeur is a French expression that translates literally to "cry from the heart." To us, it symbolizes our heartfelt desire to change the face of the fashion footwear and accessory markets by providing stylish, contemporary products that are ethically produced from start to finish.
2. NEUAURA: Designed by Arti Upadhyay, the brand is eco-conscious and animal-free. While all of the brands on this list eschew animal materials, the really cool thing about NEUAURA is the factory that produces its shoes. It's in Brazil, is powered by hydroelectricity, and reuses 68% of its waste. Read more on NEUAURA's website. The company also donates a portion of sales to environmental and animal charities.
3. Melissa Plastic Dreams: Melissa is from Brazil and makes plastic shoes in an eco-friendly factory there, where workers are paid above average wages. Sensing a trend? Melissa Plastic Dreams are made from MELFLEX plastic, a patented, hypo-allergenic, recyclable, and extremely flexible PVC. Melissa recently collaborated with Vivian Westwood (second image below, and maroon pump at the top):
4. Beyond Skin: Vegan seems to be all the rage among eco-fashionable footwear connoisseurs. UK
brand Beyond Skin is no exception. Founded in 2001 to fill the gap in the marketplace for cruelty-free fashionable shoes, the company operates in Brighton, UK and manufactures in Alicante, Spain. The tagline is: "Genuinely not leather." Love it:
5. Olsen Haus: Last but not least is Olsen Haus, whose founder, Elizabeth Olsen, is passionately anti-leather. She's also a passionate animal rights activist and crusader for change in the fashion industry. Her shoes are beautiful, and have been worn by celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow and Alicia Silverstone.
Born and raised in Woodstock, Ariel Azoff is an adventurer and aspiring writer who spent the past year working for a human rights organization in the Middle East. She is a contributing writer to The SNSPost & Midthoughtblog.com, and now that she is back in the U.S. is delving into the world of sustainable fashion and blogging as she goes at Heartsleevesblog.com.
Related articles
