Over the last few decades, the fashion industry has witnessed an uptick in demand for sustainable and cruelty-free products. Many animal-loving people are now shifting their interests and seeking alternatives that align with their ethical values.
Among many, one brand that has really garnered some attention is VEJA Shoes. You might have seen their sneakers with a V-logo. VEJA is a French footwear brand, and they have been really committed to bringing sustainable animal leather and vegan leather to the shoes.
So does this make them vegan or not? Let’s find out!
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Are VEJA shoes Vegan?
Yes! VEJA Shoes are vegan—not entirely, but up to a certain extent. They make shoes with both animal and vegan leather. Therefore, choose what suits you the best!
They’ve got 20 out of 81 sneakers that are totally vegan. On their official website, you can easily find these vegan footwear options. But wait! Let’s figure out if vegan footwear is the right choice for you or not.
Also Read: Why Are VEJA Shoes So Expensive? Are They Worth Buying!
Should You Even Buy Vegan Footwear or Not?
It’s a common question we hear almost every time that vegan footwear doesn’t use any materials derived from animals, like leather, wool, suede, or silk. This raises a question. Should you purchase them? Are they worth our money?
Honestly, it’s entirely up to you. I have included a short list of the strengths and weaknesses of vegan leather below; reading it will undoubtedly help you decide what is best for you.
Strengths
- Vegan leather promotes ethical and cruelty-free fashion.
- It’s much more affordable than genuine leather.
- It’s very lightweight.
- Vegan leather is very easy to clean and doesn’t get easily damaged by cleaning solutions.
- The production process is more sustainable and pollutes the environment less.
Weaknesses
- Vegan leather lacks the luxurious feel of traditional leather.
- It’s not durable. Vegan leather experiences cracking and peeling in the long run.
- It has breathability issues. Vegan leather lacks the pores found in real leather; therefore, it can cause discomfort if you wear it for a long time.
- Unlike traditional leather, vegan leather does not stretch or shrink. There is only minimal flexibility in it.
- Vegan leather alternatives are typically made with synthetic materials, contributing to non-renewable resource consumption.
- Vegan leather is not very eco-friendly since some materials are not biodegradable. This can cause waste issues at the end of their lifecycle.
What’s the Deal with Animal Sustainable Leather?
As I mentioned earlier, VEJA Shoes aren’t totally vegan. There are a good number of sneakers that still use real leather. However, a slight difference is that VEJA shoes use sustainable animal leather instead of conventional leather.
Even when using animal leather, VEJA strives to provide environmentally friendly leather. The leather in the VEJA sneakers undergoes tanning exclusively in certified tanneries to ensure the absence of chrome VI. Chrome VI is a substance that’s harmful to both the environment and human health.
A noteworthy aspect is that 10% of VEJA’s leather adopts a vegetable tanning method. This tanning method presents a chemical-free and more sustainable alternative to chrome.
Despite its enhanced sustainability, this vegetable method is both more expensive and time-consuming (40 days instead of 1). Unfortunately, due to these constraints, VEJA cannot achieve 100% of its leather production using this method.
How Do I Find My VEJA Vegan’s Shoes?
If you already own a pair of VEJA shoes and want to check whether they are vegan or not, you have to physically check them. Look inside the shoes, and you’ll find a label that lists the materials used for each part.
Vegan shoes typically use materials like textiles and vegan leather, while non-vegan ones may have animal leather.
Remember, you can’t just tell them apart by looking at them; they might look similar.
FAQ
How Does Leather Impact the Environment?
As a material, leather ranks third in environmental impact, after silk and alpaca. The sheer volume of leather used in various products, from cars to shoes, makes it a significant environmental concern, like deforestation and pollution.
The treatment of cows in the leather industry is just terrific. It involves actions like cutting off horns without pain relief, breaking tails, and rubbing chili into the eyes to force movement during transportation. So yeah! It’s a serious issue worth considering when making choices.
What Is Vegan Leather Made Of?
Vegan leather made from synthetic materials involves bonding a plastic coating, usually polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane, to a fabric backing.
Vegan leather can be made from various materials such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and plant-based materials such as cork, pineapple fibers (Piñatex), and mushroom leather (mycelium). They can also be obtained from recycling plastic bottles.
Is Vegan Leather Good Quality?
Honestly, it’s not that good when compared to real leather. It’s going to need more research and innovation to make it more durable, comfortable, and attractive. I believe it has a lot of flaws that need to be fixed here, like limited breathability, a less attractive appearance, and a big usage of non-renewable resources in its production.
So, even if it’s good in a way that it’s ethical, it’s nowhere near as good as real leather.
What Are the Disadvantages of Vegan Leather?
Even vegan leather seems like a nice ethical choice, but sadly, it does come with some flaws.
It does not have the luxurious texture and durability of real leather. Similarly, they are not as breathable, and you can’t wear them for a long time.
Moreover, you can’t expect vegan leather to stretch or shrink as much as real leather.
Not just that, it also raises some environmental concerns, as some vegan leather materials are not biodegradable. Such non-biodegradable substances can be problematic for waste management.
So, it’s important to weigh these factors when considering ethical fashion choices!
Last Words
VEJA Shoes is expanding its vegan footwear line. Despite the fact that vegan footwear isn’t quite up to par at the moment, they are still trying their best. They are confident that they will be able to make more vegan footwear that is both ethically and sustainably sourced.
With ongoing research and time, there’s hope that the quality of vegan shoes will improve.
Personally, I own a pair of their vegan sneakers. When I first started wearing them, I wasn’t fully happy with them on my feet. It took me some time to adjust to them; I had some blisters, but after a few days, they got better, and now I really find them quite comfy.
So, if you’re okay with the downsides of vegan shoes, they can be a superb choice. But if you love the classic, nicely aging look, then traditional leather might be more your style.
