Conscientious

Taking its cue from developing trends, Beyond Skin designs are both classic and trans-seasonal. Its collections are continually evolving, producing capsule ranges and exclusive one-off designs that transcend the typical rotational calendar supporting a more sustainable lifestyle.

This shoes are made of organic cotton and now you can buy them online.

Yes Style- Cute, Hemp, Biodegradable and forward thinking.

It's interesting to see Hemp used for its style quality not as Ecofashion.

(Yes Style do use leather and animal skins in other styles. They make no claims to be ethical. We just wonder why other companies aren't using hemp suede?)

Check their vast range of hemp shoes (and others) by clicking the link below.

Westwood has created two models through her Anglomania brand exclusively for melissa. Westwood's classic Mary Jane originally made out of leather and launched in her winter '00 collection 'Summertime' has been re-birthed in plastic. In addition, as Westwood lends her Anglomania design to melissa ... melissa returns in kind with Westwood doing her own take on the cult melissa 'ultragirl' slipper

Please note: Vegan but plastic is not biodegradable. Rubber is.

The Etiko sneaker range are poduced in Pakistan and are Certified Fairtrade. They also feature a rubber sole which has been certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) …..making the sneakers ethically and environmentally sound.

Available at selected Oxfam Shop in most Westfields throughout Australia.

Found! Shoes that are not made from animals but are biodegradable (and sometimes use recycled goods). They are feminine and ethically-made. Only problem…they’re all the way from the UK.

Terra Plana. Classic mid height pump from recycled rubber forepart with driving sole.

 In addition they have super flexible soles allow your feet to work and walk as designed and are lightweight. Heel height = 7.5cm

Leather or Leather-look?

You have a few choices at the moment- all far from ideal.

Synthetics:

Polyurethane (PU) is supposedly gentler than PVC. Find out more about the hazard of PVC at this link:

Leather

Fast Tanning verses Slow Tanning

Most leather tanning uses Chrome III to cross strings of protein to hold them together and preserve them. Chrome III is safe except at high temperatures when it rusts into Chromes IV, which is carcinogenic (not only to workers but traces can remain in the leather). Therefore, cheap leather of unknown sources may be made under sweatshop conditions by tired workers, non-government or other monitoring and with tight deadlines; this is when the danger would occur.

Vegetable tanned leather accounts for only a tiny percentage of the world’s leather. Traditionally it’s stiff and used for saddles, harnesses and work boots. Rumour has it that current generations are improving and getting more supple and soft.

Then there is the complex issue of animal-cruelty.... Even for non-vegans there is issues farmed verses hunted, endangered species.... Is it okay to use the leather from animals that would be eaten anyway?

Other Choices

Salvatore Ferragamo invented platforms by experimenting with wine bottle corks during the 1930s material shortage. Why not more innovation with materials?

Silk has been used on the feet of Hollywood starlets and for brides. Canvas makes a great beach or sailer inspired shoe. Recently some brands have flirted with Hemp as a winter boot.

If you buy leather, make sure the leather and entire shoe is made in a country with environmental standards and consider it a long-term investment.