Sustainable Footwear: Ethical and Eco-Friendly Shoe Options
Shoes—we all have to wear them, right? But what if you’re someone who cares about the environment and is concerned about the impact your shoe shopping has on it? Here are some things to think about as you start looking for sustainable shoe options out there, consider materials like recycled rubber or plant-based fabrics, look for brands with transparent supply chains, and don’t forget about accessories!
Speaking of which, to fully embrace sustainable fashion, don’t overlook the importance of investing in eco-friendly accessories like buy custom running socks, which not only prioritize the planet but also provide optimal comfort and performance during your workouts.
Find brands that put their money where their mouth is
When you’re thinking about what you can do to slow down fast fashion consumption, consider looking into brands that are really doing what they can to practice sustainability in every facet of their brand. This may look like everything from where they find the materials that they use to the materials themselves, as well as the people they hire and how they ship out products.
It may take time to find the shoes that you want to wear that are also created with the environment in mind, but wouldn’t it feel great to wear sustainable footwear that you know were made with care? From women’s flats to high heels, you’d be amazed at what you can find that is sustainable and ethical with just a little extra research.
Buy durable for longevity
If you want to buy shoes but also care about how your fashion choices impact the planet, it’s a good idea to shop around for shoes that are made with durability in mind. While it can be a challenge to find shoes that are designed well yet also created sustainably, brands like these do exist.
The longer-lasting the shoe, the better it will be for you and also for the environment. Who wants to repeatedly have to buy shoes anyway? When you buy with durability in mind, you can trust that you’ll have those shoes for many years to come, helping you to save money and time spent on shopping for new shoes.
Think about location
While we all may love Italian fashion sense and style, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to look for shoes made abroad. Instead, consider how you can help reduce your carbon footprint by shopping for local brands that are made in your area. If you can’t find that, as it is a big ask, national products can help you rest assured that you’re not getting products that have been flown, shipped, and trucked to you, all impacting the environment.
Multiple shoes or just a few
If you want to do what you can for the environment, look for shoes that are durable, but also think about how many shoes you really need. A shopping spree may feel good in the moment until you realize that you don’t actually use half of the things you bought.
Take time to find shoes that can work with various types of outfits so that you minimize the number of shoes you’ll actually need to keep in your closet.
Look beyond design and material
While the way they’re designed for longevity and the materials are important, look beyond the exterior. What about fair trade and ethics? Is the brand that is designing “sustainable products” making them with humanity in mind? Are you supporting a company that has some questionable practices or ways of impacting the world around them?
Yes, we typically go into a store and buy pretty shoes, but do you know where they’re coming from? Take time to read about sustainable brands in the fashion world so you can ensure you’re only buying from companies that care about the future of our planet as well as the humans on it right now.
In Conclusion
Fast fashion isn’t doing much good for our planet, and yet a lot of us buy without thinking about the impact we’re having on our world. Instead of rushing to buy the latest trends, shop for sustainable footwear slowly, meticulously, and with the environment in mind. It’s worth it!
