Sneaker culture is no longer confined to a select coterie of enthusiasts. While trawling StockX to check the market value of your favourite kicks or lining up for hours to get your hands on the latest limited drop may still be reserved for avid sneakerheads, sneakers themselves are well and truly part of the mainstream. Shedding their purely athletic origins, sneakers constitute daily wear for a large part of the population.
You only need look at the enduring appeal of the Adidas Sambas (they even survived being worn by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — endorsement by middle-aged politicos is typically a fatal blow to popularity in the fashion world) and the resultant popularity extended to similar styles like the Onitsuka Tiger, Adidas Gazelle, and Puma Palermo. With that in mind, the best sneakers not only serve a functional purpose but look good doing it; something that’s extended into the burgeoning vegan sneaker market. It’s no longer enough to simply meet the basic designation of being vegan by using animal-free materials, the best vegan sneakers are those that don’t necessarily look vegan.
While before canvas, hemp, or other fabrics were the go-to materials for vegan sneakers, these have a decidedly ‘crunchy’ appearance and don’t quite pass muster in our book. Contrary to what some brands may believe, those who choose to opt for vegan sneakers don’t necessarily want to look like they’re on their way to a chia seed convention. Fortunately, major advancements in alternative leather research have resulted in a serious improvement in the aesthetic of vegan sneakers over the past few years. In addition to pineapple, mushroom, and apple leathers, there’s also corn and grape leather, as well as other bio-based alternatives such as Natural Fiber Welding’s plastic-free Mirum.
Related: The Best Minimalist Sneakers For Men Are Anything But Boring
Alongside mainstream brands producing non-leather versions of their signature styles (think Adidas Stan Smiths) or innovative new styles using plant based materials (the Billie Eilish x Nike Air Alpha Force 88 springs to mind), there’s also a growing crop (pun slightly intended) of dedicated vegan sneaker brands making unique and innovative plant-based kicks.
From chunky retro-style sneakers to pared-back minimalist styles, our list of the best vegan sneakers has something for every taste.
1. Løci Atom
One of the newer brands on this list, British brand Løci (pronounced ‘low key’)—which recently welcomed rapper Nicki Minaj as a co-owner—has been making some of the coolest vegan sneakers on the market since its launch in 2021. Specialising in vegan sneakers with an urban, streetwear aesthetic, Løci uses both recycled ocean plastic and bio-leather, which is made with recycled textiles and corn waste. The latter material in particular is of interest, with the bio-leather offering the elevated aesthetic of leather without the use of animal products. It can be seen in the Løci Atom, a futuristic take on a classic skate shoe. The low-top style features contrasting overlays, with the triple-tone effect extending onto the recycled rubber sole. The Løci Atom is more of a fashion sneaker; if you’re looking for a vegan sneaker with more cushioning for running or walking longer distances, we’d recommend the Echo or Fusion styles.
Price: $261AUD
Materials: recycled textiles, corn, natural cork, recycled foam, recycled nylon
Colour range: 13
Vegan brand? Yes
2. Moea Gen 2 Pastel Drop
One of the most impressive vegan sneaker brands when it comes to material innovation. Moea (which stands for ‘MOther EArth’) uses a varied array of alternative leathers including materials made from apples, grapes, mushrooms, cactus, pineapples, corn, and oranges; with each sneaker handily specifying its plant makeup. One of our favourites is the ‘all-in’, which uses a blend of pineapple, apple, and corn leathers. The Moea Gen 2 Pastel Drop is one such sneaker; crafted from an array of plant-based biomaterials, it oozes old-school cool. Fusing vintage basketball aesthetics with contemporary streetwear design codes, it sees a chunky yet wearable silhouette adorned with overlays in varying colours and textures. Soft baby pink and blue overlays feature on the heel counter and quarter, while the mudguard and heel counter are fitted with beige overlays with a suede-like finish. One of our favourite retro vegan sneakers, the Moea Gen 2 Pastel Drop is one of the coolest designs of the market — vegan or otherwise.
Price: $379AUD
Materials: pineapple fibre, polylactic acid, polyurethane, corn polyols, viscose, apple, cotton, rubber, bamboo (varies depending on colourway)
Colour range: ten
Vegan brand? Yes
Related: The Best Retro-Inspired Sneakers Are The Ones You Haven’t Heard Of
3. Rombaut Nucleo
Despite the numerous sneaker brands on the market, it can be difficult to find ones—vegan or otherwise—that actually offer something different. Parisian brand Rombaut excels here, with the futuristic Nucleo sneaker that looks like something an alien would wear. A chunky serrated sole with a sculptural heel detail is topped with a moulded upper that features an amalgamation of mesh, synthetic overlays, and bubble-effect details. The result is a sneaker that differentiates itself from others on the market.
Price: approx. $695AUD (€420)
Materials: polyurethane, rubber, polyester, EVA, mesh (varies depending on colourway)
Colour range: 15
Vegan brand? Yes
4. Saye M70 Dart
Barcelona-based brand Saye has made a name for itself thanks to its fusion of retro inspiration and clean aesthetics, rendered in plant-based materials. While Saye initially sold leather sneakers, the brand has been fully vegan since 2021. There are several styles we like—including the M92 Bold which combines straps with laces—however the Saye M70 Dart is our pick of the bunch. When it comes to vegan sneakers, it’s difficult to find ones that replicate the look of suede; the M70 Dart has achieved it in style, with this low-top style exuding retro flair.
Price: approx. $290AUD (€175)
Materials: corn, polyurethane, bamboo, recycled PET
Colour range: three
Vegan brand? Yes
5. Flamingos Life Burela Slim
Flamingos Life, a Spanish plant-based sneaker brand, creates sneakers that are retro-inspired without being derivative. The Flamingos Life Burela Slim is a low-top design which maintains a streamlined aesthetic by using cut-outs with contrasting underlays rather than conventional overlays. Each of the eight colourways is cool in its own right, however we’re gravitating towards the silver or cherry iterations.
Price: $335AUD
Materials: apple waste, polyurethane, bamboo, rubber (varies depending on colourway)
Colour range: eight
Vegan brand? Yes
6. Corail Dream
The best vegan sneakers not only look good, but make you feel good about wearing them. Dedicated to cleaning up the sea, French sneaker brand Corail makes its sneakers from ocean waste collected by fishermen. The brand’s lab is based in the port town of Marseille, where it transforms plastic bottles, marine litter, and fishing nets into durable, high-performance materials which are then made into sneakers in Portugal. The Corail Dream is a minimalist style that features tonal or contrasting overlays in a smooth leather-look or suede-look material, with a chunky rubber sole.
Price: $333AUD
Materials: recycled plastic waste, corn, recycled rubber, PET bottles
Colour range: six
Vegan brand? Yes
7. Pangaia
One of our favourite brands for understated minimalist sneakers, the Pangaia Grape Sneakers are crafted from grape leather (made from waste from the winemaking industry and polyurethane). Currently available in black or white, the Pangaia Grape Sneakers are a monochromatic low-top style devoid of extraneous details such as overlays and contrasting materials, save for a block of text on the lateral quarter describing the sneakers’ composition.
Price: $160AUD
Materials: grapes, polyurethane, cotton, lyocell
Colour range: two
Vegan brand? No (vegetarian)
8. New Balance 990v5 Vegan
First released in the early ‘80s, the New Balance 990 has enduring appeal. Known for its monochromatic grey hues, the 990 has long transcended its origins as a purpose-built running shoe and become an indisputable street style icon. Since its inception over forty years ago, it’s been iterated over and over again, with endless colours and collabs introduced into the mix. However, the New Balance 990v5 Vegan marks the first time the style has been made sans suede or pigskin. The 990v5 Vegan stays true to the original grey aesthetic; constructed from synthetic materials, it swaps the pigskin overlays for polyurethane over mesh and features comfortable Ortholite inserts, resulting in a sneaker that looks good on the street and performs well when pounding the pavement.
Price: from $280AUD
Materials: polyurethane, polyester, rubber
Colour range: one
Vegan brand? No
9. Adidas Stan Smith
While its ubiquity may lead some to deem it ‘basic’, the Adidas Stan Smith has served as the blueprint for legions of minimalist sneakers before it. Without the Adidas Stan Smith, we wouldn’t have kicks like the Common Projects Achilles and Axel Arigato Clean 90. Minimalist without being devoid of idiosyncratic details, the Adidas Stan Smith is an instantly recognisable style, thanks to its perforated three stripes and green heel tab. While it was once made from animal leather, it’s now vegan by default; the classic Stan Smith (as well as white and black iterations) has a synthetic vegan upper and an outsole made from rubber waste.
Price: $170AUD
Materials: recycled polyester, rubber
Colour range: four
Vegan brand? No
10. Veja Fitz Roy
Veja is one of the go-to names that spring to mind when one thinks of the best vegan sneakers. The sustainably minded French footwear brand has a wide selection of vegan sneakers, with both fashion-forward and performance oriented styles. Able to traverse varied geographical and social terrain, the Veja Fitz Roy is a purpose-built hiking sneaker that just happens to look pretty damn good. It features a solid, stable rubber sole with multi-directional crampons for optimal grip and a Trek-Shell (a tightly woven in-house technical material with exceptional durability) upper, with overlaid polyurethane panels that resemble the mountains the sneakers are designed to roam.
Price: approx. $330AUD (€199)
Materials: recycled polyester, polyurethane, ricinus oil, rubber, sugar cane
Colour range: 14
Vegan brand? No
11. Oliver Cabell Vegan 694
While Oliver Cabell made a name for itself by its minimalist leather sneakers, the brand has expanded its range to include a few vegan-friendly styles. Boasting a subtle vintage aesthetic, the Oliver Cabell Vegan 694 retains the brand’s essentialist design language with a streamlined silhouette, but adds visual interest through a sparing use of overlays in muted tones. Uppers are crafted from corn leather (composed of corn waste and bio-based polyurethane), while soles make use of natural and recycled rubber.
Price: approx. $253AUD ($169USD)
Materials: corn waste, bio-based polyurethane, EVA, rubber, bamboo
Colour range: five
Vegan brand? No
12. Clae Joshua Cactus
Los Angeles-based brand Clae has reimagined several of its most popular styles in vegan-friendly materials. The Clae Joshua Cactus has a mesh and cactus leather upper and boasts a modern aesthetic defined by earthy tones; ideally suited to casual and streetwear outfits. The Clae Joshua also comes in vegan-friendly versions made from apple leather and recycled mesh.
Price: $315AUS
Materials: cactus, polyurethane, recycled polyester
Colour range: 17
Vegan brand? No
13. Mercer Amsterdam The Re-Run Speed
A sneaker brand committed to producing distinctive silhouettes that don’t compromise on sustainability, Mercer Amsterdam looks to vintage sports teams for inspiration. The Mercer Amsterdam The Re-Run Speed features a recycled mesh upper emblazoned with tonal overlays, which is complemented by a matching rubber sole. The brand also makes The Re-Run sneaker in cactus and pineapple leather iterations.
Price: approx. $280AUD (€169)
Materials: recycled plastic, recycled rubber
Colour range: two
Vegan brand? No
FAQ
The best dedicated vegan sneaker brands are Løci, Moea, Corail, Flamingos Life, Saye, Corail, and Thaely.
While most Adidas styles use animal leather, the brand’s Stan Smith sneakers are vegan and there is also a vegan version of the Sambas.
If you’ve enjoyed this sneaker guide, why not check out some of our other footwear style guides? Here are some recommendations to get you started.
- These Sneakers Are More At Home Paired With A Suit Than On The Field
- The Best Minimalist Sneakers For Men Are Anything But Boring
- The Best Retro-Inspired Sneakers Are The Ones You Haven’t Heard Of
- The Best Men’s Hiking Boots & How to Style Them
- The Ultimate Guide To Monk Strap Shoes + 9 Best Monk Straps To Buy
- How To Style Men’s Loafers For (Almost) Any Occasion
Words by Theo Rosen and T. Angel
