How to Shop for Vegan Shoes and Accessories: Materials, Labels, Glues, and Durability

Shoes are one of the harder items to replace when you go vegan. They are a significant purchase, they need to fit and support your feet, and their construction involves more hidden parts than almost any other clothing. This guide explains how to read materials, which label symbols to know, how to judge durability, and how the same logic applies to bags, belts, wallets, and watch straps.

What makes a shoe not vegan?

A shoe is built from several layers, and any of them can be animal-derived.

• Upper: the visible outside of the shoe. Leather, suede, nubuck, patent leather, and wool are common non-vegan uppers.
• Lining and sock (insole cover): often leather, even on shoes with synthetic uppers, because it is breathable.
• Heel counters and reinforcements: hidden stiffeners can be leather or leatherboard (fibers bonded with other materials).
• Tabs, patches, and trims: suede heel tabs, leather brand patches, and fur or shearling trims.
• Adhesives: most modern shoe glues are synthetic, but animal-derived glues have been used in footwear. Brands rarely list glue, so this usually requires asking.
• Laces and thread: almost always cotton or synthetic, occasionally leather laces on boots and boat shoes.

The leather words to recognize

Leather hides behind a surprising number of terms. All of these are animal skin:

• Genuine leather, full grain, top grain, bonded leather, split leather
• Suede and nubuck (both are leather with a brushed finish)
• Patent leather (leather with a glossy coating, though synthetic patent also exists, so check)
• Nappa, calfskin, kidskin, lambskin, pigskin, deerskin
• Exotic skins, such as snakeskin, crocodile, ostrich, and stingray (sometimes sold as “shagreen”)
• Shearling and sheepskin

On the vegan side, look for polyurethane (PU), microfiber, “vegan leather,” canvas, cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, cork, rubber, and bio-based leathers made from plants or fungi. Our comparison of vegan leather alternatives explains how the newer plant-based materials differ.

How to read shoe labels and pictograms

In the EU and UK, footwear carries a label showing what the upper, the lining and sock, and the outer sole are made of, using simple pictograms. The leather symbol looks like a stretched animal hide; coated leather, textiles, and other materials each have their own symbol. Other countries use their own labeling systems or written material lists, and online listings often put materials in a “details” or “specifications” section.

Beyond material labels, look for:

• Recognized vegan certification marks, such as the Vegan Society trademark or PETA’s vegan label. These mean the product was declared free of animal materials, including glues.
• Explicit brand statements that a specific product is vegan, not just that it is “leather-free” or “synthetic.”
• Vegan filters on retailer sites. Helpful, but verify: filters are sometimes applied based on the upper only.

A vegan shoe-buying checklist

1. Read the materials for the upper, lining, insole, and outsole.
2. Look closely at tabs, patches, pull loops, and trims in the photos.
3. Check for a vegan certification mark or explicit vegan claim for that exact product.
4. If glue is not mentioned, email the brand: “Are the adhesives used in this model free of animal-derived ingredients?”
5. Check construction for durability (see below).
6. Check the return policy before buying online, especially for boots and athletic shoes.
7. Recheck when a model is updated. Materials can change between seasons even when the name stays the same.

How to choose vegan shoes that last

The durability question comes up constantly, and the honest answer is that construction quality matters more than whether a shoe is vegan. A cheap leather shoe falls apart too. Here is how to judge quality.

Care tips that extend the life of vegan shoes

• Rotate pairs so each can dry out fully between wears.
• Use shoe trees or stuff shoes with paper to keep their shape.
• Clean synthetic uppers with a damp cloth and mild soap; avoid harsh solvents.
• Waterproof canvas with a vegan fabric protector (many leather conditioners contain beeswax or lanolin, so check).
• Take them to a cobbler for heel and sole repairs. Cobblers can repair many vegan shoes, especially stitched ones.

Athletic and outdoor footwear

Running shoes and trainers are often mostly synthetic already, which makes them some of the easiest vegan shoes to find. Suede overlays, leather heel tabs, and glue are the main things to check. For performance details, see our guide to vegan running shoes and athletic footwear, and for the rest of your kit, plant-based workout gear. Hiking boots have traditionally used leather or suede, but synthetic hiking boots with waterproof membranes are widely available; check the lining and the insole, and ask about glue.

Bags, belts, wallets, and watch straps

The same logic applies to accessories: check every material, including the parts you do not see at first.

• Bags: check straps, handles, trims, and zipper pulls, which are often leather even on canvas bags. Durable vegan options include waxed cotton canvas, recycled nylon, thick PU, and cork.
• Belts: woven canvas, webbing, cork, and quality PU belts are common. Check the lining of the belt as well as the outer face.
• Wallets: look for PU, cork, recycled materials, or fabric. Watch for leather interior card slots.
• Watch straps: silicone, rubber, nylon, metal, and vegan leather straps are all widely available; many watches come with leather straps by default but can be ordered or refitted with a different one.
• Gloves and hats: check for wool, cashmere, leather palms, and fur or shearling trims. Our guide to wool, silk, down, and leather alternatives covers warm-weather and cold-weather swaps.
• Travel gear: luggage tags, handles, and toiletry bags can include leather. See vegan travel planning and packing.

What about the leather shoes you already own?

There is no need to throw them out. Many vegans wear existing shoes until they need replacing, then buy vegan. Others donate or resell them. The point is what you buy next. If you want the broader picture, our vegan lifestyle guide suggests an order for switching over clothing, beauty, and home goods.

Your next step

Before your next shoe purchase, write down the three things you need most from the pair, such as waterproofing, all-day comfort, or a formal look. Then shortlist products that list full materials for upper, lining, and sole, check for certification or an explicit vegan claim, and send one email about glue if it is not stated. Buy the best-constructed option you can afford, and look after it so it lasts.