? Sadly, we have to close our beloved Fitzroy store because, despite fighting as hard as we can, the cost-of-living crisis finally got us.   Things have been tough lately. Everything is getting more expensive - like rent, insurance, and staff costs. But at the same time, everyone is struggling and people aren't coming to the shop as much, and sales are going down. We just can't afford to keep it open anymore. But don't worry, our online shop is still going strong, and we will keep it going - at least for the time being. We don't know the exact day we'll close yet, but ..read more

Let's look back on the history of Vegan Style due to the closing of our Fitzroy store, through the eyes of Justin Mead the founder of Vegan Style and Zette.  How Vegan Style started It all started during our travels abroad in the mid 2000s, where my partner and I were blown away by the stylish vegan shoes we found – quite a contrast to the struggle of finding similar options back home. Then in 2010, thanks to an introduction to a Brazilian vegan brand from my sister who was living there at the time, Vegan Style came to life! We kicked things off in a small way, storing shoes in our spare ..read more

Vegan leather is a synthetic material that imitates the look and feel of animal leather. It is often made from a variety of materials, such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), innovative new fruit leathers, Mirum, cork, and recycled materials that can be designed to look like a variety of leather types. Vegan leather offers many advantages over traditional leather, including being more sustainable, biodegradable, and even compostable. Let's dive into the vegan leathers, and upcoming leather alternative innovations we at Vegan Style use for our shoes! *Image of our Black Croc Men ..read more

If you know anything about Vegan Style, you know that we love animals – it’s why we don’t make or sell any shoes made from animals. Leather is a profitable co-product of the meat and dairy industry and without skins, slaughterhouses lose profits. This is reason enough to avoid leather and opt for more ethical alternatives, but there are other justice issues related to leather production, too. Leather supply chains are full of human harms, too. Collective Fashion Justice’s new report series, ‘Under their skin’, just released its first chapter, on ‘leather’s impact on people’. Exploring is ..read more

Our in-house label Zette is luxuriously, ethically made across Brazil, Spain and Portugal. Featuring a selection of opulent, playful and elegant materials, Zette’s latest collection is animal-free and ready to star in your wardrobe. Here are some highlights from the collection: ‘Menos’ This perfectly cut mid-calf boot pairs superbly with culottes and higher cut pants or denim, underneath longer, flared pants, with mid-length and short skirts and dresses. Accentuating the length and natural curves of your legs, these boots are timelessly flattering and stylish. Available in three different em ..read more

There’s plenty to learn about when it comes to ethics and sustainability related issues in the fashion industry. While it’s important to understand where our clothes, shoes and bags come from – and at what price – it can be overwhelming. Films and short videos are a great way to begin to understand big and complex problems, immersing ourselves in a world of information. So, here’s some of the best films and short videos to learn about ethical fashion.    What do we mean by ethical fashion? When we refer to ‘ethical fashion’, we really mean ‘total ethics fashion’, which is fashion tha ..read more

When we hear the word ‘natural’, we might be inclined to think of it as nearly synonymous with other environmentally related words like ‘sustainable’ or eco-friendly’. But is this accurate? Are natural materials always the most sustainable choice? The reality is a little more complicated. What are natural materials? ‘Natural materials’ are defined as any materials which come from plants, animals or the ground; anything from the ‘natural world’. Sometimes these materials are more specifically referred to as ‘biotic materials’, or materials which are biologically derived from a living organism ..read more

During the colder months, many people turn to animal-derived materials like down feather, wool, cashmere, fur, and leather. To protect animals, as well the people and the planet, it’s best to avoid animal-derived materials. So how can we keep warm in winter while dressing vegan? * A faux fur jacket made from recycled synthetics, from PETA certified brand Jakke Avoiding fur – it’s not as simple as it first seems While most people no longer wear floor-length mink coats or fox fur shawls, to assume fur no longer slips into people’s wardrobes – even without our noticing – is unfortunately in ..read more

Whether you’re looking to nail the country look, wearing a crisp outfit to the office, heading out for a picnic, date night or drinks, or if you're in need of an everyday shoe, chelsea boots have got you covered. What are ‘chelsea’ boots? Traditionally, chelsea boots are snugly fitting, ankle-high boots that feature elasticated side panels. The shoes often have a loop tap on the back, making them easy to get on. Chelsea boots were first designed by one of Queen Victoria’s bootmakers, with the goal of making boots that were more functional – easy to pull off and on, unlike laced boots. Origina ..read more

It would be fair to assume that a shoe that’s made of faux leather – say, a synthetic material – is a vegan shoe, right? Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. If we want to make sure our wardrobes are totally free from animal-derived materials, as well as the cruelty and environmental harm associated with them, there are a few extra things to look out for. A faux leather upper doesn’t mean a faux leather shoe Even if the outside of a shoe – you know, the part that we actually see and think of as a shoe – is made from a vegan leather alternative, there might be animal skin leather lurkin ..read more