What About Shoes

I don’t know if I would consider myself a ‘tree-hugger’, perhaps because the term has connotations that include tie-dyed dresses and unwashed hair, but I am environmentally aware and I do try to be as ‘green’ as possible. As a result, I tend to punt products that are vegan or made from recycled goods, or at least are made by manufacturers who use ethical production methods. That means that since reading about Bourgeois Boheme, and their eco- and animal-friendly practices, I have become a big fan.

Based in London, Bourgeois Boheme specialises in his ‘n hers environmentally-friendly fashion, including shoes, belts, scarves, gloves, wallets, purses and bags; they’ve won several PETA awards, including the 2008 PETA Proggy Award for Best Cruelty-free Online Vendor, and have been officially approved by the Vegan Society. And they have just revealed their new winter line of shoes, called “Love Goddess”. The line includes faux patent-“leather” riding boots, with extra space at the top for ladies with legs that don’t look like bits of spaghetti.

BoBo Boots

There are also funky purple wedges (which I adore), flat moccasins and office pumps, most of which have matching belts. All shoes in the Love Goddess line are made from “micro-fibre”, which is 80% biodegradable and 100% vegan-friendly. And they look fab. They’re a little pricy with styles ranging from £65 – £110, but when you think how much good goes into them, somehow that makes it all better. Love Goddess shoes are available from BoBo online, at Hydrex House in London (their first offline retail location) and can also be shipped internationally.

BoBo purple wedges

In other eco-friendly shoe news, Tree Hugger, the website with an eco-conscious, listed their top 5 eco-shoes, and while the Love Goddess line is too new to make the cut, there are plenty of other earth-friendly footwear manufacturers to applaud. I’ll give you my two favourites:

White Intrigue Shoes

Intrigue shoes by Earth use ‘negative heel technology’ that is supposed to improve your posture and alignment while making you feel as though you are working barefoot in the sand. This is my kind of shoe, especially as the sole is made from natural rubber sole and they stock vegan styles and the colours are uber-cool. Prices are around £90.

Pink Intrigue Shoes

Stella McCartney’s vegan boots, or, to be more exact: Stella McCartney anything. I freely confess that I am a Beatle-maniac, and that by association I am inclined to like things even remotely connected to all things Beatle. But Stella McCartney appeals to me for different reasons. One: her designs are gorgeous. Two: she has an unswerving devotion to animal friendly products and even foregoes PVC in favour of plant materials. She’s just plain cool.

Stella Wedges

Stella for Adidas