Summer is here in Europa and North America. Scandinavian celebrations like Midsummer’s Eve and Sankt Hans have just passed and the most popular topic at the moment is the hot weather. June is normally popular for its rainy and cold days but when global temperatures keep on increasing, heat waves like this will be a more common sight even among the most northern countries on the planet.

One of the closet items normally harder to find on second-hand or pre-loved is shoes. We might be lucky to find our size but to find good sandals suitable for your feet that you can walk in and feel comfortable in, is not the easiest hunt. Shoes are easily worn out and our dear feet need good shoes for walking. That being said, we still believe you should search on the second-hand market before buying new, but when you buy, buy consciously.

We have prepared a list for you with some of the more ethical and conscious brands out there in times when you need a good pair of sandals for hot days.

Teva

Price: 25-100 USD

One of the more classic brands that have been around for some time (1984) has but strong efforts in their sustainability work. Teva has joined the Science-Based Targets Initiative where they are measuring their carbon emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3, where scope 3 includes the supply chain) with the goal of reducing their emissions by 35% per pair of shoes. They are also measuring waste, water and energy with clear goals and commitment to each environmental aspect. Teva is using several sustainable materials such as recycled polyester, responsible cotton and recycled cotton. They have a second-hand program to give new Teva shoes a second life. The company is transparent with the areas where they are not fully sustainable yet, they’re using leather with lower environmental impact but are also offering vegan choices. Teva shoes are available in many stores and countries and therefore a good option for those who would like to try their shoes on before buying.

Blankens

1195 - 2395 SEK

The Swedish brand Blankens, founded in 2014, has its production in Portugal in factories run by renewable energy. They only use high-quality material to make the shoe last for years to come. Chrome-free leather sourced in Europe, recycled plastic and vegetable-tanned leather are among the materials. Time-less design is their philosophy. Shoes are meant to be worn season to season.

NAE

79-110 euros

NAE stands for No Animal Exploitation. The vegan brand NAE was founded in Portugal and are PETA-approved. Some of the materials used are recycled PET, organic cotton and Pinatex (partly made of pineapple leather). All shoes have a recycled car tire outsole and cork and natural latex slip sole and are produced in Portugal.

Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather

1230 - 1274 SEK

Founded in Paris in 2011 this vegan, the cruelty-free brand aims to create 100% vegan shoes under fair-trade working conditions, produced in Europe. They use vegan microfibers materials that are produced according to Oekotex Standard 100 Class approved and REACH (no chemicals) certified for the upper. They have recently also started with APPLESKIN™ which is made from apple waste from the juice industry and you can learn more in detail exactly what materials are being used here!

Green Laces

1200 SEK

The Swedish vegan store Green Laces have come with its own products! These sandals produced in a vegan factory in Brazil are Oeko-tex® certified according to Standard 100, PVC free, Chrome free, produced according to REACH Regulation 1907:2006, recyclable and PETA certified. The founder and owner Nina, knows what she talks about when talking about cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. You can read our interview with her here!

Christy Dawn

3000 SEK

Christy Dawn is a deadstock fashion company. They slowly use materials that have been left over and unsold in the fashion industry. The brand design and produce in the USA on their own and partners factories in L.A. They have initiated a Farm-to-Closet initiative to help soil and land regenerate in India.

The Nude Label

181 euro

Designed and produced in Spain this brand aims for a lower carbon footprint while producing quality vegan products. The company has a code of conduct following the ILO standards for good labour. They make their own audits on their supply chain to guarantee safe working conditions and environmentally friendly production. The sandals have wood that are responsibly sourced and bio-vegan leather.

7 sustainable sandal and shoe brands for hot days