Photosource: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/1588469549_3d6b718d87.jpg?v=0
I realized while reflecting on products I’ve covered in the last year that I’ve been ignoring a part of the puzzle so essential when getting dressed in the morning: SHOES!
Surprisingly, there are a wonderfully large number of companies offering Vegan/Fair Trade alternatives to the shoes we wear and love everyday! And many aren’t even that much more expensive then those we are buying already, so please join me in checking out some different companies:
Kidbean.com offers all different kinds of accessories for children, but I want to focus on their broad options for Vegan/Sweatshop Free shoes today. Please see their website for more options. They have some clearance items right now as well, so check it out before it’s too late!
The Vegetarian Site is full of different kinds of shoes you may not even expect there would be a Vegetarian option for from many different stores. On this site one can find sneakers, hiking books, everyday boots, nice work shoes, and Hemp sandals. It’s definitely worth a look!
Photosource: www.thevegetariansite.com
Above you can see the “JoJo” Boots are classy, sleek, and Vegan! They feature a Vegetan upper (a breathable and water-resistant synthetic leather that is 70-80% biodegradable) and a rubber sole. Made in Portugal. See these and more.
| JoJo Boot by Vegetarian Shoes |
Or you can check out a forum for many different sites offering alternative Vegan/Fair Trade options for footwear and other products at Vegan Peace.com.
And last but not least, the company I’d like to feature in this article you may or may not of heard of, as they have been gaining a lot of media attention recently:
Photosource: http://smcnally10.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/toms_logo.jpg
TOMS was started in 2006 with the goal of providing a needy child with a pair of shoes for every paid sold on the website. Since then, they have met and surpassed all expectation by giving away over 400,000 pairs of shoes to children in need. After news of the earthquake in Haiti reached founder Blake Mycoskie, he promised to donate 30,000 pairs of shoes by February in addition to monetary donations, whether that many pairs are sold on the website or not. Watch a video about TOMS shoes and their mission.
For their original ideas, genuine caring effort and compassion, TOMS is an amazing shoe provider and deservers all the suppor they can get!
Photosource: http://mustafaazak.org/mantar/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/tomsshoes-shoes.jpg
Above are only a couple examples of all the different creative patterns and styles TOMS Shoes can be ordered in. Also, founder standing with many children who have been made happy with purchases from people like you 🙂 So go to the website today, and personally make a difference to one child without shoes!
Fair Trade Fashionista* 
