Vegan Shoes? Everything You Need To Know

As a woman, you understand the pain of searching for that perfect shoe all too well...you wander in just about every mall for hours—and still, you can't quite find a shoe that matches the adorable outfit you've picked out.

Finally, when you think you've had enough, you find the most beautiful pair of shoes! Unfortunately, your shoes don't quite meet your expectations. By the end of the night, your feet are in so much pain that you can hardly walk!

We know exactly how that feels, and that's why Burju Shoes is the answer to all of your problems in just about every way.

What Is Burju Shoes?

From fashion shoes, to modern dance shoes, and bridal and custom shoes—there is something for everyone at Burju. Even if you can't quite find what you are looking for, the beauty of Burju is that you can save money and time by creating your own unique style.

Burju is an online shopping platform that specializes in selling comfortable, durable, and supportive heels of all varieties—including vegan.

Did You Say Vegan...Shoes?

That's right. One of the unique aspects of Burju is the fact that we offer comfortable, high-quality, vegan leather shoes. So, the real question is: what exactly are vegan shoes? You're in luck. In this post, we will make sure to lay out everything there is to know about animal-friendly shoes.

What Are Vegan Shoes Made Of

Similar to vegan foods, vegan shoes are made without the use of animal byproducts.

Regular Shoes vs. Vegan Shoes

Many shoes are made out of animal-based materials such as leather, suede, wool, shearling, silk, or fur. Vegan shoes, on the other hand, are typically made out of synthetic fabrics. For example, vegan suede is often made out of a synthetic microfiber fabric, with Italian faux leathers and 100% recycled Dinamica faux suede, to name a few.

Vegan leather is a different story. Most vegan leathers are made out of polyurethane—a type of plastic bonded to a cotton backing. And in replacement of a leather-soled shoe, most animal-friendly shoes are made out of a part-recycled resin sole with insoles made out of recycled cardboard (This is considered the "industry" standard).

Interestingly, the talk on vegan leather doesn't stop there. According to RTE Lifestyle online magazine, vegan leather falls into three broad categories: pleather, natural materials such as Pinatex, and lab-grown leather. As you may have already guessed, each category is significantly different.

What Is Pleather?

Pleather is mock leather that is actually made out of plastic. As mentioned above, polyurethane is most often used, but so is traditional PVC plastic. Due to recent research, there is quite a bit of debate on pleather's effect on the environment.

Those who are environmentally friendly aim to stay away from faux leathers because polyurethane and PVC are not biodegradable. So, while pleather is a great vegan alternative, it's not the most eco-friendly option to choose from. On the flip side, some believe that faux leather is still a better alternative compared to real, animal leather because animal hides are treated with dangerous chemicals such as chromium, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide.

What Is Pinatex?

Pinatex is a newer, up-and-coming, naturally sourced material, and here's the great news: it's not potentially damaging to the environment. Advocates of Pinatex claim the product is a sustainably sourced, cruel-free material because it's actually a byproduct of the pineapple harvest - a leather-like material made by using fibers from the fruit's leaf. Most of the time, these leaves are thrown away, but now, it's reusable.

What Is Lab-Grown Leather?

Another animal and eco-friendly option falls under the "lab-grown leather" category. This type of leather is currently under development, but in short, real animal skin is grown without farming or killing an animal. In other words, this innovation will allow designers to use real leather without harming animals or the environment.

The Benefits of Vegan Leather

Compared to regular leather, there are many benefits to wearing vegan leather shoes besides the obvious cruelty-free benefits. Some of these upsides to vegan leather are as follows:

• Thinner and lightweight
• Sustainable
• Durable
• Comfortable
• Breathable and antibacterial
• Repairable
• Waterproof
• Budget-friendly
• Great quality

What About Vegan Shoe Glue?

If you are trying your best to live an animal-friendly, cruelty-free lifestyle, you might be wondering if the entire shoe-making process follows suit. And yes, it does.

For centuries, glue used to be made from pig, cow, or horse collagen—a protein produced by animal bodies and harvested after the animals were deceased. However, synthetic glues have proven to be much more effective, of higher quality, and lower in cost compared to animal-based glues.

Visit Burju

The founder and CEO of Burju shoes had one main goal during the company's first few years: to design fashionable dancing heels that are equally comfortable and easy to move in. Well, she not only achieved this goal, but she also created a fully-accessible website with thousands of customizable, affordable, unique, and sexy shoes for all lifestyles and preferences, including vegans.

In the words of Burju Perez, "We sell dance shoes with a flair for fashion so dancers can look as amazing as they move. Don't let your shoe addiction kill your feet!"