14 Sustainable Brands Selling Beautiful, Comfortable Sandals For Every Summer Outing
Image: Able
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THE BEST Eco-Friendly & SUSTAINABLE SANDALS
Sandals are go-to wardrobe staples in most closets during the warmer months. They are the ideal shoes to wear when it is hot outside or when we go to the beach!
But as we wear them all the time in the summer, they can quickly wear out and break, especially if we do not initially invest in quality. Worn-out sandals, which are by the way often made with unsustainable materials, then end up in landfill where they will not biodegrade for at least several centuries.
As a conscious consumer, you might want to reduce the environmental impact of your shoe collection and be on the lookout for durable and sustainably made sandals. Thankfully, thanks to many ethical brands, we can now purchase models that are not only comfortable and made to last but also crafted with the planet in mind.
In this article, we have rounded up 14 sustainable brands selling beautiful sandals that you will be able to wear for all your summer outings!
WHAT MAKES SANDALS SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainable sandals are shoes that are built to last and that you can wear for multiple seasons. They are made with eco-friendly materials with longevity and quality in mind.
They are also crafted ethically by workers who are paid fair, living wages and offered employee benefits, and who work under safe, healthy, and dignified conditions.
Sustainable sandal brands should also be transparent about their manufacturing processes, produce their shoes in an eco-friendly way, and make them in smaller batches to avoid waste and overproduction.
WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
Sustainable brands use a variety of eco-friendly materials to produce their sandals. You can find models made from recycled plastic, organic cotton, cork, jute, or even deadstock and upcycled materials.
Some companies also use more innovative materials made from the byproducts of the food industry, like piñatex, apple leather, and VEGEA.
The outsoles are often made with natural rubber, and heeled pairs can feature a heel produced from sustainably-harvested wood.
Some sustainable brands choose to make their sandals from leather, which is generally not an eco-friendly material. However, if it is vegetable-tanned and sourced responsibly and from Leather Working Group certified tanneries, leather can be a great material for crafting very durable sandals that can last for years.
NOW, OUR TOP PICKS FOR COMFY, SUSTAINABLE SANDALS
1) Nisolo
For: Women & Men
Materials: Leather, Wood, Rubber
Price: $69-180
Nisolo offers a wide variety of women’s sandals, from heeled sandals and flip-flops to slip-on models and closed-toe sandals. The company has a style for every occasion!
Men can also choose between different models, including slip-ons and huarache sandals that are perfect for dressing up or down.
The brand makes its sandals using water-resistant leather, meaning you can even wear them at the beach!
The leather is sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry, and it comes from Mexican or American tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group. Nisolo also partners with tanneries using vegetable tanning, which is a lot more sustainable.
The company is B Corp and Climate-Neutral certified, and it was ranked as the best-performing brand in terms of transparency in Remake’s 2021 Accountability Report. It even has a shoe reclamation program!
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2) Sézane
For: Women
Materials: Leather, Rubber
Price: $210-240
Sézane is a French luxury fashion brand committed to sustainability and ethical production. It crafts beautiful leather sandals for women, all of which will complement your summer outfits.
You will particularly love its braided leather sandals: they are handwoven in the brand’s Portuguese atelier and are incredibly easy to dress up and down!
You can even pick one of its metallic leather styles if you want more unique pieces.
Some of Sézane’s leather sandals are made using vegetable tanning, and everything is shipped in recycled or FSC-certified cardboard boxes.
The brand is a certified B Corporation, and it has recycled over 13,000 pieces since the launch of its recycling program. It has also raised over four million euros for its philanthropic program supporting education and equal opportunities for children all over the world.
3) Able
For: Women
Materials: Leather
Price: $30-115
Able is one of our favorite sustainable clothing brands here at Sustainably Chic! It sells different pairs of sandals, all of which are very stylish and will make your feet look amazing.
Along with its beautiful heeled models, the brand has several flat sandals that are good wardrobe staples to wear all summer long. It even has a white Birkenstock-style pair of sandals for those of us who prefer this look!
Most shoes feature a versatile design, making it easy for you to style them with any outfit! They are all made from high-quality leather upcycled from discarded cowhides.
Able prioritizes durability and longevity when it produces its pieces, and it aims to empower both the women who make them and those who wear them. It also works with leather partners who use a recycled closed-loop water system and utilize deadstock and scrap materials to minimize waste.
4) Poppy Barley
For: Women
Materials: Leather
Price: $115-138
Poppy Barley is a Canadian-certified B Corporation producing eco-friendly shoes and accessories. It has two models of women’s sandals, both of which are made ethically in a women-owned factory in Mexico. Designed with all-day comfort in mind, both sandals feature flexible soles, cushioned footbeds with arch support, square toes, and adjustable ankle straps. The Fisherman sandals, which are available in four colors, are even sold in bright purple!
Poppy Barley makes its sandals using leather that comes from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group, and that is a byproduct of food production. The leather lining is also vegetable-tanned and chemical-free and is produced using less water.
The brand even started a scholarship program to help the children of the artisans Poppy Barley works with gain access to post-secondary education! It also partners with Soles4Souls to give pre-loved shoes a new life.
5) Vivaia
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Plastic, Rubber
Price: $79-129
Vivaia is a sustainable brand creating women’s shoes out of recycled plastic bottles saved from the ocean.
So far, it has turned almost 3.5 million bottles into new footwear!
It sells stylish yet comfortable sandals that are all very breathable.
They feature durable rubber outsoles and supportive insoles designed to prevent foot odors. With their square-toe design and small heels, the Jade sandals are the ideal summer shoes for looking put together without sacrificing comfort!
Combining sustainable practices with modern technology, Vivaia produces its shoes using an eco-friendly process that helps reduce production waste by over 30%.
The company ships its shoes in recycled cardboard boxes. It also regularly donates money and shoes to charities like Dress For Success and SOS Children’s Village.
6) Okabashi
For: Women & Men
Materials:Soy-Based Material, Recycled Materials
Price: $25
If you are on a budget and trying to live more sustainably without breaking the bank, this brand is for you! Okabashi has some of the most affordable, sustainable sandals you can find on the market. The company crafts several pairs of slip-on sandals and flip-flops for men and women, all of which are waterproof & machine washable.
Each pair features slip-resistant soles, supportive heel cups, superior arch support, and a comfortable toe rest. Designed with foot therapy in mind, Okabashi’s shoes even have massaging beads placed on the footbeds to promote better circulation!
The brand makes its sandals in Georgia (USA) using a combination of soy-based and recycled materials. It also operates in a closed-loop manufacturing system and reuses its scrap materials.
You can even send back your worn-out Okabashi sandals, and the company will turn them into new products.
7) Adelante Shoe Co.
For: Women
Materials: Leather
Price: $175-195
Adelante Shoe Co handcrafts gorgeous leather shoes in its small workshop in Guatemala. It has three styles of women’s sandals, all of which are made to order.
This means that they are produced when you order them, so there is no overproduction or unsold inventory.
The heeled and flat sandals are all available in many colors, including red, blue, and caramel. They are made from full-grain leather that comes from less-processed hides and is incredibly durable. They are also fully resoleable, so you will be able to wear them forever with proper care.
Adelante Shoe Co works with a tannery using non-toxic, vegetable-tanning methods. The tannery also uses solar panels and water-saving processes, and it repurposes its waste and byproducts.
The company offsets its carbon footprint, and it pays its artisans more than twice the local wage!
8) Deux Mains
For: Women & Men
Materials: Upcycled Tires, Leather
Price: $55-100
Founded after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Deux Mains is on a mission to honor the country’s ancestral wisdom by crafting beautiful shoes and accessories all while creating empowering jobs for the locals. The brand offers comfortable slip-on sandals for both men and women.
There is also a pair of flip-flops for men as well as simple ankle strap sandals for women.
If you want to add color to your shoe collection, take a look at Deux Mains’ gorgeous hand-painted slide. Its design is inspired by the atmosphere of a busy Haitian marketplace!
The company’s sandals are all handcrafted in small batches using responsibly-sourced leather and upcycled tires found on the island.
Deux Mains also produces everything in its solar-powered, women-owned factory, and it makes sure all its pieces are made to last so that you can wear them for years.
9) Will's Vegan Store
For: Women & Men
Materials: Bio-Based Vegan Leather, Polyurethane, Recycled Plastic, Jute, Cork, Rubber
Price: $57-114
Will’s Vegan Store is an ethical vegan shoe company selling different styles of sandals for both men and women.
Men can choose between slip-on models designed with shock-absorbing cork footbeds and arch support, and a comfortable sports pair featuring a lightweight Vibram outsole.
The brand has even more options for women, including elegant heeled sandals and stylish slides that can be worn both at the beach and while walking in the city.
Will’s Vegan Store makes its sandals in Italy or Portugal using only vegan materials, from the uppers down to the glue used in its shoes.
Most of its sandals are made from Italian bio-based vegan leather produced from cereal crops, and the outsoles and insoles contain recycled materials.
The company also ships its shoes in a carbon-neutral supply chain using plastic-free packaging.
10) Christy Dawn
For: Women
Materials: Upcycled Deadstock Leather & Suede
Price: $165
Christy Dawn creates timeless wardrobe staples designed to last for many years. Among its various vintage-inspired shoes, the brand has a gorgeous pair of classic, strappy slip-on sandals.
The Monroe sandals are effortless to style as they go with everything you may have in your closet!
They are also very comfortable and easy to put on.
Christy Dawn’s sandals are crafted in Los Angeles, and they feature three rolled straps with a super soft, plush footbed.
Their straps and soles are handmade from black upcycled deadstock leather and suede that would have otherwise been discarded.
The brand also makes sure the factories it works with pay its workers a living wage and provide them with benefits and dignified working conditions.
11) Nae
For: Women, Men, Unisex
Materials: Piñatex, Cork, Apple Leather, Organic Cotton, Vegan Leather, Recycled PET
Price: $26-152
Nae, which stands for No Animal Exploitation, is a vegan footwear brand making cruelty-free shoes in its certified, ethical factories in Portugal.
It has a huge selection of sandals for both women and men, and it sells some unisex models as well.
You get to choose between many heeled sandals, slip-on models, Birkenstock-style shoes, and some more elegant pairs that you can easily wear at weddings or other special events.
Nae makes its sandals using sustainable materials such as cork, organic cotton, and recycled plastic. It even has some cool pairs made with piñatex (produced from pineapple leaf fibers) and apple leather (obtained from the waste of the apple juice industry)!
Plus, the brand also sends its products in recycled and recyclable packaging.
12) The Root Collective
For: Women
Materials: Leather, Rubber, Cotton
Price: $158
The Root Collective works with exceptionally skilled artisans in Guatemala to bring to the world durable women’s shoes and accessories.
The brand offers different styles of slip-on and strappy sandals, all of which are produced with longevity in mind. It makes them using rubber and leather, including leather sourced from a tannery certified by the Leather Working Group.
Some sandals also have a handwoven cotton upper featuring a cool geometric pattern that adds to the uniqueness of the shoes!
The Root Collective produces everything in small batches to avoid overproduction and prevent waste. It also only works with small, independent workshops in which makers earn anywhere from 50% to 400% above the national minimum wage.
The brand is also transparent about its production costs, and it allows you to resell and buy pre-loved Root Collective products on its second-hand marketplace.
13) 1People
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Plastic, VEGEA, Rubber, Cork, Jute, Piñatex, Wood, Recycled Brass
Price: $99-199
1People is a Danish fashion brand designing timeless pieces using innovative, sustainable materials.
It creates several models of sandals for women, including a lovely heeled pair that is perfect for wearing at work or during an outdoor brunch. The sandals are all versatile and provide a simple, yet stylish look!
1People makes its sandals using eco-friendly materials such as GOTS-certified piñatex, recycled plastic, and VEGEA (produced from grape marc from wine-making waste).
Its heels are crafted from ethically harvested teak wood, and some of its insoles contain rubber, cork, and jute collected from post-industrial waste. Each sandal also features the brand’s signature logo made of recycled brass.
What’s more, 1People offers carbon-neutral shipping and collects its material waste to produce new yarn and fabric. It even invests part of its profits in projects promoting education and helping eradicate hunger around the world.
14) Laidback London
For: Women
Materials: Leather, Rubber
Price: $72-154
Laidback London creates unique hand-embellished leather sandals in partnership with talented Kenyan artisans. It has a huge selection of models, including flip-flops, slip-ons, and classic strap sandals.
Each pair is one-of-a-kind and has leather uppers featuring striking, colorful beaded embellishments.
These Maasai sandals will make you stand out from the crowd, and you will get tons of compliments on your adventures this summer!
Laidback London makes sure to create timeless and comfortable shoes that are built to last. The artisans also make them the old-fashioned way using traditional handcrafting techniques and craftsmanship, and the materials are sourced locally where possible.
Laidback London ships its sandals in boxes and mailing bags made from recycled paper. It also regularly supports local charities specializing in health and education.
About the Author
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
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