I believe that these were a pretty big hit when I posted these and I found out they’re still being offered, and in several different colorways. Like I said previously, the Feathers Stentorian Oxford is vegan – woven cotton uppers, corded laces, (non-leather) cushioned footbed, and slim resin sole with low heel.
Now available at urban outfitters in brown, light grey, khaki, and charcoal. More pics after the jump!
Happy New Year everyone! Vegankicks is ready for another great year of animal-free action. I’m going to start things off in 2012 with a pair that I personally just procured – the Dennis (in brown suede) by Novacas. This purchase was a little more out of necessity than anything, as I seriously needed shoes for “business casual” attire. That in itself is a whole bag of gripes, and I’ll leave that out of here. But as those concerns were on my mind, I came across these at Moo Shoes. Now, I have seen the Dennis in black faux leather before, and I would NOT recommend those. They look cheap and uninspired. But when I saw them in brown suede, I couldn’t resist. It’s strange how much the material and color can really make a difference. I would highly recommend these, as they are sharp enough for the office, but simple and casual enough to wear with a pair of jeans.
Mastermind
This is probably old news for a lot of you, but I couldn’t let this one go by. It looks like Joshua Katcher of The Discerning Brute is starting his own online shop called Brave Gentleman. It is a high-fashion site, selling everything from clothes to accessories to beauty products. All products are certified by Mr. Katcher to be cruelty-free, and sustainably produced in fair labor conditions.
Of course, there are shoes! Novacas is the manufacturer of this first collaboration, featuring “thicker, tougher, and eco-superior faux-leather and faux-suede, made fairly in Portugal, and cruelty-free – this capsule collection is tailored, cool, and inspired by workers, masterminds, and defenders.”
Say what you will about the styles, but you have to give credit where it’s due. These shoes look like they are super high quality, and obviously a lot of thought has been put in to designing them. The price is a little steep – $230 to $300, but if you pre-order online before June 30, you can save $20. Also available is an Olsen Haus oxford shoe called Time Traveler.
Check it out the shoes at Brave Gentleman!
UPDATE 6/24/11: Unfortunately, these shoes are NOT VEGAN. I got an email from a reader who bought these and the insides actually contain leather. I apologize to all those who were unintentionally misled by my blog. I’ll try to limit these mistakes. Henry.
This oxford from Robert Wayne is a great addition to the list of non-leather dress shoes. Made of canvas upper, the Reuben is available black and brown. They did a really good job with the shape on these; the toe box is narrow, but not pointy. And the colors are versatile, they can really work with a lot of different looks.
Available at Zappos for $99.95.
I’ve been sleeping on Topman for a while. More than one person have sung its praises, but I resisted. No mas! I suppose my prejudices against Kate Moss and the snooty fashion world she represented led me to believe that I’d want nothing associated with her. But real talk, Topman has some good shit. Take Example A, the Claude in grey canvas. You know, I think canvas dress shoes are really starting to come into their own. Pretty soon you won’t feel like an outlier for rocking them, they’re really starting to become more common. And they look pretty damn sleek. Who says you need fake leather to have the look?
Available at Topman for $92.
So, it turns out American Apparel doesn’t just make t-shirts and tights! This “Dancing Shoe” is a pretty sweet find. The “patent leather” uppers are actually polyester. Too bad they couldn’t do that for those sweet boots they have too! While these might not be for everyone, they are definitely for a serious night out. Unless you can pull these off on the regs, then I applaud you. Sorry about the small ass pictures, I don’t know what’s up with their website, but some places don’t give you high-res pics.
I came across this one in my “research” for shoes I can wear to work. My old standbys are on their way out, and I wore the crap out of them (the soles are falling apart). Side note, how awesome was that Obama photo when he was on the campaign trail and you could see the holes in his shoes? Think what you will about his presidency but little things like that remind me why everyone loved him two years ago.
But I digress. This Feathers Canvas Stentorian Oxford shoe is a very nice in between shoe, allowing you to dress up or down. Unfortunately, there was an awesome faux leather brown pair that looked really classy, but they came with a leather inner sole! Anyway, these are definitely not leather, and no other animal parts involved in the making. Cotton upper, corded laces, and a slim sole. Very nice to wear anywhere really, but not with a suit! Damn!
Available at Urban Outfitters for $68. Check out their site for fancy zoomed in shots too.
UPDATE: The faux leather ones are described on the site as coming with a leather lined footbed. My independent source has provided me with first-hand confirmation that everything, including the footbed, is synthetic. Here’s the link to the Feathers Crepe Sole Oxford (in brown and black).
Greetings everyone. I am back from a very nice mini-vacation, which I was lucky enough to spend at my friend’s balling shore house. There were giant HD TV’s in almost every room, including the two master bathrooms!
Being back to everyday life means, for most people, getting back to work. Some of you don’t have to dress in business attire, but some, like me, have to wear suits or other white collar uniform everyday. Which makes this post very appropriate for me personally. NOHARM has recently released their upcoming fall and winter line of line. The “Phase 1″ shoes include brown wingtips and brogues, as well as a sweet black boot. These would be perfect to wear with my work wardrobe! Whether you’re working on Wall Street, or you just like to look dapper, you can’t go wrong with any of these.
NOHARM also adheres to the highest ethical standards in their business practices. Obviously, they are vegan. They even conform to the Vegan Society’s standards (not sure what that is) and they have the certificate to prove it. They are hand-made in Italy – no child labor. Even the boxes are bio-degradable and printed with environmentally-friendly ink!
The only downer is the price tag… but the way I see it, if you are going to buy a pair of nice dress shoes, you’re going to be dropping serious dough anyway. And if you really can’t buy leather shoes, your options in the business category are very limited. If you want something cheaper, I would recommend Moo Shoes. The ones they have are reasonably priced, but in terms of style and quality, they can’t compete. I’m still waiting for a brand that makes sophisticated yet affordable vegan dress shoes.
Also, if you’re interested in buying the existing NOHARM line, check them out Here
Be on the lookout for Phase 2!
Source: Kitmeout
Unfortunately, we can’t wear Vans all the time. Sometimes we gotta act all growns up 
But who says you can’t be vegan, styling, and having fun while dressed up? Case in point: see this Autumn 2010 collection by Novacas. Words that come to mind… Sleek. Modern. Sophisticated. From the worn charcoal to the textile mixed in with fake leather, these shoes ooze quality. Feel me?
Oh, and more good stuff. Novacas are made out of 80% biodegradable material, 100% vegan, and are fair trade made in Europe. Also of note is that the designers are the girls who own Moo Shoes. Holler.
See Discerning Brute for original source.
These are some smart, vegan Oxfords from Rachel Comey. They’re made out of some kind of fabric, and my guess is that it’s either canvas or some other type of softer cotton. Either way they are animal free and the colors stand out. They come in beige with green sole, or baby blue with white sole. Available here and here. Looks like the blue is sold out right now, and there aren’t too many sizes of the white left, but I’ll be sure to let you know if we find anything. Thanks for reading!
