Are your shoes cruelty-free?
May 06, 2021
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The fashion industry went through rapid development, and now we even have vegan shoes in the market. To adapt to the vegan lifestyle, vegan shoes have created their own local community. But why is everyone fond of these vegan shoes anyway? It is because it's environmentally friendly.Getting into vegan fashion has nothing to do with being vegan. It's your personal choice if you want to wear vegan shoes or not. But how would you know if your shoes are cruelty-free or not? This is a question a lot of people ask.
Don't worry; here are 7 ways for you to identify cruelty-free shoes.
Avoid Skin and Fur
Skins and fur come directly from animals. Animal leather is very popular amongst shoe manufacturers. In fact, they are sold at high prices. But for vegan shoes, they shouldn't contain any of it. Since the market is full of animal leather shoes, it will be hard to identify cruelty-free shoes.
Once you hold a shoe, you need to look for synthetic materials in it. Stare at the lining. Transparent companies will put a label that should mention if the leather is made of synthetic materials or animal materials.
Guess what? Wool can be from an animal and also from cotton. So make sure you look at the labels before you choose your shoe.
Cruelty-Free Glue
Shoes are made by attaching different pieces altogether. Everything is done with powerful glue. Now the question is, is the glue also made of animal substances?
Glues made with animal substances are old stuff. In the modern age, glues are made of plants as well. For decades, companies that are in the market might still be using animal glue, and you need to keep an eye on that.
Animal glues are made by tissues found in the skins of horses, rabbits, and fish. Full of cruelty. Animal glues are standard, and that's why companies tend to use them.
Right now, after comparing animal glues with synthetic glues, we found out that animal glues are more stable than synthetic glues, but synthetic glues are more long-lasting. After seeing this result, a lot of brands switched from using animal glue to synthetic glue.
Shoe labels that have vegan written on them can still contain animal glue, which is where things get messed up. Synthetic glues are now more demandable, and companies are focusing on using them as well. The choice is yours to make.
Keep a lookout for local or new brands. They should be the ones using synthetic glue. At the same time, old companies are still focusing on animal glue.
Label Symbol
Every shoe comes with a specific label symbol. Although some shoes are made to export, companies don't print written symbols; they print logos to get recognized worldwide. This is important for you to understand as you will go out and check them by yourself.
Every symbol points out what it is made of. The leather symbol points out that it is made of a hide made of the backside of an animal. It can be limbs, tail, or head. If you see this symbol, then avoid it.
If you see a diamond symbol inside, then know that it is also from an animal made of fur. If you see no symbol in your shoe or any synthetic symbol that doesn't go with an animal, then pick that one. Vegan shoes mostly come in alternative bags.
Sniffing test
The sniffing test is not authorized, but it is effective. When you take the shoe and smell it, you will know if it's animal leather or synthetic materials. But first, you need to familiarize yourself with the smell of leather and synthetic materials. As you keep smelling it, you will start to know the difference.
I know the sniffing test sounds funny and awkward, but it's completely natural. Leather has a clear cut smell. Synthetic materials, on the other hand, smell like plastic or paints. So you see, there is a clear difference for you to understand.
So start training to be a better sniffer so you can identify the right materials yourself.
Ask Nearby Personnel
Vegan shoes are now popular enough. Many brands have a particular space in their retail shops only to showcase vegan shoes. So if you pause a minute and ask the nearby staff, you might get your answer.
It is not only about the space, but the staff knows a lot more about the product than you do. How it is made, where it comes from, and many more. If you take a moment and tell them your concerns, they will be right there to help you. Sales staff are there for a reason; utilize them properly.
Try Scanning the Barcode
Almost every shoe label contains a barcode. Using that barcode, you can easily check the details of that shoe. Is it vegan? What materials did it use, which company manufactured it? Everything will be there.
So use your smartphone wisely and scan the barcode. It will spill out a lot of information and save you a lot of time.
The Internet
The internet is full of information. You are reading this article using the internet, right? When you go to a store and pick a shoe, you can search its details on the internet very easily.
Try searching the list of companies that produce vegan shoes and also what they have to offer. Trust me; you will get a lot of information.
Conclusion
Have you found out if your shoes are cruelty-free or not? I have told you all the possible ways to identify vegan shoes, and now it's your time to examine them.
Go out to all the shops and start examining each of them. Don't spend too much time in each shop, or others might misjudge you as a trespasser.
So don't do anything stupid. I hope all the information above helps you. Good luck!
Tags: English