I spotted vegan shoes made by Skechers in Sports Direct a few days ago, and I had mixed feelings.
Read more below.
It is genuinely wonderful to see clearly labelled vegan footwear appearing in mainstream shops, making it easier for people to find shoes without animal-derived materials. The more visible these products become, the harder it is for retailers to pretend that vegan options are some obscure niche for a handful of committed weirdos like me.
But I also wonder whether we are becoming so focused on whether a product is vegan that we overlook other important ethical questions.
Skechers has been criticised for its approach to workers’ rights, including the lack of evidence that people throughout its supply chain are paid a living wage. Ethical fashion organisation Good On You currently rates the brand as ‘Not Good Enough’ overall, highlighting concerns about its environmental impact, transparency, and treatment of workers. You can read its assessment here.
Of course, I understand that this is complicated.
The cost of living crisis means many people are struggling to afford the shoes and clothes they need, and not everyone can pay more for products from brands with stronger ethical credentials. But while celebrating the growing availability of vegan products, we should keep asking questions about the people who make them and the systems that allow mass production to come at such a cost.
Veganism is an important part of the conversation, but it should never have to be the end of it.
Extra note: If you are looking for vegan shoes that are more ethically-produced, you can shop online at The Third Estate for delivery worldwide. Of course they are a bit more expensive than Skechers!
Click here to see all my upcoming events and book tickets. You can also join my FGV email newsletter online here.
If you appreciate these blog posts and the work I do to support vegan business, please consider making a one time small donation of a couple of quid online here. You might also be in the position to sponsor my work on an regular basis via Patreon.
Get 25% off vegan dog and cat food from Just Be Kind using code FATGAYVEGAN. This is an affiliate code so I can earn commission when you shop!
You can order my book ‘Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t’ online now. It has been out a while now but is still a good read. You can also listen to the Audiobook read by me!
You can watch/stream my weekly podcast Tell Me Where I’m Going (Wrong) on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Follow me on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, and Blue Sky.