Vans have launched a David Bowie collection featuring hats, shirts, and a pair of vegan shoes. The limited-edition range draws inspiration from some of the glam rock legends most iconic albums.
A brand representative told LIVEKINDLY that the Era shows in Space Oddity from the Vans x Bowie collection are vegan. Everything, including the adhesives, are free from animal-based materials
What Vegan Options Does Vans Have?
Founded in Anaheim, Calif., in 1966, Vans is best-known for its skateboarder-friendly shoes. The classic Canvas Slip-On is leather-free and it comes in a wide range of colors including black, white, pastel pink, and 13 checkerboard options.
The Classic Authentic, Classic Era, Old Skool Vegan, and the Canvas Sk8-Hi in True White are also vegan, a customer service agent told a Redditor. Vans noted that many new collections also feature vegan options.
Cruelty-Free Footwear
Shoes make up 73 percent of vegan fashion buys, according to technology and data company Edited. Compared to last year, there are 52 percent more shoes labeled “vegan.”
While Vans doesn’t note which shoes are vegan on its site, many major brands and retailers are getting on board with clear labeling.
Sustainable designer Stella McCartney and footwear giant Adidas collaborated on a vegan leather Stan Smith shoe last September, which “Sense and Sensability” star Emma Thompson wore to her damehood ceremony. Earlier this year, the two launched 3D-printed vegan shoes. UK retailer Marks & Spencer launched a range of 350 leather-free shoes earlier this year. Topshop just launched its first vegan shoe collection this week.
There are also more dedicated vegan brands, such as Beyond Skin, Veerah, MINK, Rothys, and Brave GentleMan.
Why the sudden saturation of animal-free footwear? Marks & Spencer noticed that it’s what customers are looking for. “After increased customer interest in veganism and a rise in online searches for related products, we decided to investigate the possibility of expanding our vegan-friendly offering into footwear and accessories,” said Rachel Smith, senior footwear technologist.
Vans’ vegan David Bowie shoes are available in U.S. men’s sizes four to 13.
This article was updated on April 11, 2019.
