As the weather gets warmer, a great summer sandal is a must-have accessory that will see you through all your warm-weather adventures—from those long walks on the beach, to picnics in the park, and backyard pool parties. To ensure you are comfortable and well-equipped for the season, here are 11 ethical sandals for summer.
11 Ethical Sandals for Summer
The Nude Label
The Wood Sandal – Ships internationally from Spain
The Nude Label curates comfy vegan underwear, swimwear, and sandals that feel as good as they look. Made from bio-vegan leather and responsibly sourced wood to create the lowest possible footprint, these lightweight wood sandals are great for a comfy and casual look. Find them in EU sizes 36-42.
Funky Kalakar
Mudpie Vegan Slingback Heels – Ships internationally from India
Funky Kalakar brings alive the stories of ancient craft in the form of contemporary designs by handcrafting them using natural materials. These gorgeous slingback heels are 100% handmade with PETA certified vegan materials. Find Funky Kalakar’s range of shoes in EU sizes 36-41.
NAE
Darco Piñatex Sandal – Ships internationally from Portugal
nae is a Portuguese footwear brand using innovative materials to create shoes with “No Animal Exploitation”. Their sustainable shoe materials include recycled PET from bottles, OEKO-TEX® certified microfibres, recycled car tyres, natural cork, recycled thermoplastic, and even pineapple leaf fibre! These unisex ethical Birkenstock lookalikes are hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. They are available in UK sizes 4.5-12.
RAFA
The Milli Sandal – Ships internationally from the US
RAFA is a women’s luxury footwear collection designed and hand-crafted by a group of 20 artisans in Los Angeles, California. Its entire range is vegan, and it uses a high proportion of eco-friendly materials. These faux suede sandals with a chunky heel always look elegant, and—bonus—they’re super easy to walk in! Find them in US sizes 5-11 or customise them entirely.
NOAH
Maxi Sandals – Ships internationally from Germany
NOAH creates cruelty-free and 100% vegan shoes and accessories. This German’s brand high-quality and long-lasting shoes are hand-crafted in Italy, using a small proportion of eco-friendly material. Find them in EU sizes 35-42.
Etiko
Natural Rubber Thongs – Ships internationally from Australia
Etiko is a designer of organic, eco-friendly, and fair trade clothing and shoes. Its range of natural rubber thongs AKA flip flops donates 10% of profits to specific charities—this classic black pair directly supports Sea Shepherd and their ocean conservation activism. Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.
Beyond Skin
Luella C Cream Block Heel Vegan Sandals – Ships internationally from Spain
These elegant cream heeled ethical sandals are handmade in Spain from vegan materials and feature an ankle strap and adjustable buckle. They are the perfect addition for your next special event! If you buy anything from Beyond Skin, they will give 1% of profits to grass-root environmental and social projects. Find the brand’s shoes in EU sizes 35-43.
Good Guys @ Immaculate Vegan
Vegan Leather Spartiate Sandals – Ships internationally from France
Good Guys creates cruelty-free shoes for women and men, founded and designed by Marion Hanania in Paris. These vegan leather spartiate sandals are unisex, and made from sustainable soft and supple material. They are adjustable on the back with a buckle strap, and come in EU sizes 36-46.
Nomadic State of Mind
Romano Camel – Ships internationally from the US
Nomadic State of Mind hand-crafts vegan sandals made of rope, up-cycled sailcloth, hemp, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand also provides jobs for workers from disadvantaged communities in Nicaragua. The Romano Camel sandals are one of the best selling styles, and we can see why! They are secure fitting and available in EU sizes 34-45 for everyone.
Rothy’s
The Flip Splash – Ships internationally from the US
Rothy’s creates hand-made shoes from recycled materials and uses low-waste cutting techniques to minimise textile waste! The brand’s sustainable flip flops are made from rescued plastic destined to become ocean waste, and an algae based foam. Find them in a range of bright colours in US sizes 5-13.
Gucci (Pre-Owned)
Pre-Owned Gucci Sandals – Ships internationally
Founded in 1921, Gucci is an Italian luxury fashion house that produces menswear, womenswear, as well as shoes, bags, and other accessories. The brand has good policies to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but still uses exotic animal skin. The good news is that you can find many of Gucci's modern luxury pieces second hand!
Author bio: Christine is a lawyer and an aspiring minimalist. She enjoys reading, travelling, and discovering new ways to build a more sustainable and eco-friendly wardrobe and lifestyle.
Editor's note
This article was updated in December 2020. Feature image via The Nude Label, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet and animals. Use our Directory to search more than 3,000 brands. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.
