Have you ever thought about what happens behind the scenes in the shoe production world?
The shoe industry in the United States is one of the most polluting industries in the whole world. Synthetic materials, massive plastic production, and air pollution are a few consequences the footwear industry comes with.
10 Sustainable Shoes Under $100 to Wear This Fall Season
If you’re trying to be more planet-friendly this fall, there are many things you can do to increase your environmental impact. From following sustainable practices, recycling plastic water bottles to supporting ethical shoe brands – yep!
You read that right.
In this blog post, you will find the best sustainable footwear made from sustainable materials like natural fibers, organic cotton, and raw materials. Whether you want to rock this fall with a pair of vegan sneakers, organic fiber ballet flats, or planet-friendly shoes, there are plenty of choices to view here.
You will fall in love with these footwear brands and sustainable options for you to wear this fall.
Read more of our articles covering the ethical topics
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Stylish and Sustainable Sneakers for Fall
1. Veja
Let’s talk about a footwear brand that has headed in the right direction since day one. Veja is known for using recyclable materials in all of its shoes. They purchase organic and environmentally-friendly materials from fair trade family farms located in Brazil and the Amazon rainforest.
Veja also ensures every single detail of the brand is sustainable, from their zero waste practices, natural material uses, and organic cotton production, to keeping a plastic-waste-free shipping experience.
These sneakers are the perfect mix-and-match to stay comfortable this fall. Wear these shoes on your next fall occasion, you’ll love them.
2. Everlane
Everlane believes sneakers shouldn’t end up in a landfill. That’s why they have designed the Forever Sneaker with post-consumer waste in mind. In 2021, Everlane decided to eliminate every piece of plastic from its supply chain, including products, packages, and bags.
The brand has taken admirable steps to reduce the carbon footprint and carbon emissions on this planet, making simple pairs of shoes a better choice for all of us.
Building a timeless shoe collection? These sneakers are exactly what you are looking for! They’re comfortable, stylish, and sustainable.
3. Native Shoes
Native Shoes is all about manufacturing compostable and vegan shoes that are made from renewable materials like algae-based foam, pineapple husk, and corn. Their biodegradable design promises to leave no waste, making sure consumers feel good, and look good while doing good. Native is also a cruelty-free brand known for not testing their products on animals.
These are not your typical fall shoes. You can style them with cozy socks for a unique and fall-ish full look.
Stylish and Sustainable Flats for Fall
4. Madewell
Recently, Madewell has been introducing recycled, organic, and sustainable materials into their collections, around 49% of its cotton is sourced sustainably. In 2020 Madewell partnered with Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a non-profit that promotes farmer’s education and training to improve sustainable and ethical practices.
If you want to purchase cruelty-free shoes, make sure to double-check their labels. While the brand has some vegan styles, the brand does use leather in its collections.
Ah! We have to say these sustainable ballet flats are a dream come true! These are the most versatile fall shoes ever. Wear it with a dress – stunning, or wear it with jeans – gorgeous.
5. Allbirds
The San Francisco-based shoe company has gone beyond just creating cozy and ethically sourced wool sneakers. They’re actively working on using twice-recycled materials that have a minimal impact on the environment.
Let’s not forget the main reason people love Allbirds – people can’t stop talking about how soft they are, making them a top choice for anyone who wants both comfort and sustainability.
How about being stylish and cozy at the same time? Yep, that’s us. Wear these flats to any fall occasion, it’s the best option to stay comfy.
6. Naturalizer
Naturalizer’s latest selection of women’s shoes is designed with a focus on sustainability – combining comfort, style, and ethicality. They mainly utilize recycled lining and Leather Working Group Certified materials.
Their latest sustainable collection is crafted through responsible sourcing and environmentally preferred materials. The factory Naturalizers partners with to manufacture its shoes, focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, with the goal of having zero landfill waste.
Classy, cute, and ethical. We love sustainable shoes that stand out while still being cute. Plus, they have the perfect fall color, right?
Cozy SustainableBooties for the Fall Season
7. Matisse
Matisse is mostly known for their inexpensive, sustainable, and ethically-made high heels. This shoe brand focuses on three key factors, using sustainable and reusable materials as well as reducing water-shed waste. Plus, all factories Mattise uses are socially audited to make sure workers are compensated accordingly, following appropriate living wages, and treated fairly.
Looking for a pair of statement boots this fall? These Matisse jewel-dazed boots will not disappoint. Perfect for any fancy-fall party, dinner, and occasion.
8. Dr. Scholls
Looking for some fashionable vegan shoes to look great this fall? Well, Dr. Scholls is your best option. This brand is not only 100% vegan (including upper, lining, and insole) but also uses eco-friendly materials during production. However, there is no direct evidence this brand reduces carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain.
Feeling the fall colors? Add a bit of spice to any outfit with these brown perfect-to-wear boots! Versatile, comfortable, and under $100.
9. Franco Sarto
Franco Santo is a shoe company that prioritizes heritage, timeless quality, a sustainable mindset, and an eco-conscious approach to production. Their eco-friendly box is made from recycled materials and soy-based inks to reduce sources of plastic, making them a sustainable shoe option for this fall.
When it comes to making a statement, these high boots are exactly what we imagine. Style it with a fuzzy dress or a fall-heavy skirt, these boots will not disappoint. Simple, sophisticated, and classy.
10. Toms
Toms is a sustainable shoe brand that grows its own cotton without the use of harsh chemicals or genetically modified seeds. A pair of Toms contains different materials, such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, jute, polyester, rubber, and foam.
The use of organic cotton requires less water and energy than conventional cotton, making them an energy-efficient and eco-friendly shoe brand.
Talk about a shoe company that has its own organic cotton farm, sign me up! These eye-catching booties are here to brighten up the day. Their cow print with neutral colors makes them an easy-to-style pair of booties for this fall.
The Fall Sustainable Shoe Round-Up
Well, we hope you could learn a bit more about the sustainable shoe industry, what it takes to manufacture a pair of ethical shoes, and a few stylish ideas for this fall.
With over 135.7 million U.S. dollars worth of plastic debris and rubber footwear in the United States – which ends up in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It’s time to handle waste management, care for marine life, and take action over ocean plastic pollution, and floating plastics.
You can do this by opting for better and more conscious-focused choices this fall. Stay cute, stay stylish, and most importantly, stay sustainable.
Want to take a look at more sustainable shoes for this fall season?
So you have a thing for sustainable shoes now? We thought so.
Take a look at more of our favorite and top-rated sustainable shoe choices under $100, these shoes are here to stay.
P.S. Next time you’re looking for sustainable shoe choices and want to verify if they are 100% organic and certified, try looking for The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. This certification defines world-wide recognized requirements for organic textiles.
