Why We Are Here For TOPSHOP's Vegan Shoe Collection
As a supporter of conscious brands, you tend to find yourself questioning whether big name fashion brands can ever be sustainable and if they do release conscious collections, to what degree does this offset the negative environmental impacts that their mass production of clothing has.
This is an argument I find myself thinking about frequently when I shop and common issue that is frequently raised on a number of blogs. This issue brings to light something that I touched on in my previous posts when discussing the pressure that people put on themselves to live a 100% sustainable lifestyle - meaning a zero waste lifestyle, a plant-based diet (due to the environmental and animal rights issues around meat and diary production) and only wearing clothes that are sustainably sourced and ensure fair wages for all. Whilst, I agree that this is the ideal, this need to be perfect in order to feel like you’re doing sustainability ‘right’ puts a lot of people off taking the deep dive into the world of sustainability because of the fear of failure. (You can read the full article on ‘What Is Your Biggest Barrier To Adopting A Sustainable Lifestyle?’ here).
This brings us onto the role that big name brands play on the sustainability stage. Most of the time, when brands like H&M and Zara announce the launch of their eco-friendly lines (the Conscious Collection and Join Life collection respectively), it is met with collective sighs from the sustainability community. It is often argued that for brands so big, which have been at the centre of fashion controversies such as the Rana Plaza and encouraging the fast turning wheel of fast fashion through their seasonal production, such conscious collections do little to offset the negative environmental and social impacts that their production lines have.
Whilst I do understand this view point, I think that it is important that we recognise positive change no matter how big or small the change may be, which brings us to the recent launch of TOPSHOP’s first ever vegan shoe collection. PETA approved, the collection consists of six different shoe styles, each offered in two different colours, varying from your go-to strappy flats to some glamorous snakeprint. Each shoe is hand-made in Spain, made from all vegan materials and without fish or animal glue and with prices starting at £42, the range is very affordable and most importantly because the range is stocked by a big brand, accessible. You can check out the vegan collection below and click here to shop the full range at TOPSHOP.com.
NOAH Vegan Black Crocodile Low Toe Loop Sandals £49. Source: Topshop.com
GWENIE Vegan Snake Mules £59. Source: Topshop.com
REYA Vegan Brown High Toe Loop Heels £59. Source: Topshop.com
ROXIE Vegan White Block Heels £59. Source: Topshop.com
REID Vegan Stone Strappy Heels £59. Source: Topshop.com
The fact that TOPSHOP, a huge global fashion player, has launched a vegan shoe collection highlights the ways in which the we as conscious consumers are exerting our influence on the fashion world - if anything that deserves a round of appaulse within itself.
