This RB report presents a data-driven ranking of the top 10 vegan-friendly footwear brands for women for 2026, based on their performance and popularity throughout the preceding year, 2025. The global vegan footwear market is a rapidly expanding segment, projected to be valued at over $34 billion in 2025 . This ranking highlights brands that successfully blend ethical production, high social media engagement, and commercial success.
Our Ranking Criteria
The ranking was developed using a weighted scoring model that synthesizes four key performance indicators from 2025 data. Given the nature of the market, a significant weight was assigned to social media presence and sustainability, as these are primary drivers for the ethical consumer.
| Metric | Weighting | Rationale |
| Social Media Presence | 40% | Combines Instagram follower counts and a TikTok Buzz Score, reflecting the brand’s ability to engage with the digitally-native, ethically-conscious consumer. |
| Market Performance | 30% | Based on the estimated 2025 revenue and market share, it indicates commercial success and scalability. |
| Sustainability & Ethics | 20% | Assesses the brand’s commitment to ethical sourcing, use of innovative sustainable materials (e.g., recycled plastics, organic cotton), and certifications. |
| Innovation & Momentum | 10% | Evaluates product innovation (e.g., waterproof knit, bio-based materials) and overall brand buzz, which are key predictors of future market growth. |
The raw data was normalized and weighted to produce a final, composite score for each brand.
Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Footwear Brands
The following table presents the final ranking, with the scores reflecting the brand’s overall market and social influence in 2025.
| Rank | Brand | Primary Strength | Key 2025 Metric |
| 1 | Veja | Ethical Sourcing & Mainstream Appeal | Estimated $250M+ Revenue in 2025 |
| 2 | Stella McCartney | Luxury & Sustainability Pioneer | Highest Sustainability Score (10/10) |
| 3 | Allbirds | Comfort & Material Innovation | Strong market presence despite revenue challenges |
| 4 | Vessi | Technology & Social Media Virality | Estimated $90M+ Annual Sales in 2025 |
| 5 | Cariuma | DTC Growth & Environmental Focus | High TikTok Buzz Score and “Plant Two Trees” initiative |
| 6 | Lulus (Vegan) | Accessibility & Trend-Driven | Broad reach through a major online retailer |
| 7 | Saye | Retro Design & Circularity Focus | Strong commitment to ethical production and recycled materials |
| 8 | Matt & Nat | Vegan Pioneer & Accessory Leader | Established brand recognition in the vegan fashion space |
| 9 | Cariuma (Skate) | Niche Appeal & Authenticity | Strong engagement within the skateboarding community |
| 10 | Will’s Vegan Shoes | Exclusively Vegan & Ethical Production | Wide range of exclusively vegan, ethically-made footwear |
1. Veja
Veja secures the top spot by successfully bridging the gap between ethical production and mass-market appeal. The brand’s commitment to fair trade, organic cotton, and innovative materials like Amazonian rubber is well-documented, earning it a high sustainability score. Its social media presence (over 1 million Instagram followers) and strong estimated revenue in 2025 solidify its position as the market leader .
2. Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is the undisputed leader in the luxury vegan segment. While its overall market performance in footwear is smaller than mass-market brands, its influence on the industry is immense. The brand’s uncompromising commitment to animal-free and sustainable materials earns it the highest possible sustainability score, making it the gold standard for ethical luxury.
3. Allbird
Allbirds, Comfort tech with lower impact, started with merino wool but has rapidly expanded its portfolio of vegan options, including styles made from sugarcane-based EVA, eucalyptus fibers, and recycled synthetics. As the global vegan footwear market climbs from about $34.8 billion in 2024 to an expected $74.4 billion by 2034 at a 7.9% CAGR, Allbirds sits squarely in the performance-comfort lane of that growth.
4. Vessi
Vessi is a prime example of a brand leveraging social media and product innovation for rapid growth. Known for its waterproof knit technology, Vessi’s high TikTok Buzz Score and estimated annual sales exceeding $90 million in 2025 demonstrate its success in capturing the attention of a younger, tech-savvy consumer base .
5. Cariuma
Cariuma has carved out a strong direct-to-consumer presence with retro skate and court silhouettes made using materials like organic cotton, sugarcane, natural rubber, and bamboo. This commitment to environmental storytelling aligns with findings that women are leading the shift to ethical footwear, holding 42.3% of the vegan footwear end-user segment in 2024.
6. Lulus (Vegan)
Trend-led and accessible, best known as a fashion e-commerce brand, Lulus has built a fast-growing vegan footwear line focused on trend-driven heels, sandals, and boots at accessible price points. Within women’s vegan fashion—where footwear is highlighted as a dominant and fast-growing segment—Lulus’ value lies in acting as an easy on-ramp for shoppers shifting their closets away from animal products without sacrificing trends.
7. Saye
Saye positions itself at the intersection of retro design and circular thinking, offering vegan sneaker lines inspired by vintage runners and tennis shoes. The brand uses bio-based uppers (such as corn and bamboo-derived materials) and recycled content, and has run tree-planting and take-back initiatives aimed at reducing lifecycle impact.
8. Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat is a Vegan pioneer expanding into shoes began as a vegan bag brand and has become a staple in cruelty-free accessories, now offering a range of women’s footwear—from combat boots to sandals—that aligns with its long-standing “material and nature” ethos. In a market where the broader vegan women’s fashion segment is forecast to grow at a 13.53% CAGR through 2033.
9. Cariuma (Skate)
Authentic niche within the niche, while Cariuma has broad appeal, its dedicated skate segment taps into a more niche, authenticity-focused community, including women who skate or gravitate toward skate aesthetics. This focus on sub-niches mirrors a wider trend in vegan footwear, where brands grow by serving specific lifestyle tribes—skaters, hikers, commuters—rather than treating veganism as a one-size-fits-all label.
10. Will’s Vegan Shoes
Will’s Vegan Shoes (also known as Will’s Vegan Store) is one of the clearest examples of an exclusively vegan footwear brand built around ethics first and style second. Founded in 2012 and based in London, the company is PETA-approved vegan, operates a carbon-neutral, plastic-free supply chain, and produces in Italy and Portugal under EU labor laws.
