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Ethically produced clothes are cropping up a lot these days, but while textiles get most of the attention, shoes are left in the sidelines. It's understandable, as shoes are more complicated to produce than, say, t-shirts, especially for small companies. Bourgeois Boheme, the UK's animal-friendly fashion boutique, has taken the brave step of launching its very own range of footwear for men and women.
The London-based company has come out with two ranges: Espiritual, or 'Full of Spirit', for men, and Jiva, or 'Soul', for women.
"We saw there was a gap in the market for footwear that is not only animal-friendly but also stylish and affordable. It's something we've looked for without success for years, so we finally made our own," says Alicia Lai, founder of Bourgeois Boheme.
The shoes are handmade in Portugal and India in ways that seek to avoid workforce exploitation and environmental destruction. Eschewing leather, the range is made entirely of microfibre, one of the best leather alternatives on the market at the moment, and fixed with water-based glue.
"We created Jiva and Espiritual to spread the message of 'fashion with compassion' to the mainstream market so that not only vegetarians and vegans, but all fashionistas will start making consumer choices that are kinder to the wider environment and support small ethical businesses like our own," says Lai.
You can pick up a pair of the new shoes online at the company's website.
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