8 Brands with Ethical Heels to Elevate Any Outfit
These ethical heels will be the perfect footwear for any special occasion.
Made from conscious materials like vegan apple leather, Piñatex, upcycled materials, and vegetable-tanned leather, these are sustainable heels that with elevate any outfit without harming the planet.
This guide contains affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase through some of these links. This helps us continue to create these free resources for you! As always, we only feature brands we love (and that we think you'll love too!) and that meet CFC's strict sustainability criteria.
VOLAIR
Created with the vision that style, sustainability, and comfort can co-exist, Volair designs fashion-forward heels made from bio-based apple peel or corn “leather” and bio-based polymers to make the heel component that replaces the traditional ABS material. Their material is BPI compostable certified, Vincotte OK Compost Industrial/Home certified, PETA approved, REACH certified and USDA Certified Biobased Product certified.
Volair's sustainable vegan heels are also designed with a cushioned insole and a perfect heel height to ensure support and comfort so that you can dance the night away, pain-free.
Investment: $$
VEERAH
Veerah is not only making vegan heels look good, but they're doing it sustainably too! The brand's eco-friendly heels are made out of materials like recycled bottles or apple leather (which is made from apple skin discarded from the juice industry). Each pair of shoes is meticulously made in an ethical factory in China by skilled, third-generation footwear artisans.
Investment: $$$
Use code VEERAHCONSCIOUS10 for 10% off
ABLE
Ethical fashion brand ABLE has super chic heels that were all made ethically in good conditions by workers earning fair wages.
This fair fashion brand goes far beyond transparency, publishing the lowest wages in their supply chain — and challenging other brands to join them.
Investment: $$
Brother Vellies
Handmade by talented artisans around the world, Brother Vellies has exceptionally crafted uniquely designed heels sure to make a statement. The brand carefully sources conscious materials for their footwear, like vegetable-tanned leathers, recycled tires, and by-product materials sourced from farmers. Brother Vellies is also a Black-owned brand; founder and creative director Aurora James is the woman behind the 15% Pledge calling on retailers to carry at least 15% of their products from Black-owned brands.
Investment: $$$$
RAFA
RAFA has everything from simple sandals to chunky disco mules in their collection of California-made footwear. All of RAFA's shoes are made responsibly by a team of 20 artisans in Los Angeles using earth-minded processes. Their sustainable heels are made from materials like recycled textiles, deadstock buckles, and recycled tires.
Investment: $$$
Check Out RAFA | Shop on Garmentory
Jo-Anne VErnay
Vegan heels just got a major upgrade! Not only are Jo-Anne Vernay's heel's bold and sexy, but they are sustainable too. The brand's footwear is made from Piñatex, a material made out of pineapple leaves! Jo-Anne Vernay is also a Black woman-owned brand.
Investment: $$$$
COCLICO
Coclico is a favorite in the slow fashion community, and for good reason! The brand's minimal shoes are effortlessly elegant and made mindfully by artisans in a family-owned workshop in Spain using mindful materials like vegetable-tanned leather and cork. And, Coclico recently launched a resale platform where you can shop pre-loved heels!
Investment: $$$ ($$ for used)
NISOLO
Fair trade footwear brand Nisolo has ethical heels made by artisans who are all earning living wages. The brand is also a B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified. Nisolo's heel selection ranges from chunky chic mules and clogs to sleek block-heel sandals.
Investment: $$
