HiGH Feels is a Fully Vegan Brand

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Brand Highlights

"In contrast to conventional footwear, barefoot shoes don’t come with unnecessary padding or “footbeds”, as your feet are naturally capable of absorbing any shock from walking or running - just like walking barefoot." - HiGH FEELS team

About HiGH FEELS

Launched in 2106 on the success of a Kickstarter campaign, HiGH FEELS is an Estonian brand focused on making barefoot vegan sandals.

Is HiGH FEELS an intentionally vegan brand?

HiGH FEELS is an intentionally vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. According to the brand, "Right from the beginning, we knew that we would only want to make leather-free, vegan shoes." The brand persisted with this vision, despite the extra effort involved in monitoring the supply chain.

What materials are used to make HiGH FEELS's shoes?

Each shoe listed on the HiGH FEELS website gives an overview of the materials used to make it. Typically, the uppers of their barefoot sandals are made of a breathable microfibre fabric that absorbs and releases moisture, which is also Chromium VI free, manufactured in a carbon-neutral process, and meets OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. The outsole of their sandals consists of a "non-slip rubber mixture." As far as investing into the 'latest and greatest' sustainable vegan leathers, HiGH FEELS says "we're following the latest trends in sustainable material tech and if an interesting project pops up, we're getting in contact with them. But mostly these projects researching alternative materials are not ready for production, or not available in industrial quantities, or … they just don't answer the phone or react to emails."

Are HiGH FEELS barefoot sandals eco-friendly/sustainable?

Given that HiGH FEELS's vegan shoes are made with microfibre, they generally wouldn't be considered to be very environmentally friendly. However, quality vegan leather is generally considered to be more environmentally-friendly than animal-derived leather - a claim that's backed up by data from inside the fashion industry as well as outside (please see Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative for the data). According to the brand, their approach to sustainability is "to design our sandals in a way that they will never go out of style (a.k.a. "slow fashion"), and making them modular/versatile, and as long lasting as possible."

Does HiGH FEELS use green shipping methods?

It's unclear from their website if HiGH FEELS uses net-zero or negative emissions shipping partners, either domestically or internationally. We’ve asked them for clarification, and are currently awaiting reply.

Does HiGH FEELS use eco-friendly packaging?

It's unclear from their website if HiGH FEELS uses recycled, recyclable, compostable, or other forms of eco-friendly and sustainable packaging. We’ve asked them for details regarding the materials they use for packaging, and are currently awaiting reply.

Are HiGH FEELS's shoes recyclable or compostable?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if HiGH FEELS’s shoes are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from their team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my worn out HiGH FEELS sandals?

We’ve asked the HiGH FEELS team if they currently have, or are developing, a shoe recycling program, and are awaiting reply. In the meantime, Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired, donating them to someone in need, or taking them to a clothing recycling depot (if available in your city), which can strip them down to their recyclable components.

Where can I buy HiGH FEELS shoes?

For the time being it looks like HiGH FEELS shoes can only be purchased from their website, or from their social channels. We've asked them if they have plans to work with retailers, and are currently awaiting reply.

Do HiGH FEELS's shoes ever go on sale?

We haven’t noticed any sales for HiGH FEELS shoes when visiting their site and perusing their social channels, nor do they have a newsletter to subscribe to in order to receive a discount code.

Are HiGH FEELS's shoes ethically made?

Yes! HiGH FEELS shoes are made near Alicante, Spain, which means their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations.

Does HiGH FEELS promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

HiGH FEELS acknowledges that "no matter what or how you produce, there's always some impact on the environment," although they try to reduce their impact by incorporating several elements of a circular economy/slow fashion model, such as employing fair labour, making timeless styles, making durable shoes, and sourcing their materials close to their production (materials are sourced from Italy & Spain, with production being in Spain). They also hope to move away from plastic-based vegan leather, when suitable materials become available and meet their standards.

Is HiGH FEELS a charitable company?

We’ve asked the HiGH FEELS team about any charitable initiatives they're involved with (if any), and are currently awaiting reply, as there is no such information available on their website.

HiGH FEELS Product Range

HiGH FEELS makes vegan gladiator-style barefoot sandals in the female aesthetic. They also have an edgy, motorcycle-style barefoot ankle boot that they've recently introduced. Their style can be described as colourful and elegant.