King55 is Likely a Vegan Brand

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King55 Brand Highlights

"To make products with a VISUAL impact, instead of causing SOCIAL and ENVIRONMENTAL impacts. That’s our mission." - King55 team

About King55 Vegan Shoes

Based in Sao Paolo, Brazil, King55 has been making vegan shoes for over 2 decades. Their bold, signature street style makes them stand out from many other brands, as does their commitment to animal welfare. As Founder and Creative Director Amauri Caliman put it, "Getting factories to adjust to new materials is not an easy job.”

Is King55 an ethically vegan brand?

King55 appears to be an ethically and intentionally vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. According to the brand, "we believe in not harming any animal for aesthetics, and we fight for the causes we support. "

What materials are used to make King55 shoes?

Each product on the King55 website gives a brief overview as to its composition. They are made using microfibre as the main upper material for vegan leather and vegan suede-look models, and with 100% cotton as the fabric for canvas models. The inner fabrics can vary by model, with canvas models typically using 100% cotton, and vegan leather and suede models using "sustainable latex." The soles of many models use natural rubber or EVA.

Are King55 shoes materials eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, King55 shoes are at least somewhat eco-friendly, as they do incorporate many natural, and high-quality materials into their designs. They do not currently use any tools or programs that can quantify and share the eco-friendliness of their products, other than sharing general breakdowns of the materials used in each shoe. And while virgin man-made synthetics are generally considered worse for the environment than recycled synthetics, or natural materials, they are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly than animal-derived leathers. This is backed up by data from inside the fashion industry as well as outside of it. For the data, please see Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative.

Does King55 try to reduce its emissions?

From a carbon footprint, water usage, chemical usage, and general natural resource usage standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that King55 has, and what they do to remediate it. King55 does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in either of these regards.

Does King55 use green shipping methods?

It's unclear from their website if King55 uses net-zero or negative emissions shipping partners internationally. However, for orders made in close proximity to their store, they do their own deliveries by bicycle.

Does King55 use eco-friendly packaging?

It's unclear from their website if King55 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 King55 shoes recyclable or compostable?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if King55’s shoes are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from the King55 team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my worn out King55 shoes?

We’ve asked the King55 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 King55 shoes & boots?

King55 shoes can be purchased from their website, or from their flagship store in Sao Paolo, Brazil. We've asked them if they have plans to work with outside retailers, and are currently awaiting reply.

Do King55 shoes ever go on sale?

Yes - there’s an “Outlet” section of their website, and we noticed sales in the area of 50% when we visited.

Are King55 shoes ethically made?

King55 footwear is made in an all-vegan shoe factory (in partnership with Ahimsa). The factory is located in Brazil, so their worker's are protected by the labour laws of Brazil, which include 8 hour work days, or 44 hour work weeks (similar to Alberta, Canada). According to the brand, "We strive to increase consumer awareness about the importance of sustainability, veganism, fair trade and to prove that caring about these values means being IN STYLE." As an outside, non-certifying 3rd party, it's difficult for us to verify whether or not they ensure their factory enforces all international and local labour laws, regulations and fair working standards to provide a safe and fair working environment for their workers. We've reached out to the King55 team for clarification, and are awaiting reply.

Does King55 promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

King55 appears to incorporate some elements of a circular economy, such as: incorporating natural materials; claiming to employ fair labour; partnering with environmental conservationist organizations; and using bicycle delivery for local orders.

Is King55 a charitable company?

On their website, King55 has a badge linking to Plant a Buck, which is an organization that works with online stores to "raise funds that are donated to the replanting of native species in different regions of Brazil and the world." We don't know in what capacity they work with Plant a Buck, or the details surrounding the partnership, and have reached out to the King55 team for details.

King55 Product Range

King55 makes a wide range of footwear, as well as clothing and accessories, with a bold and unique street style. Their shoes are unisex, and have King55's 'scissors' logo near the heel of every model. Their styles range from monochromatic and flat-soled dress shoes with a funky twist, to plaid-printed and orange-soled chunky sneaker boots. Their current range of models includes: