Loyal Footwear is Likely a Vegan Brand

Shop on:

Loyal Footwear Brand Overview

"Made sustainably by me, for you. Loyal Footwear is a cruelty-free, vegan shoe brand. I make every single pair of shoes myself, by hand, here in the USA. What I believe are the best ways of doing absolutely everything converge in this single collection." - Rebecca Heykes, Founder, Loyal Footwear

About Loyal Footwear

"I push myself to constantly evolve as newer, more sustainable vegan materials enter the market. I implement customer feedback to make Loyal Footwear softer, more durable, and supportive with each and every batch. I’ll get to know your feet, and you’ll get to know your shoemaker!" - Rebecca Heykes, Founder, Loyal Footwear

What materials are used to make Loyal Footwear's shoes?

Loyal Footwear uses "advanced microfiber vegan leathers, plant-based leathers, plant-based textiles, and recycled soling materials." When we asked Rebecca if the glues are free from animal-derived ingredients, she said, "They are! That’s the greatest thing about making things myself here in the US (as opposed to having to trust an outside factory). I select every single ingredient myself."

Are the materials used to make Loyal Footwear's shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, Loyal Footwear's shoes can be considered quite environmentally-friendly, as Rebecca uses a combination of high-quality synthetics, recycled materials, and innovative plant-based leathers to make her shoes. She also states the she pushes herself to "constantly evolve as newer, more sustainable vegan materials enter the market," adding that "I have also been transitioning many of my component materials to the most biodegradable options as they become available."

Does production of Loyal Footwear's shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Loyal Footwear has, and what they do to remediate it. Loyal Footwear does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in these areas. However, it's worth noting that Founder Rebecca Heykes makes the shoes by hand, in small made-to-order batches, which is a highly sustainable model.

Does Loyal Footwear use green shipping methods?

Loyal Footwear has told us that they're automatically opted-in for UPS Carbon Neutral shipments for all customer orders.

Does Loyal Footwear use eco-friendly packaging?

According to Loyal Footwear, they just use the bare minimum of some recycled kraft tissue, one piece of Loyal branded tissue printed with soy ink, a simple cotton tote as a reusable/repurpose-able dust bag, and a plain kraft mailer shipping carton. They state that their goal for my packaging is to make anything not reusable both recycled/recycle-able again, and so they've chosen to opt-out of using branded shoe boxes, and instead use a multi-purpose tote which a customer can continue to use as a protective dust bag for the shoes.

How should I dispose of my worn out Loyal Footwear shoes?

We’ve asked Founder Rebecca Heykes if she currently has, or is developing, a shoe recycling program, and are awaiting reply. In the meantime, Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired (Loyal Footwear has informed us that they have a shoe repair program), 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 Loyal Footwear shoes?

Loyal Footwear shoes can be purchased on a made-to-order basis from their website. There is also an "Instant Gratification" section on their website, wherein some shoes, boots and sandals that are already made can be purchased immediately. Loyal Footwear ships internationally.

Do Loyal Footwear shoes ever go on sale?

We haven’t noticed any sales for Loyal Footwear's shoes, boots or sandals when visiting their site and perusing their social channels.

Are Loyal Footwear shoes ethically made?

Yes - Founder and Owner Rebecca Heykes makes each pair by hand in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

Can I make my own Loyal Footwear shoes?

Yes - Founder Rebecca Heykes hosts an Airbnb experience where you can join her to custom make your own vegan shoes in 1 day, at her shop in Hoboken, NJ, USA. At over $700 USD the class is not cheap, but has an amazing satisfaction rate (100% at the time of writing).

Does Loyal Footwear promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Loyal Footwear incorporates several elements of a circular economy/slow fashion model, such as: selling their shoes by pre-order (which helps reduce over-production); employing fair labour; using eco-friendly materials; committing to incorporating evermore eco-friendly materials as they become available; avoiding discount-level pricing; making timeless styles; making their products by hand; providing information on product care best practices; choosing carbon-neutral shipping; using eco-friendly and minimalist packaging; and even hosting classes on making shoes by hand with sustainable materials.

Is Loyal Footwear a charitable company?

We’ve asked the Founder Rebecca Heykes about any charitable initiatives the brand is involved with (if any), and she's informed us that, "Not formally, as a solo-run company I don't have any % of sales initiatives, etc. (also as the margins on handmade products are pretty slim) but when the opportunity arises I have donated pairs of shoes and/or gift cards for fundraising for other vegan causes. My most recent was a gift card donation for the Coalition for Healthy School Food (working to get vegan meals into school lunches)."

Loyal Footwear Product Range

Loyal Footwear makes a range of women's casual shoes, boots and sandals with a clean, generally minimalist and monochromatic aesthetic. Their style can also be described as trendy yet subtle, with modern takes on classic models.