Teresa Costa Collection is Likely a Vegan Brand

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Teresa Costa Collection Brand Overview

"A long time advocate for animal welfare, Teresa Costa set out to create her collection based on her passions for high fashion, as well as being a voice for animals, the environment and promoting compassion and charity." - Teresa Costa Collection team

About Teresa Costa Collection

"Established in 2017, Teresa Costa's shoes are at the forefront of vegan ethical fashion, presenting luxurious modern vegan women's shoes. All of Teresa Costa Collection is created with faux leather and beautifully handmade in Ecuador." - Teresa Costa Collection team

Is Teresa Costa Collection an ethically vegan brand?

Teresa Costa Collection is very much an intentionally and ethically vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. Not only is the brand founded by an animal welfare activist, but they donate 5% of profits to various animal welfare-related causes.

What materials are used to make their shoes?

Teresa Costa Collection doesn't provide very much detail about the specific materials used in their shoes, or the nature of those materials. As an example of the materials they use, their "Mariana Flat" lists the following:
• Breathable faux leather (uppers)
• Faux leather upper lining
• Resin sole
• Padded insoles

Are their shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

Teresa Costa Collection does not currently use any tools or programs that can quantify and share the eco-friendliness of their products, other than sharing vague breakdowns of the materials used in each shoe. And while the man-made synthetic leathers they use are generally considered worse for the environment than recycled synthetics, or natural materials, those synthetic materials are still considered to be more environmentally friendly than animal-derived leathers (due to the inclusion of various toxic chemicals used in the tanning process, among other reasons). 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 production of their shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Teresa Costa Collection has, and what they do to remediate it. The brand does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in these areas.

Does Teresa Costa Collection use ‘green’ shipping methods?

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

Do they use eco-friendly packaging?

We've reached out to the Teresa Costa Collection team to get further details on this, and they've told us that they use the original plain white boxes that the manufacturer ships the shoes to them in, to help save waste & money, and that they also try to ship in the priority envelopes from the USPS to avoid wasting cardboard whenever possible.

Are their shoes recyclable?

We've reached out to the Teresa Costa Collection team to get further details on this, and are awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my old Teresa Costa shoes?

We’ve asked their team if they currently have, or are developing, a shoe recycling program, and they've told us that, "I would like to explore more sustainable options in the future for shipping and an end of life plan for the shoes." 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.

What stores can I buy Teresa Costa Collection shoes from?

Teresa Costa Collection shoes can be purchased from their website, and can be shipped worldwide. They also have a showroom in Dix Hills, NY available by appointment, and can be purchased through the Shop Like You Give a Damn website.

Do their shoes ever go on sale?

When we last visited their website, we saw that some models were marked down about 20% from their original price.

Where are Teresa Costa Collection shoes made?

Teresa Costa Collection makes their shoes by hand in Ecuador.

Are their shoes made with fair labour?

Being that their shoes are made in Ecuador, it's difficult for us as an outside, non-certifying 3rd party to verify whether or not Teresa Costa Collection ensures its factory enforces all international and local labour laws, regulations and fair working standards to provide a safe and fair working environment for their workers. According to the brand however, "We work closely with our factories in Ecuador so we are confident that no-one is exploited in the creation of your shoes and endeavour to source our components and fabrics as locally to our factories as we possibly can to try and reduce our carbon footprint."

Is Teresa Costa Collection a charitable company?

Yes! According to the brand, "Teresa works with and donates to the country's leading animals rights organizations for education and rescue." They go on to say that, "5% of profits are donated to charities such as PETA, Farm Sanctuary and North Shore Animal League."

Does Teresa Costa Collection promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Teresa Costa Collection incorporates some elements of a circular economy, such as: making their products by hand; having some items available by pre-order only; and avoiding discount-level pricing.

Teresa Costa Collection Footwear Range

Teresa Costa Collection makes women's heels and flats at a mid-range price point. Their designs are mostly leather-look, although some models do feature some mixed media, such as denim. Their style can be described as modern takes on classic styles, with most models featuring some themed embellishments, such as playing cards for their casino deco-inspired shoes.