Ahinsa Might Be a Fully Vegan Brand

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Brand Highlights

Ahinsa as a brand has set out to accomplish three things simultaneously - to make ethical, fair and vegan shoes while respecting the environment and providing ultimate comfort.

About Ahinsa

Ahinsa shoes is the story of physiotherapist Lukáš Klimpera and his quest for shoes that would "enable not only our feet, but also the whole body to work naturally, healthily and happily, and that would be ethically made from only the highest quality materials free of any animal-derived components."

Are Ahinsa shoes intentionally vegan?

Part of Ahinsa's brand ethos is to produce footwear that in no way is linked to the suffering of animals or humans. However, they have informed us that they aren't sure as to "the exact ingredient what the glue contain".

Are Ahinsa's shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

Part of the Ahinsa brand ethos is "to strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible". In keeping with that, they certainly out forth an effort to make their shoes eco-friendly by using pure natural materials (linen, hemp, cotton), recycled materials, and materials that will last a very long time. We have asked the Ahinsa team if they can provide us with further details as to their environmental friendliness (such as shipping methods and packaging composition) and are currently awaiting reply.

Does Ahinsa use green shipping methods?

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

Does Ahinsa use eco-friendly packaging?

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

Are Ahinsa shoes recyclable or biodegradable?

It’s unclear from the information on their website what the end-of-life plan is for their shoes. We’ve asked the Ahinsa team if they have any current or future plans as to how their shoes can be diverted from the landfill once they’ve worn out, and are currently awaiting reply.

Where can I buy Ahinsa shoes?

For the time being it looks like Ahinsa shoes, boots and sandals can only be purchased from their website. We've asked if they have plans to work with retailers and are currently awaiting reply.

Do Ahinsa shoes ever go on sale?

It appears that Ahinsa offers access to or information about "special discounts" when signing up for their newsletter.

What materials are used to make Ahinsa shoes?

Ahinsa uses a mix of natural, long-lasting and recycled materials, including hemp, linen, cotton, vegan suede, vegan leather, and vegan nubuck leather. UPDATE: We have asked the Ahinsa team what their adhesives are made of, and unfortunately, they do not actually know. Although some sources say that animal glue in the footwear industry is very uncommon these days (as synthetic options are generally regarded to be less expensive and of higher quality), others, such as Joshua Katcher, who literally wrote the book on animals being used for fashion, believes that there’s "still a fair amount of animal-derived glue, especially in the heritage factories and brands."

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

Ahinsa appears to employ some elements of a circular economy, such as using increasingly sustainable and high-quality materials, using natural materials, employing fair labour, and designing their shoes to last a very long time (they claim they'll last "1 million steps"). One area in which they could improve is by using a 'made-to-order' production system, which could cut down on production waste.

Are Ahinsa shoes ethically made?

Yes! Ahinsa shoes are handcrafted in Czechia and Croatia, which means their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations.

Is Ahinsa a charitable company?

We have asked the Ahinsa team about any charitable initiatives they're involved with, and are currently awaiting reply, as there is no such information available on their website.

Ahinsa Product Range

Designed by physiotherapists, Ahinsa specializes in making minimalist barefoot shoes for men and women, although they also offer minimally structured non-barefoot shoes. Both varieties have minimalist design in a variety of colours, with the occasional bold pattern or accent. Their current range includes: