Mink is Likely a Fully Vegan Brand

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Mink Brand Overview

Founded by celebrity stylist Rebecca Mink in the year 2000, Mink claims to have created the first luxury and sustainability-focused vegan shoes in Italy.

About Mink

"After 22 years of reverse engineer testing on sustainable fabrics, Mink is creating a supreme vegan leather. Mink partnered with leading Italian material scientists to make a vegan leather from reclaimed vegetables and fruits. Mink plans to sell its vegan leather across fashion, footwear, automobile, boat and home decor industries worldwide." - Mink team

Is Mink an ethically vegan brand?

Mink appears to be an intentionally and ethically vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons, based on the nature of their public-facing communications.

What materials are used to make Mink shoes?

Mink uses a variety of materials to make their shoes, boots and sandals, such as: organic recycled cotton, apple leather, faux leather, and natural rubber.

Are the materials used to make Mink shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, most of Mink's shoes, boots & sandals are at least somewhat eco-friendly, as they do incorporate many natural, organic and/or recycled 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 vague breakdowns of the materials used in each shoe. And while the virgin man-made synthetics they use in other models are generally considered worse for the environment than recycled synthetics, or natural materials, those materials 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. It's worth noting here that Mink has partnered with Italian materials scientists to make a vegan leather from reclaimed vegetables and fruits.

Does production of Mink shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Mink has, and what they do to remediate it. Mink 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 Mink use green shipping methods?

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

Does Mink use eco-friendly packaging?

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

Can I recycle my Mink shoes?

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

How should I dispose of my worn out Mink shoes?

We’ve asked the Mink 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 Mink shoes?

Mink shoes, boots and sandals can be purchased from their website, and can be shipped worldwide.

Do Mink shoes ever go on sale?

We haven’t noticed any sales for Mink shoes when visiting their site and perusing their social channels.

Where are Mink shoes made?

Mink shoes are designed in Los Angeles, USA, and are made in Tuscany, Italy. They also have a "Plant leather lab" in Milan, Italy.

Are Mink shoes ethically made?

Yes! Mink shoes are hand made in Italy, which means their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations.

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

Mink appears to incorporate several elements of a circular economy/slow fashion model, such as: having products available by pre-order (which can help reduce over-production); employing fair labour; using increasingly eco-friendly materials (such as natural, organic and recycled materials); avoiding discount-level pricing; making their products by hand; and investing in sustainable material research.

Is Mink a charitable company?

We’ve asked the Mink 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.

Mink Footwear Range

Mink makes a small catalogue of stylish and fashionable women's shoes. Some of their models can be described as 'classic with a modern look,' while others are playful and quite bold in design. They sell at a premium price range, and have custom options to choose your own materials and accents, as well as some models of shoes, such as platform wedges and stilettos, that are only available by custom order. Some of their custom options sell at ultra-luxury price points (up to $3,500 USD), and are statement models.