Shoe lovers tend to be dedicated shoppers. (Yes, I'm guilty too). So how can they greenify their shoe collection? There are lots of sustainable initiatives from the fashion world that are relevant to the shoe industry as well. Just think of fairtrade fabrics, ecological production, slow fashion, upcycling, and cradle to cradle. And consumers who embrace swapping, vintage, consuming less and investment dressing are of course fully engaging in the sustainable style revolution.
As my book on sustainable fashion has demonstrated, there’s a simple basic principle for a green wardrobe: buy what you really need, what is really well-made and what is really beautiful. Needless to say, this type of shopping advice is relevant to shoe lovers with a conscience as well. The same is true for the advice to prioritize outlet shopping, tailor made products, and borrowing or hiring items that you expect to wear only once (such as bridesmaid dresses or the latest it-bag) – these are all relatively planet friendly shopping methods that are applicable to the wonderful world of shoes as well.
Perhaps the most remarkable fact about sustainability in our shoe consumption is that a large part of its environmental impact results from the way we wear our stilettos, flats and boots. That’s why it’s a good idea to take good care of your favorite shoes (hello, sneakers for commuting to work!), to repair a broken heel instead of throwing away an entire pair of shoes, and to sell or swap unwanted items (we all have tons of great looking shoes that we never ever wear, don’t we?). And surely even the most shop addicted shoe lover will be able to do this...