If cows wore shoes … they'd wear these. The newest vegan shoes are fun comfy, stylish and affordable. Hard to believe, huh?!

Vegetarian Times, June, 2005 by Lisa Barley

The first reaction to "vegan shoes" is usually: Ugh. Those stiff plastic numbers that make your feet hurt (and stink). And those funky hemp numbers that, yeah, are sturdy--but forget wearing them to a job interview. To avoid leather, suede, fur trim and even glues that use animal products, you've had to avoid everyday shoe stores. And forget being stylish.

No longer! Vegan shoes have evolved: They're hip, well-made and surprisingly comfortable. No one will know what you are (or aren't) wearing except you. And you might not know yourself--the shoes look that good. More and more manufacturers and retailers--from Columbia and New Balance to Payless--are producing a good number of all-synthetic options. Even the granddaddy of sandals, Birkenstock, makes vegan varieties of its most popular styles. At vegan specialty shops, including MooShoes, Pangea and Alternative Outfitters, you can find dozens of vegan shoe styles under one roof (or with one click of the mouse).

MooShoes owners Sara and Erica Kubersky have literally felt your pain. Through their Manhattan store and online shop, the sisters sell a wide variety of comfortable and attractive vegan shoes, bags, wallets and other accessories. Shari Kalina started Pangea to make vegan shopping easier. "We wanted to offer higher-quality shoe options, like the ones you see in Europe," she says. Pangea now produces its own brand of shoes, No Bull, including many styles for office workers. Zappos.com, an online shoe seller, says at least 20 percent of its business comes from synthetic shoes.

So go ahead and test drive a pair of pumps on a power lunch, some sneaks on a 10K or sassy sandals on a stroll on the boardwalk--all three and more are coming up. Not only will the shoes feel good, but you'll feel good wearing them.

The underside of leather

Many vegetarians support the meat industry without realizing it: Every leather jacket, shoe, purse and wallet is a symbol of factory farming. In fact, pound for pound, leather--not meat--is a slaughterhouse's most profitable item.

Farm animals aren't the only victims of the leather trade. In countries such as China where there are few or no animal rights laws, even domesticated animals are killed for leather and fur.

The environment suffers too. Leather is processed with toxins including arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, zinc, cyanide-based oils and coal-tar derivatives. More than 95 percent of leather made in the United States is tanned with chromium, a carcinogen, and other unpleasant stuff. What flows out of tanneries includes highly polluting sulfides, acids, lime sludge and salt.

No wonder tannery employees get sick. Studies show that they have an increased risk of health problems including cancer and lung and skin diseases, according to the International Labour Organization.

So if you've been feeling a little uneasy in your shoes, turn the page. You and your feet are in for a guilt-free summer treat.

Tread Lightly

Where to find all of these vegan shoes and many, many more

Alternative Outfitters 866.758.5837 alternativeoutfitters.com

Carries dozens of vegan shoes, plus T-shirts, skin and hair care, cosmetics, jewelry and accessories.

Price range: $20-$50 (shoes)

Good to know: Donates 5 percent of gross profits to PETA (10 percent if purchasing Pamela Anderson-brand belts and jewelry).

Crocs 877.238.4404 crocs.com

Makes fun, wildly colorful, water-friendly, slip-resistant clogs and sandals for kids and adults.

Price range: $30-$50

Good to know: Donates shoes from its kids' line to AIDS/HIV orphans in Africa.

Earth 877.372.2814 earthvegan.us

Offers dozens of cruelty-free styles. Also carries some hemp clothing.

Price range: $40-$120 (shoes)

Good to know: Earth shoes are produced in China under fair-trade standards; the company is trying to improve working conditions for other Chinese laborers.

KidBean.com 954.942.2830 kidbean.com

Carries hemp shoes for kids, as well as organic cotton clothing for rooms-to-be and infants.

Price range: $16-$50 (shoes)

Good to know: Makes only vegan products and maintains socially responsible practices. For instance, all KidBean suppliers must meet its environmental and fair-labor standards.

MooShoes 866.598.3426 mooshoes.com

In addition to hundreds of animal-friendly shoes, MooShoes carries jackets, shirts, accessories, books, videos, cosmetics, jewelry and more.

Price range: $20-$145 (shoes)

Good to know: Supports no-kill animal shelters and hosts companion animal adoption days.

Store: 152 Allen St., New York, NY 10002

Pangea 800.340.1200 www.veganstore.com

Its all-vegan products include nearly 200 shoe styles, plus everything from clothing and personal care items to gift baskets and pet products.

Price range: $15-$180 (shoes)

Good to know: Doesn't carry products manufactured under oppressive labor conditions; reuses and recycles mail-order materials.

Store: 2381 Lewis Ave., Rockville, MD 20851

Zappos.com 888.493.7767 zappos.com

While not exclusively vegetarian, this vast online shoe store has an entire vegetarian department and sells hundreds of cruelty-free styles. But because Zappos isn't a vegan specialist, be sure to double-check what the shoes are made of.