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Do you have questions about being vegan? Send them
to Jo using this easy form.
She would be happy to address your individual concerns
as well as general inquiries about vegan ethics, philosophy,
practical applications, and living compassionately.
Jo cannot respond to questions about nutrition or
answer questions that have already been addressed in
the Archives
Jo will make every attempt to answer each question
personally, however, due to her schedule, this may not
be possible. If a reply is forthcoming, it could take
up to a few weeks, so please be patient. It is also
possible that your question will be answered directly
in the "Ask Jo!" column rather than an individual
response.
If you'd like to view previous questions Jo has
answered, visit the Ask Jo! Archives.
Heart
and Sole
 I
want to become vegan but I can't find good alternatives
to leather shoes. I wear suede boots with flat heels most
of the time because they are very comfortable. Is there
any company that makes a decent shoe out of non-animal
sources? I don't like the fact that an animal had to die
just so I could wear a pair of boots.
Congratulations on making the compassionate
choice. As luck would have it, there is no need to sacrifice
comfort and style for conscience. There are many options
in vegan footwear today ranging from casual to formal
and everything in between.
At this time, there are no manufacturers
who produce only vegan products AND do so in an environmentally
sustainable and worker friendly fashion. Bear in mind,
however, that the leather processing and shoe manufacturing
industries are not only deadly to the animals who are
slaughtered for their flesh and subsequently their hide,
they also are among the most toxic industries for both
the environment and the human laborers they employ.
The following mail order sources carry
only vegan products, including shoes. They offer items
from a variety of manufacturers, so you should be able
to find something among them that meets your needs.
Pangea
2381 Lewis Avenue
Rockville, MD 20851
Phone:
301-816-9300
Orders: 1-800-340-1200
Aesop
Inc.
P.O. Box 315
N. Cambridge, MA 02140
Store at: 285 Washington St.
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-628-8030
Heartland
Products, Ltd.
P.O. Box 218
Dakota City, IA 50529
Phone: 515-332-3087
Veganline
PO Box 3007, South Croydon, CR2 9YF, England
Vegan
Wares
78 Smith Street Collingwood 3066 VIC Australia
Phone/Fax: (03) 9417 0230
An extremely comfortable clog made from
durable, biodegradable polyurethane is the Anywear
Shoe (1-888-541-4600). The clogs are waterproof,
washable, have a non-skid sole which gives a slight
massaging sensation, and come in a wide range of colors.
You also should be able to find a good
selection of nonleather shoes at Payless
Shoe Source. Nevertheless, their shoes primarily
are made in China where production practices and labor
conditions are questionable at best. When looking for
truly vegan commodities, we must remember that products
should be compassionately made as well as made from
compassionate resources.
Copyright © 1998-2013 by Jo Stepaniak
All rights reserved.
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