This week is all about love and relationships—whether with a significant other, a temporarily significant other, or the most important one of all: yourself. Regardless of the day, place, or way you choose to celebrate—Galentine’s, Valentine’s, or Singles’ Day—we’ve got you covered.
After all, it’s always about finding your footing. Literally.
Empress of Heels (Netherlands)
Founded by Birgit Sas-Sundquest, Empress of Heels offers everything a woman needs to conquer the world: heels that are as classy as they are comfortable. The AI-powered ‘Find your size’ tool has already proven highly effective at solving the literally painful struggle of finding the perfect fit. And let’s just say we all know what happens next when you do find a perfect fit.
VFR’s pick: THE RED heels (100 mm)
Regular price: €175,00
The vibe: Who run the world?…
Anne Schollenberger (Germany)
Founded by Anne-Kirstin Schollenberger out of her love for bags, shoes, and especially hats, the brand uses cactus leather—one of the most sustainable leather alternatives, requiring minimal water in production—to create pieces that channel contemporary art through an uncanny je ne sais quoi play of shapes and colours.
VFR’s pick: YVE Boots with detachable knee-high shaft
Regular price: €390.00
The vibe: …Birds of a feather, we should stick together…
Zette Shoes (Australia)
Named after the founders’ first foster feline, Zette, the brand is a testament to going the extra mile. In this case, that mile stretches from Melbourne to small, family-run factories in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, where shoes are handcrafted by artisans who receive fair wages and work in safe conditions.
VFR’s pick: STERLING Chelsea boots
Regular price: $229.00 AUD
The vibe: …I still crave it, you complicated freak…
AERA (USA)
The brand proudly holds The Butterfly Mark—awarded to luxury brands that go beyond compliance to meet the highest standards of verified innovation, social responsibility, and environmental performance—is B Corp certified, and conducts “Cradle to Consumer” Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) as part of its commitment to reducing environmental impact.
VFR’s pick: LAURA sandals
Regular price: $595.00
The vibe: …Must be the season of the witch….
Marzeri (Italy)
Think of all the traditional tenets of luxury Italian shoemaking—only replace animal leather with innovative vegan alternatives such as apple, grain, cork, and ALCANTARA® (a supple vegan suede). Marzeri offers a near ‘made-to-order’ experience, allowing customers to select vegan materials and personalise every last detail.
VFR’s pick: CERNOBBIO Lace-ups
Regular price: €550,00
The vibe: I’m too sexy for my cat….
Bamou (Brazil)
As a brand, Bamou was founded out of a dream ‘born in Switzerland and realised in Brazil’, where each pair is handcrafted on soles made of natural rubber or recycled tyres, offering flexibility and good impact absorption. Other materials include bio-based EVA, a resin produced from sugarcane, BCI-certified cotton, and rPET.
VFR’s pick: BOTINHA sneakers
Regular price: R$360,00
The vibe: Oops I did it again….
Bikkou (Switzerland)
With a founding story spanning two generations from Romania to Switzerland (BIKKOU means ‘Grandpa’ in Romanian), former lawyer-turned-vegan-entrepreneur Nathalie Mossaz has pledged to use only lower-impact fabrics, such as recycled corn (insoles), Piñatex, recycled and bio-sourced polyester, and Eco-Thunit—outsoles made from approximately 50% recycled rubber and naturally dyed.
VFR’s pick: 9 PM Drink with Friends sandals
Regular price: CHF326.00
The vibe: …I want it all, and I want it now…
Bloom (France)
Bloom, also founded by a lawyer in search of the perfect blend of beauty and ethics, takes its journey from Paris to Portugal, where its shoes are crafted. Known for its commitment to plant-based and recycled materials, the brand uses soles made from recycled components, nickel-free buckles, and entirely animal-free glue. Even its shoe boxes are made of recycled paper, and the bags from bamboo fibre.
VFR’s pick: BERYL pumps
Regular price: €300,00
The vibe: …And you know that I will love you ’til I die
Humans Are Vain (Sweden)
Brand’s co-founder, Chris Margetts, wanted to challenge fast fashion norms, and merge contemporary design with the latest innovations in vegan-sustainable materials. Humans Are Vain‘s handcrafted collections are produced in small, limited batches and include items made from fully recyclable materials like apple leather and upcycled ocean plastics.
VFR’s pick: REVENGE boots
Regular price: £130.00
The vibe: …These shoes are made for walking...
Von D Shoes (USA)
Kat Von D’s iconic vegan shoe label reflects her passion for art and animal welfare at every stage of the creative process, from design to material research—even down to the tissue paper. The brand regularly collaborates with charities, making it a true reflection of its founder’s ethos.
VFR’s pick: EXODUS sandals
Regular price: $200.00
The vibe: …Don’t show up, don’t come out…
Lemon Jelly (Portugal)
With over 30 years of footwear industry experience, José Pinto founded Lemon Jelly to spread joy and cruelty-free messaging—one pair at a time. The brand also donates 10% of its proceeds to Ocean Alive, a foundation dedicated to protecting the seagrass meadows along Portugal’s shores.
VFR’s pick: LOVE 01 mules
Regular price: €79,90
The vibe: …Quand le temps va et vient…
Infinite Running (Germany)
To be clear, we’re not suggesting you run for the hills after the first date. It’s just that Infinite Running specialises in high-performance running shoes, designed to meet the highest standards of veganism, social responsibility, and environmental consciousness—at least as far as a sports footwear brand can. Its soles are made from high-energy polyurethane foam, which is recyclable and requires less energy to produce than conventional ethylene-vinyl acetate.
VFR’s pick: ONE Red running shoes
Regular price: €219,99
The vibe: If you wanna be my lover...
PawJ (USA)
Founded by Julee Merrill, PawJ is a family-run business crafting what are arguably the most popular—and undoubtedly the most comfortable—vegan boots and slippers, made from cruelty-free synthetics and faux fur. After all, love should feel like walking on clouds.
VFR’s pick: PAWJ Slippers
Regular price: $99.97
The vibe: …I did it my way or ...People fall in love in mysterious ways… (have your pick)
Explore more vegan footwear in our Directory.