What do we make vegan minimalist shoes out of?

There’s no denying it—if we want decent footwear that will last us for many years, be healthy for our feet, and be beautiful at the same time, then we need to turn our gaze to shoes made of genuine leather. But what if we don’t want shoes made of animal skin?

In that case, technology comes to the rescue, which allows us to use plant-based or derived materials in the production of synthetic vegan leather. This allows us to create vegan minimalist shoes.

What is synthetic leather

Synthetic leather is nothing more than an imitation of natural leather, made from various ingredients of artificial or semi-natural origin. This means the use of materials such as:

• polyurethane,
• recycled products such as plastics, fibers, and other raw materials,
• products of plant origin such as apples, pineapples, allocasia leaves, cacti,
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

It is important to bear in mind here that there are many different terms, such as organic leather, vegan leather, synthetic leather, and organic synthetic leather. This division is particularly important in terms of our beliefs and concern for the environment. Why?

Nowadays, a great many manufacturers are creating so-called ecological leather, which has little to do with ecology. Polyurethane or other artificial materials are most often used for this. They are usually characterized by low durability, not very attractive aging, and a fair amount of chemical and industrial processing.

At Magical Shoes, vegan leather is made exclusively from recycled and microfiber materials. This way, we know we are taking care of the environment, and you can easily wear footwear that perfectly imitates real leather.

History of synthetic leather

Synthetic leather was first introduced in the 1920s as a cheaper alternative to real leather. Initially, it was a very poor imitation due to technological limitations. Over time, it started to be used more and more for footwear, handbags, and clothing.

Nowadays, depending on the type of processes and materials used, synthetic leather (like natural leather types) can more or less match the characteristics of animal skins.

Is artificial leather footwear inferior to natural leather?

Among all the advantages, technological advances, and other features, it is unfortunately important to be aware that natural leather is superior in terms of health and quality. First of all, natural leather has the best air circulation, so your foot breathes and there is no room for bacteria or odor. Vegan leather also has good air permeability, but there is a slight difference.

Vegan leather has an obvious advantage: no animal materials are used in its production. So if you want to have “decent leather shoes”, but not at the expense of animals, this will be the perfect solution for you.

Vegan leather is also slightly easier to care for and clean. Of course, this does not change the fact that if you want to enjoy your shoes for many seasons to come, it is worth cleaning and treating your footwear regularly.

Microfibre – a miracle material?

The second component of our footwear is the all-too-familiar microfiber. Sometimes the words microfiber and microfiber are used interchangeably. This is a type of microfiber made from thin polyester and polyamide fibers. It is made using the latest technology, which makes it possible to produce synthetic fibers several tens of times thinner than human hair! Thanks to their low density, products made of microfibers are soft and delicate but also resistant to damage.

This is precisely one of the reasons why we use microfiber, but not the only one! Other outstanding features of this material include:

• excellent moisture absorption,
• incredible resilience—due to its very fine weave,
• ease of cleaning: because it is a synthetic fiber, it can be cleaned more frequently without damaging the fibers.
• is ideal for allergy sufferers as it is impervious to dust, fine dirt, and mites.
• has excellent breathability. The right combination and construction of the shoe, combined with vegan leather, means that your foot will not sweat and your skin will be oxygenated.

A shoe combining microfiber and vegan leather is a great choice that will stay with you for years to come while being as environmentally friendly as possible.

How to care for vegan minimalist footwear?

The care of synthetic leather footwear is simple and not significantly different from others’.

If you want to clean the footwear, you should:

1. Wipe the footwear with a damp cloth and moisten the surface.
2. Use a cleaning foam.
3. shake before use.
4. Hold the bottle 15cm away from the object.
5. Apply generously to the surface to be cleaned.
6. remove stubborn dirt with a brush,
7. Rinse with clean water.

Once your footwear has been cleaned, it is a good idea to waterproof it to further protect your shoes from the outside elements. How do I do this?

1. Remove dirt using a brush or damp cloth, and then clean the footwear using the cleaning gel mentioned above.
2. Apply a spray-on waterproofer evenly to the outside of the footwear, e.g., Strong nano impregnation spray for shoes and textiles – Xnano PRO 250 ml
3. After 2–3 minutes, wipe off excess waterproofing with a clean cloth and allow footwear to dry before wearing.

Simple, isn’t it? For more on cleaning and protecting your footwear, read this article.

If you are looking for good-quality, ecologically produced shoes, we invite you to check out the men’s and women’s vegan shoes in our shop.