1. ALOHAS

Spanish brand Alohas flips the typical fashion system on its head with its “on-demand production” process.

Instead of overproducing tons of shoes to later discount them, ALOHAs newest styles are made available for pre-order at a discount so the footwear brand can more accurately forecast demand. Then the shoes — like their flats — are made locally in Spain and Portugal and new items are 30% off.

Conscious Qualities: On-Demand Production, Locally Made,

Price Range: €126 – €250

Check out ALOHAS

2. Rothy’s

Sick of sacrificing comfort to wear beautiful shoes? Rothy’s is the brand you’ve been waiting for. Committed to incredible comfort, Rothy’s signature sustainable material is designed to be instantaneously wearable (i.e. no break-in required)—say bye, bye to those dreaded first-wear blisters.

In my experience, Rothy’s are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.

Materials: Recycled Materials, TRUE Platinum certified for zero waste production

Price: $129

Shop Rothy’s Flats

3. Allbirds

Another eco shoe brand dedicated to comfort, Allbirds’ creates lightweight, super smooth and breathable flats from tree fibers, aptly called “Tree Breezers”. The (washable) shoes are also soft enough to wear without socks.

The Allbirds Tree Breezers are far more comfortable than typical flats, though I find that the Rothy’s rank slightly higher in the comfort category.

Conscious Qualities: Natural materials (FSC-Certified eucalyptus, castor mean oil, sugarcane EVA)

Price: $100

Shop Allbirds’ Flats

4. Darzah @ Made Trade

Fair trade certified by Fair Trade Federation, Darzah’s ethical flats are entirely hand-embroidered and handcrafted in Palestine from locally sourced leather. The tatreez flats are embroidered by refugee and low-income women artisans with this traditional Palestinian technique.

Conscious Qualities: Sustains Heritage Crafts, Fair Trade Certified

Price: $189 – $209

Shop Darzah’s Flats

5. Nisolo

If you’re seeking a quality pair of classic, fair trade flats ideal for your capsule wardrobe, Nisolo has you covered with their award-winning huaraches. The ethical fashion brand’s flats and mules are ethically handmade in Peru by skilled shoemakers. Nisolo also has recently joined ABLE in the Lowest Wage Challenge publishing its lowest wages to spark more transparency in the fashion industry.

I’ve been wearing Nisolo shoes for many years and can attest to their quality and durability.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade

Price: $138 – $180

Shop Nisolo’s Flats + Mules

6. ABLE

A true ethical fashion innovator, ABLE continually pushes for more transparent fashion production practices. One of the most recent initiatives from the brand is their Lowest Wage Challenge, where they’re publishing the lowest wages in their supply chain.

I visited the brand’s Nashville headquarters and jewelry workshop and it was pretty incredible getting a glimpse inside the brand’s day-to-day operations and vision for the future.

Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade

Price: $115 – $128

Shop ABLE’s Flats

7. The RealReal (Resale)

The RealReal sells designer shoes at a fraction of the cost, enabling shoppers to find quality shoes for less. Depending on your priorities you can find shoes in anywhere from pristine condition (least discount) to “fair” or “as is” (biggest discount).

Conscious Qualities: Secondhand

Price Range: $9 – $2000+ (resale means a wide range of prices!)

Browse The RealReal