TIL: Some Michigan Stores Sell Vegan Shoes

Judge me or join me - I don't care.

I was today years old when I found out vegan shoes were a thing.

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Look. I pretty much try to just mind my own business and let everyone live their life however they choose to do so. I'm a total omnivore who doesn't mind if you're a vegan, a vegetarian, a carnivore or whatever.

I haven't ever given much thought to veganism. On the surface, it seems like a "diet" thing, right? Considering it more deeply, I guess it makes sense that it's more of an all-encompassing "lifestyle" thing.

While shopping for shoes, I couldn't help but notice the big green rectangle on these boxes: "VEGAN".

Vegan?!

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I posted a picture to social media with the caption, "First time I've ever seen vegan shoes." No judgment - just a fact.

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Some of the responses I got proved to me that I wasn't the only one who was unaware vegan shoes were a thing.

• So you can eat them? JK - Arlenea G.
• I guess if you’re THAT hungry… - Marie M.
• My shoes are strictly pescatarian. - Kris G.

But there were those who seemed to already be more enlightened than me.

• My gf has been buying vegan shoes for at least a decade. - Jeremy M.
• I have vegan Birkenstocks, they don't stretch. They do smell funny and although they're very cute, they're hard to fit because they don't stretch. - Stacia W.

I did a little research, and it turns out vegan shoes have been around for awhile. Actress Natalie Portman even introduced her own line of vegan footwear as far back as 2008.

According to naturalshoes.it, vegan shoes are those that "are not made in any manner with materials of animal origin."

It doesn't stop there. To truly be considered a vegan shoe, no leather, wool, or silk can be part of the processing either.

Birkenstocks are a common brand of vegan shoes, and Skechers has a lot of vegan options as well. If you're interested, you can find both at various locations throughout Michigan.