Ethical Sneaker Brands Australia New Zealand

10 Best Brands For Ethical Sneakers In Australia & NZ

By Alex Assoune Apr 01, 2024

The best shoe brands in Australia and New Zealand design cheap, comfy, and sustainable sneakers made from eco-friendly and animal-free materials. They make consistent efforts to reduce their impact on people and the planet.

When looking for stylish and cozy footwear, prefer manufacturers that adhere to the highest social and environmental standards. Many companies add sustainable, vegan, and budget-friendly options to their collections.

I've done a lot of research and hard work to help you buy from the below shoe brands knowing that they offer ethically and sustainably made sneakers in Australia and New Zealand.

Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us.

1. Etiko

Category: Clothing, flats, sneakers, flip flops, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Australia
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, vegan, B Corp
Prices: $20-$80

Etiko is an Australian ethical clothing and shoe brand founded in 2005 that makes Fair Trade certified and 100% vegan apparel, footwear, and accessories, for women, men, and kids.

It uses organic cotton and natural rubber to make affordable, comfortable, and ethical sneakers, ballet flats, thongs, and more.

Etiko is also a certified B Corp company. It chooses ethically sourced and traded raw materials, pays fair prices and social premiums to workers committed to improving businesses and communities.

SHOP ETIKO

2. Collective Canvas

Category: Sneakers
For: Women, men
From: New Zealand
Values: Organic, minimalist, timeless
Prices: $90-$130

Collective Canvas is an ethical sneaker brand from New Zealand that creates unisex, simple, sustainable sneakers from natural and eco-friendly materials.

The shoe brand designs timeless sneakers made from organic cotton, natural latex rubber, renewable castor oil, and water-based glues in a transparent supply chain.

Collective Canvas makes minimalist, classic styles from naturally sourced and sustainable materials. It makes its insoles with a sustainable cork veneer cover.

Collective Canvas stays away from the traditional retail pricing model and partners directly with its factory to reduce margins and offer transparent pricing.

SHOP COLLECTIVE CANVAS

3. Allbirds

Category: Clothing, shoes, sneakers, flats, sandals, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, timeless, B Corp, made in New Zealand
Prices: $90-$100

Allbirds is a New Zealand-American sustainable apparel and footwear brand. It aims to make the world's most comfortable sneakers with natural materials.

The brand was founded in 2014 by ex-soccer player Tim Brown and renewables expert Joey Zwillinger. It has quickly grown from an online retailer to a massive global brand.

Allbirds is now a global brand serving 35 countries, with 21 brick-and-mortar stores worldwide. It strives to design environmentally friendly footwear.

SHOP ALLBIRDS

4. ekn footwear

Category: Sneakers, shoes, flats, sandals, boots, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Frankfurt, Germany
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $90-$100

ekn footwear is an ethical brand of eco-friendly and ethically made sneakers. It offers sustainable shoes for women and men in Australia and New Zealand.

ekn footwear is committed to making high-quality, stylish, organic sneakers to protect people and the environment. It produces its footwear in limited quantities to ensure minimal impact.

ekn footwear offers vegan sneakers made with attention to detail and high standards in sustainability and ethics. Its designs are classic, super comfy, and made from organic cotton or recycled fabrics.

SHOP EKN FOOTWEAR

5. Stella McCartney

Category: Clothing, sneakers, shoes, boots, flats, sandals, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury
Prices: $420-$760

Stella McCartney is an apparel designer selling sustainable sneakers, clothing, and accessories for women, men, and kids in Australia and New Zealand. She distributes her collections in 77 countries through 863 retailers.

The luxury designer is committed to sustainability throughout its collections with a fair amount of circularity and material innovations. She aims to run a responsible, honest, and modern company.

Stella McCartney uses many sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled materials, to create high-quality clothing and footwear through carefully selected suppliers.

SHOP STELLA MCCARTNEY

6. Veja

Category: Sneakers, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Paris, France
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, Fair Trade, artisan craft
Prices: $120-$180

Veja is a French footwear and accessories brand selling sustainable sneakers for men and women in Australia and New Zealand. It sells eco-friendly shoes, bags, and accessories in 1,800 retailers in 45 countries.

It makes its sneakers with organic materials, fair trade sourcing, and transparency. Veja already sold more than 4 million pairs of shoes worldwide.

Veja is one of the few good places in Australia and New Zealand to buy sustainable, vegan sneakers. It aims to make the most ecological shoes possible.

Veja manufactures its sneakers using a large proportion of recycled materials. Its upcycling process creates a breathable and water-repellent fabric.

SHOP VEJA

7. Matt And Nat

Category: Clothing, sneakers, boots, heels, flats, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Montreal, Canada
Values: Natural, vegan, recycled, inclusive
Prices: $50-$140

Matt And Nat is a designer brand that makes premium quality vegan sneakers, apparel, and accessories. All its products are cruelty-free, fashion-forward, and made with recycled materials.

The designer brand's values include social responsibility, excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, learning, authenticity, and love. It aims to protect nature and appreciate the humanity, creativity, and positivity found in every person.

Some of the materials it uses include recycled nylon, cork, rubber, and polyurethane. Its vegan sneakers are chic, classic, durable, timeless, and are available in Australia.

SHOP MATT AND NAT

8. Everlane

Category: Clothing, sneakers, heels, shoes, boots, flats, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $20-$40

Everlane is an ethical brand creating modern and beautiful essentials, at the best factories, without traditional markups. Everlane is a great destination to buy quality, vegan, affordable, and sustainable sneakers made from recycled materials.

The fashion retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online internationally in Australia and New Zealand. It uses a high proportion of sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled fabrics.

The sustainable brand also offers ethically made and designed-to-last clothes, handbags, and accessories for women and men. It believes in exceptional quality to make a difference.

Everlane is widely known for its radical transparency. It educates consumers on its supply chain, factories, employees, and the price breakdown of each product.

SHOP EVERLANE

9. Well Made Clothes

Category: Clothing, sneakers, sandals, boots, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: Australia
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, local, made in Australia
Prices: $90-$210

Well Made Clothes curates ethically sourced Australian-made fashion brands. It sells local, ethical, vegan, and sustainable apparel and footwear for women and men.

The Australian e-marketplace offers ethical sneakers to look good, feel good, and protect people and the environment. It features ethical brands and designers that reduce waste through local, fair, sustainable, and cruelty-free production.

Well Made Clothes provides you with information about the fashion industry and ethical labels. It gives you everything you need to make informed purchasing decisions.

SHOP WELL MADE CLOTHES

10. Thread Harvest

Category: Clothing, sneakers, flats, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men, children
From: Australia
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, artisan craft, B Corp, made in Australia
Prices: $70-$80

Thread Harvest is an Australian online fashion store promoting the world's leading ethical fashion brands for men, women, teens, and kids. It lets you shop what matters to you.

The ethical online fashion marketplace sells affordable, vegan, sustainable sneakers, apparel, shoes, and accessories.

You can shop for sustainable and ethical footwear by values and lead a revolutionary change for people and the planet. Thread Harvest is a Benefit Corporation dedicated to bringing you the best.

SHOP THREAD HARVEST

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.