Fair Trade Shoes — Everything You Need To Know

Where can you find a great pair of fair trade shoes? How can you learn more about a company’s practices before you buy? And honestly… what does fair trade actually mean? This article is here to answer all your questions and more.

Unethical Practices by Shoe Companies

The concept for fair trade comes out of an understanding that current trade practices uphold wealth inequality between the nations.

Many products, like clothing, chocolate, coffee, and gold, are made in the Global South and then sold to the more wealthy countries of the Global North. 

Attempting to make reach higher and higher profits, companies cut corners at the expense of the least privileged among us. Companies do business with factories that severely underpay their workers. Conditions in these factories can be unsafe or even deadly. 

Factories also engage in behavior that harms the environment. They use fossil fuels, single-use plastics, and dump their waste onto our land and our water sources. If throwing your plastic coffee cup on the ground is bad, think about how bad it is when a when a massive corporation litters. 

They even use child labor and forced labor. (This recent Washington Post article goes deep into the world of the cocoa industry’s child laborers). 

This video goes into more depth about the conditions of the garment industry (which, of course, includes shoes). 

Fair Trade Shoes

The idea for fair trade comes from the knowledge that the products we buy are deeply connected to the health and livelihoods of other people. The products we buy are made by people. The companies we support have a direct impact on whether those people are healthy and safe. And they have the ability to harm animals and the planet, too.  

According to Fair Trade USA, “Fair trade is a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, shoppers, advocates, and organizations putting people and planet first.”

Buying fair trade means knowing where your products come from. When a product is marked “fair trade”, that means it’s been given a certification that says that it was made in ethical conditions. That means workers being paid fairly for their work and having safe working conditions. It means companies who are committed to improving their communities and protecting the environment.  

So what can you do to make sure that the shoes you buy are fair trade?

Look for a fair trade seal.

A seal means that a fair trade watchdog organization has thoroughly vetted this company’s practices– from the harvesting of natural resources to create materials, to the moment you open that shoebox. Check out one example of a fair trade seal here. 

Research the shoe company and their practices.

The truth is that if a company has good practices, they’ll want you to know about it. In the “About” section of their website, they’ll talk about any fair trade certifications they may have. They’ll talk about what they’re doing to help the environment and ensure that their workers are paid fairly. The “About” or “Our Story” section of a shoe company’s website is a great resource in learning whether or not this company is one that you want to support.

If their website doesn’t mention anything about the workers who make their shoes, watch out. A lack of information is a huge red flag. If a company is exploiting their workers, engaging in animal cruelty, or harming the environment, they won’t want you to know.

Contact the company directly.

As a potential consumer, you’re absolutely allowed to reach out to the company you’re considering supporting and ask for more information about their practices. Ask if they have any fair trade certifications. Ask what they’re doing to ensure that their shoes are ethically sourced.

Listen to your gut.

If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. A company with super-low prices, but no information about their labor or environmental practices, is likely to be bad news.

So where can you find great fair trade shoes?

Ahimsa and SoleRebels are wonderful companies who are truly prioritizing people and the planet. We’ve highlighted them before in articles like this one about warm vegan boots, and this one about stylish, eco-friendly women’s shoes. But there are so many more amazing fair trade shoe companies to check out.

Good Guys has an amazing selection of super cute, 100% vegan sandals, flats, heels, and boots. The Root Collective makes truly gorgeous, unique shoes for women. Oliberté is a sustainable fair trade brand based in Ethiopia. 

Check out this list from the Better Shoes Foundation for even more– their list includes eco-friendly and vegan shoe companies, some of which have fair trade certifications as well. 

And this website, Made Trade, consolidates products from tons of different fair trade companies, so you can check out lots of different shoe options while knowing that everything you look at is fair trade certified. Check out their shoe section here.

I’m so excited to use this Made Trade for… everything I buy. 

It may take a little extra time to find a great pair of shoes that’s also fair trade. And it’s going to take more money than you’d pay for fast fashion. But if you’re able, buying fair trade shoes is an amazing choice that makes a real difference for people and the planet. 

Feel good about the shoes you’re in.