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The right flat shoes are comfortable to walk in, long-lasting, made more sustainably, and fit in with your personal style. Here are 11 options, including vegan flats, from top-rated brands we think you’ll love.
What makes the best, more sustainable ballet flats?
Mesh flats and Puma’s Speedcat ballet sneakers may be trending in 2026, but flats have long been a mainstay on the footwear roster. From ballerinas to mules, this type of shoe can be practical, great for walking in, good for the office, and can be dressed up or down depending the on the design.
But, as with every other category in fashion, there are some sustainability issues to be mindful of. Notably, the materials used: ideally, brands avoid animal-derived materials like leather and suede entirely, but if they do use it, check the material has been sourced more responsibly and certified with the likes of the Leather Working Group. And if you’re looking for vegan flat shoes, keep an eye on how the materials used are made, since many leather alternatives are derived from fossil fuels. Will’s Vegan Store, featured in this round-up, uses a bio-oil-based material along with recycled natural rubber (rather than synthetic rubber) for its flats.
Another great way to find stylish and more ethical flat shoes is to shop them secondhand on the likes of Vinted, eBay, or your local thrift shop. If you do need something new, though, then check out our list below, which features brands that’ve been independently rated “Good” or “Great” against our world-leading fashion sustainability methodology.
Expect braided styles, vegan ballerinas, smart loafers, ballet sneakers, and classic minimalist flats.
Agazi
Agazi is a vegan footwear brand from Poland. Its range spans sneakers, sandals, heels, and flat shoes, all made using non-animal-derived materials including hemp and apple skin and grape-based alternative leathers.
ESSĒN
“I founded ESSĒN in 2016 as a response to a fashion cycle that overproduces more than it carefully crafts, chases trends more than it determines classics, and wastes more than it sustains,” says founder Marre Muijs. The shoes and accessories brand, which limits its production runs and uses low-waste cutting techniques, eschews the fashion calendar in favour of a single, permanent collection.
Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn is a minimalist showroom for vintage-inspired women’s clothing and footwear, locally made with surplus fabric. The US brand rates “Great”, making it a fabulous option for your wardrobe.
Find the clothes in standard sizes XS-XL, or shop the Extended and Petite collections.
Elk
A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. Elk creates bi-annual collections that are informed by a design ethos where simplicity and sustainability meet innovation.
Find most items in AU sizes 6-18.
Reformation
LA-based Reformation creates “killer clothes that don’t kill the environment.” The brand ensures that a proportion of its suppliers pay a living wage, and provides training to its suppliers to improve working conditions for workers in its supply chain.
Its range is available in sizes XS-3XL.
Vesica Piscis
Vesica Piscis is a vegan footwear brand based in Spain. It uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials, uses renewable energy in its manufacturing, and works on a made-to-order basis to reduce waste.
Find most shoes in sizes 36-46.
Etiko
Etiko is an Australian designer of organic fair trade clothing and shoes. The brand constantly sets the bar for upholding and campaigning the human rights of people working in traditionally exploitative industry supply chains.
Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.
Looking for more shoes? Bookmark our ultimate guide to footwear.
Editor's note
Feature image via Agazi, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion and beauty brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.
We updated this article on 25 June 2026: Our editors frequently make updates to articles to ensure they’re up to date. We updated the brands and products featured to reflect those with recent ratings.
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