Today I discovered the first store I’ve ever seen that caters to vegan shoe lovers on the west coast. All Vegan in San Diego not only carries stylish shoes for under $50, but the charming store also carries “chocolates, and other necessities.” Located in the University Heights area where Park Blvd meets Adams Avenue (and close to my new friend Victoria’s and Mueller College) it also carries cute furry boots like Dakota by Earth footwear, Madden Girl, cute slippers and even sneakers. You’ll find books too, along with funky veggie-friendly babywear and adult tees. I overheard the owner call a customer by his first name – always a good sign, and mention that the old Kung Food on 5th avenue is becoming “Natural Express,”  featuring a vegan cafeteria and to-go menu.

You don’t have to be vegan though to appreciate shoes that are made with synthetic materials. PETA does a good job of explaining the leather industry, and how it not only hurts animals and workers in the industry, but is highly toxic. As a style conscious shoe lover, I wish most shoes I love weren’t leather. It’s skin, after all.

Hopefully more designers will follow in Steve Madden’s footsteps and expand to make eco/ethic-conscious shoes. The Ashleigh Brown T strp pump is especially stylin’ and so is the Slouch pleather Boot, which I found on Alternative Outfitters, getting my thumbs up for overall selection and prices online.  But I think the Aeriall booty in Pewter is especially hot.

Anyone who’s into eco-friendly, ethical fashion has probably heard of Moo Shoes in New York City – one of the first to bring vegan shoes to mainstream consciousness- but many complain their selection is limited and kinda pricy. Their only shoe to recently catch my eye is the Orchard Black by Novacas.

Is there a good vegan shoe store in the Portland mini-mall that opened in January earlier this year? This article talks a bit about how these vegan shopowners got together and created a community for folks with similar values in a one-stop shopping experience. Sounds ideallic! If you’ve been, please let me know how it is.

If you’re in the area and lookin’ for some new kicks though, stop by All Vegan. You can get some cute stickers for free or take our DVDs for free from the lending library. Then go over to Monica’s around the corner and keep your vegan groove going by ordering their yummy Pumpkin Thai soup. You can sit in the back patio by the fountain and pet the cafe kitty, or bring your doggie.