- Maithreyi Ramdas
- Ethical and Sustainable Brand Guides
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Our Top Picks for Ethical & Sustainable Flats
As we head into spring, our wardrobe shift away from thermals, layers and knee-high boots. What better way to welcome spring than shop for fabulous fair trade flats that are also sustainable, right here on People Heart Planet! We have the best selection of ethical ballet flats to get you ready for the warmer spring days, whether you're out and about town with friends or down to serious work.
People Heart Planet is an aggregator platform that aggregates brands and products that are fair trade, sustainable, vegan or organic. We're all about giving you the information you need to shop better brands that do good by people and the planet.
We vet every single brand we feature on the platform, to ensure they meet our criteria of being an ethical brand. We did all the hard work for you so you can shop with peace of mind that you're only shopping from brands that prioritise the welfare of people and the health of the planet.
You can also check out our range of dresses, t-shirts and jeans to complete your spring essentials shopping list. You can also check out our brands directory that features brands across categories including women’s and men’s clothing, baby & kids’ clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and home goods.
So here are our top picks for eco-friendly and fair trade flats.
BRAND | FUCHSIA
Price | $148
Values | Fair trade
ABOUT: A small batch limited edition shoe. Every step you take sparkles in these pearl-embellished flats handmade one at a time. Wear these glamorous and comfortable, padded flats for day in or night out. Fuchsia is a Seattle-based women's shoewear brand that believes wholeheartedly that people don’t just want a comfortable pair of shoes but that they want to know that their purchase actually benefits the people who make their products. They're bucking the status quo of labor abuse, sweatshop conditions, and unfair wages for high-quality, environmentally responsible shoes which genuinely benefit the artisans who make them. Every pair of Fuchsia shoes is handcrafted in Pakistan in a traditional workshop, from leather cutting to embroidery to assembly. Workers receive a living income which means they can provide their families with food, shelter, education, and health care.
BRAND | ALOHAS
Price | $151 $129
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: Alohas is a Barcelona-based sustainable fashion brand that manufactures it's products on an 'on-demand' basis. They only produce what customers pre-order, which means there is less waste. They offer carbon off-setting, produce locally in Spain and work closely with the Leather Working Group to ensure their environmental impact is kept to the minimum, while advocating for responsible shopping habits. They offer a range of both leather and vegan leather shoes which are made in fair trade conditions while ensuring environmental standards are adhered to. Shipping Policy: International shipping available.
SQUARE-TOE V-CUT FLATS
BRAND | VIVAIA
Price | $97
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: Vivaia is a footwear brand that was founded in 2020 with a mission to create stylish and sustainable footwear and apparel, while reducing it’s impact on the environment. It is headquartered in the US, but chooses to manufacture it’s products in an ethical factory in China that maintains healthy and fair working conditions throughout the production process. Vivaia operates on a direct-to-consumer model because of which it is able to keep its footwear fairly priced while maintaining high quality. They use a variety of eco-friendly materials including recycled plastic water bottles, natural herbal and PU foam insole and carbon-free rubber outsoles. Vivaia’s team has also established a low waste process to create their comfortable and functional uppers which reduces production waste by over 30%. Their shoes are also washable, making them last longer while minimising waste.
BRAND | ETIKO
Price | $65
Values | Fair Trade
ABOUT: Unlike most, these comfy get-around-town shoes are made under Fairtrade certified conditions with 100% organic cotton, natural rubber (i.e. without petroleum) and without the use of any animal glues or toxic dyes. The comfy organic cotton sole (with arch support!) make them the perfect shoe for walks. Etiko is an Australian-based, fair trade footwear, bag, accessories and apparel brand that was the first fashion brand in the southern hemisphere to be Fairtrade certified. At the core of their mission is to advance human rights. All of their materials and products are made and produced in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Etiko traces their supply from cotton seed to store, and all of this information, including the name, address, and audit information of every one of their vendors, is available to you on their site. They only use organic cotton, vegan glues and natural rubber. In addition to being Fairtrade certified, Etiko is a certified B Corporation and a member of Social Traders.
BRAND | ABLE
Price | $115
Values | Fair Trade
ABOUT: A modern take on a classic slingback flat with a 100% Napa leather lining and a fully padded insole, the Penelope flat will be your favorite wardrobe essential season after season. ABLE is a Nashville-based ethical brand with their sights set on a much bigger aim than just creating stylish fashion. Able exists to employ and empower women as a solution to end poverty. They invest in, train, and educate women (often survivors of abuse) so they can earn a living, break the cycle of poverty, and thrive. ABLE is committed to ensuring every woman receives treatment and compensation reflective of her immense worth. And they publish all of the wages of all of their employees, challenging the entire economic model and pushing the world toward a better way of doing business.
BRAND | BOHEMA ON URBAN KISSED
Price | $140
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: These 100% vegan ballerinas have somewhat gained cult status in this plant version and are perfect for timeless stylisations. These shoes are made by hand in Poland using leather from Pinatex® pineapple leaves. The inside of the shoe is made of breathable fabric and apple leather. Shoe sole is made of recyclable rubber. Urbankissed is a Swiss-based online marketplace for slow and ethical fashion founded by Sophie Brunner in 2017. Brunner studied fashion business in Milan and London and became passionate about conscious fashion after learning of the devastating effects of fast fashion on people and the planet. Unlike fast fashion platforms, Urbankissed is designed to bring you affordable, trendy & sustainable goods in a fun and interactive way. On the platform you will find womenswear, menswear, accessories, bags, shoes, beautycare and homegoods. They offer worldwide CO2 neutral delivery on all purchases.
BRAND | NISOLO
Price | $180
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: A casual staple that gives you just the right amount of texture. Handwoven and breathable, the Mara was made to be your bff (best footwear friend). Nisolo is a Nashville, Tennessee, based ethical shoeware brand. Their first mode of production is at the factory they own in Peru where the lowest wage paid is still a 3rd party verified living wage. 53% of their workers had never held a stable job with a consistent salary and benefits prior to working with Nisolo. Here they operate an in-house financial literacy training program for employees. They also work with another ethical factory in Leon, Mexico, as well as independent artisans in Kenya. Their commitment to sustainability includes: 95% of leather uppers originating from Leather Working Group Certified tanneries, which meet the highest standard of environmental responsibility; installing solar panels on the factory roof in Peru; and offering a Shoe Reclamation Program to incentivize customers to divert shoes from landfills at the end of their use in a manner that upcycles and recycles relevant components while enhancing employment in developing countries. Nisolo is also committed to maintaining 0% net carbon emissions through measuring, reducing and offsetting 100% of its carbon emissions from the start of our supply chain all the way to product shipment. Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation.
BRAND | BAABUK
Price | $99
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: This gorgeous pair of teal ballerinas have been designed in Switzerland and made in Portugal using REACH certified dyes and mulesing-free wool upper and inner. Baabuk is a Swiss-based, family-run business that specializes in sustainable wool shoes. All of their wool comes from Portugal, from mulesing-free sheep that spend their days roaming around the Serra de Estela Natural Park, or from sustainable farmers in New Zealand. Their fair trade factory is in Nepal where they strive to have a positive socio-economic impact. Baabuk is a certified B Corporation.
BRAND | DARZAH ON MADE TRADE
Price | $285
Values | Fair Trade
ABOUT: Darzah's tatreez leather flats are a modern take on a traditional Palestinian art form. Each pair is hand-embroidered by refugee and low-income women artisans with traditional Palestinian tatreez motifs and then handcrafted with locally sourced leather in Al Khalil (Hebron). These gray flats are great for a classic, yet unique look. Darzah is unique amongst fair trade brands in that it is not-for-profit. Darzah is US based but works with women in Palestine (specifically, the West Bank) who are experts at tatreez embroidery. Darzah's mission is to create economic opportunities for low-income, refugee women while celebrating the centuries-old art of tatreez embroidery and Palestinian culture and heritage. They pay fair wages and use sustainable manufacturing practices. Darzah is Fair Trade Federation certified. Made Trade is North Carolina-based online marketplace for ethically produced products that's woman-owned and family run. They are climate neutral certified.
BRAND | URBAN KISSED
Price | $200
Values | Fair trade, Sustainable
ABOUT: A design of stylish slingback flats that are perfect for a work-ready woman who aspires to look professional, but keeping the feel of comfort as she walks to the next important occasion.1 cm heels made from ethically harvested teak wood & treated with Tung Oil Crafted from innovative and sustainable textile. Made using GOTS certified dyed Piñatex® and GRS certified Eco Suede. Urbankissed is a Swiss-based online marketplace for slow and ethical fashion founded by Sophie Brunner in 2017. Brunner studied fashion business in Milan and London and became passionate about conscious fashion after learning of the devastating effects of fast fashion on people and the planet. Unlike fast fashion platforms, Urbankissed is designed to bring you affordable, trendy & sustainable goods in a fun and interactive way. On the platform you will find womenswear, menswear, accessories, bags, shoes, beautycare and homegoods. They offer worldwide CO2 neutral delivery on all purchases.
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