Comments on: Everybody owns a pair of those shoes http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/ Better for you, for livestock, and for the planet Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:23:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Low meat leather maintenance? | Low Meat http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-210 Low meat leather maintenance? | Low Meat Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:23:37 +0000 http://www.lowmeat.org/?p=46#comment-210 [...] are some good reasons to be circumspect about buying leather, but even the matter of maintaining leather goods you [...] [...] are some good reasons to be circumspect about buying leather, but even the matter of maintaining leather goods you [...]

]]> By: sampablokuper http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-81 sampablokuper Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:28:45 +0000 http://www.lowmeat.org/?p=46#comment-81 For those of you who buy canvas shoes, check out these new sneakers by Ethletics, featuring organic, fairtrade cotton uppers and FSC-certified rubber soles: http://www.fairdealtrading.com/footwear.htm For those of you who buy canvas shoes, check out these new sneakers by Ethletics, featuring organic, fairtrade cotton uppers and FSC-certified rubber soles: http://www.fairdealtrading.com/footwear.htm

]]> By: sampablokuper http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-55 sampablokuper Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:52:10 +0000 http://www.lowmeat.org/?p=46#comment-55 The best solution - one which avoids the need for animal products or synthetics - appears to be to go barefoot. This isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. Although most of us in the West are brought up to believe we need shoes, and indeed different shoes for different activities, there's no shortage of athletes and ordinary folk who prove this wrong. A good place to begin learning about going barefoot in everyday life is the <a href="http://barefooters.org/" rel="nofollow">Barefooters</a> website. For something a little more impressive, watch these videos of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDJ3CMv-5M0" rel="nofollow">tips for handling unpleasant things to step on when barefoot</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zREY1ewL4" rel="nofollow">barefoot running in ice and snow</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goXRAzrgubI" rel="nofollow">barefoot rock climbing</a> (note that falling is a common event during rock climbing, shod or not!), and - perhaps most remarkable of all - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFKTF-sYKn8" rel="nofollow">barefoot parkour</a>! I've recently taken up barefoot running, and I'm often barefoot when I'm at home. When I'm confident that my feet can reliably handle a wide range of terrains and temperatures, I may start going barefoot in daily life outside the house. Obviously, some circumstances demand protective footwear for safety, in which case preference should go to natural rubber, organic leather, or other low-cruelty renewable materials as discussed in the post above. The best solution – one which avoids the need for animal products or synthetics – appears to be to go barefoot. This isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. Although most of us in the West are brought up to believe we need shoes, and indeed different shoes for different activities, there’s no shortage of athletes and ordinary folk who prove this wrong.

A good place to begin learning about going barefoot in everyday life is the Barefooters website. For something a little more impressive, watch these videos of tips for handling unpleasant things to step on when barefoot, barefoot running in ice and snow, barefoot rock climbing (note that falling is a common event during rock climbing, shod or not!), and – perhaps most remarkable of all – barefoot parkour!

I’ve recently taken up barefoot running, and I’m often barefoot when I’m at home. When I’m confident that my feet can reliably handle a wide range of terrains and temperatures, I may start going barefoot in daily life outside the house.

Obviously, some circumstances demand protective footwear for safety, in which case preference should go to natural rubber, organic leather, or other low-cruelty renewable materials as discussed in the post above.

]]> By: Diem Hang http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Diem Hang Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:09:48 +0000 http://www.lowmeat.org/?p=46#comment-34 There are companies that make shoes from recycled materials. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1cb27418-48da-11df-8af4-00144feab49a.html There are companies that make shoes from recycled materials.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1cb27418-48da-11df-8af4-00144feab49a.html

]]> By: annabel http://www.lowmeat.org/2009/12/15/everybody-owns-a-pair-of-those-shoes/comment-page-1/#comment-16 annabel Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:53:34 +0000 http://www.lowmeat.org/?p=46#comment-16 ... or buy vintage on eBay :-) Great that you don't recommend vinyl, which I recently discovered wasn't a particularly eco-friendly choice at all. In fact I think leather is better than vinyl, because it lasts longer and keeps your feet warmer and dryer - which is what shoes are for after all! http://good.net.nz/magazine/9/good-start/leather-vs-vinyl … or buy vintage on eBay :-)

Great that you don’t recommend vinyl, which I recently discovered wasn’t a particularly eco-friendly choice at all. In fact I think leather is better than vinyl, because it lasts longer and keeps your feet warmer and dryer – which is what shoes are for after all! http://good.net.nz/magazine/9/good-start/leather-vs-vinyl

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