Wait! That’s not food. It’s a shoe. A beautiful shoe.
I know this is a food blog, but since I’m doing so much recipe testing at the moment I thought I might occasionally feature companies or products I particularly like.
And I have fallen head over heels with Beyond Skin and their shoes.
I gave up leather and suede about 10 years ago. I had been vegetarian for ages but it took me an amazingly long time to make the connection between leather and animals. Since then I’ve always found it difficult buying shoes. I have several pairs from Vegetarian Shoes and I have worn my beloved Wombats forever. But the range isn’t huge and they certainly don’t sell anything that could be described as glamorous.
Other than that, I do buy cheap shoes that just happen to not contain leather or suede as I find them, and turn a blind eye to what the glue is made of, what the working conditions in the factory may be like, and the environmental impacts of the materials.
So that’s why I was delighted to discover Beyond Skin and their beautiful range of vegan, ethical shoes. Yes, they’re not cheap. But quality isn’t cheap and nor is producing shoes that give the makers good working conditions. I can easily spend £20 on cheap shoes that I never wear because the material they’re made from is so damn uncomfy. Much better to stop doing that and buy from Beyond Skin instead.
I was fortunate to spend some time in their office at the weekend. It was chaos, shoes everywhere, some boxed, some not. There were samples from Summer 2010 collections as well as Autumn 2009. But it was great fun, with lovely staff who know their products and obviously care about their business. I tried on lots of pairs including samples of the new flat pumps which will be available soon. Believe me when I tell you that if you need shoes that are comfortable yet look smart you will want these in at least 3 fabrics.
I now own 3 pairs of BS shoes and was incredibly lucky to buy some beautiful bag samples that they had had made up. And I am checking my e-mail desperately waiting for news on the pumps.
No-one has given me any free shoes in order to write this review. I just wanted to pay some serious credit to a great company where you can buy beautiful products and feel good while you are doing it!
Cooking the Vegan Books 
Those are lovely. I’m in love with the blue Talulla’s personally.
I tried the brown Talullas but was very concerned about a broken leg. I can’t go anwyhere in the ones in the picture – even getting out of a taxi and walking to the restaurant is difficult, but I loved them too much not to have them.
Those are LOVELY shoes!
I have the ones pictured, and they are absolutely fabulous! Sorry to hear about the broken leg not allowing for a full experience, but I must say…I love love love Beyond Skin! And the pricing isn’t too bad when they go on sale (of course, still not cheap..but better quality is so much better considering we live all day on our feet – and you’re right..cheaper shoes are crappy in the comfort department), that’s when I buy mine. It’s certainly true you get what you pay for..and I’m willing to pay for these babies! I’m also a huge fan of Charmone shoes – another vegan designer line…again, not the cheapest..but they’ll go on sale for decent prices (or you can find them on places shoes.com on ‘sale’ for decent prices)..
I am a shoenista and it way very hard giving up shoes with traces of leather in it and it caused big fights in stores with me and the hubby. Now I buy cheap shoes which are accidentally Vegan and it is not comfortable enough or comfy enough. My husband told me to got on Vegetarian shoes but their shoes for women do not have the big wow factor for me and I am not paying all of that for an ok looking shoe. Thank you for this. Finally I can start getting my shoe game up again and I can save myself heated arguments in the shoe store with hubby lol.
Thank you so much for this. I’m from New Zealand and had never heard of Beyond Skin until I read your post. Such an amazing website, AND they ship worldwide! I’m at risk of getting a bit over-excited 🙂