Natalie Portman and Her Vegan Shoes: I Ignored Them for a Reason
My legitimacy as both a fashionista and a vegan has been brought into question more than once now, but always in reference to the same issue: Natalie Portman’s line of vegan shoes and my lack to write about them whatsoever.
So, here goes:
1. They cost in the $300 range, and are not even that cute.
2. The shoes sold out during pre-sale and were only offered in limited edition. So, there aren’t any more to buy anyway.
3. The BKE red shoes shown here - which are way cuter than any of the ones Natalie is promoting - cost me only $18.37 from The Buckle … and they are vegan!
4. Most of all, Natalie worked with té casan for this vegan collection; every other shoe available through their Web site or in their store contains animal products. There are not only leather sandals, but you can find suede pumps and even python-skin boots.
5. Virtually every shoe at Payless is all man-made.
It was a valiant effort, and shined a light on an issue many people probably never thought twice about, but these are the reasons why I did not feel moved to announce Natalie’s line of vegan shoes.
Come on, shoes are the one place where vegans spend less than others; let us have this one!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Cute new shoes, Sal!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
[...] polar to photograph the baby seals. There have been drastic steps towards achieving vegan fashion: Natalie designed shoes; Toby banned [...]
May 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
[...] Lewis Follows in Natalie Portman’s Vegan Designer Tracks by Sally Andersen First Natalie Portman teamed with Te Casan to create a line of vegan dress shoes. Now, Leona Lewis is joining the ranks. Leona Lewis, that [...]
May 8th, 2008 at 9:43 am
[...] Lewis Follows in Natalie Portman’s Vegan Designer Tracks by Sally Andersen First Natalie Portman teamed with Te Casan to create a line of vegan dress shoes. Now, Leona Lewis is joining the ranks. Leona Lewis, that [...]
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Okay, the argument on the cost of Portman’s vegan shoes is more than valid. Saying that Natalie hooked up with a company that produces leather shoes and then showing a pair of shoes from a company that also makes leather shoes, while providing a link to a company that sells leather shoes, seems wrong to me because you’re ivalidating that part of your argument. It’s obvious Ms. Portman is trying for the “Sex in the City” hip-chick crowd, and her shoe line will succeed or fail on securing a segment of that market. Me, I hope she’s able to take money out of the Ferragamo/Jimmy Cho/Manolo Blahnik market while directing other women toward cruelty free shoes. That’s something worth trying for, isn’t it?
September 30th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
[...] 2. New brands are constantly being added. Recently, Endless has added Puma athletic shoes to their stock. Select Te Casan designers have also been added, although none yet from Natalie Portman’s collection. [...]
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
[...] Payless Goes Green and Snags Christian Siriano by Sally Andersen Payless Shoes seems to have decided that, while expensive stores are dying out, they are going to have a new market of shoe shoppers looking to save a dollar without sacrificing style. Having that realization, the store has decided to jump on the bandwagons of two popular retail trends: being green, and collaborating with top designers. Be Green. Back in October, Payless started production of their first environmentally friendly line. Due out early 2009, the shoes will blend current trends in style with sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled soles, and more. Summer Rayne Oakes, Discovery Network’s Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty, will serve as the footwear brand’s eco consultant. With hope, the shoes will be cheaper and cuter than Natalie Portman’s Te Casan designs. [...]