Nae
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Portugal
Quick verdict
Nae (standing for "No Animal Exploitation") is best for shoppers seeking a wide range of vegan footwear styles (from formal oxfords to Piñatex sneakers to cork sandals) backed by the strongest certification portfolio of any brand in this list. What stands out is their 18-year track record (founded 2008), their diverse use of innovative materials (Piñatex, AppleSkin, cork, recycled ocean plastic, recycled tennis-ball rubber), and a solid independent "Good" rating. The caveat: sizing inconsistency is the most frequently cited customer complaint, and international returns can be complicated and expensive.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Founded
- 2008
- Product categories
- Shoes, Vegan
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- PETA-Approved Vegan, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Global Recycled Standard (GRS), GOTS
Nae sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
One of the widest plant-based material ranges in vegan footwear: AppleSkin (Italy), Piñatex (Philippines, via B Corp-certified Ananás Anam), Portuguese cork, GOTS-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled PET, On Steam Bioeco (corn + recycled polyester), OEKO-TEX eco-microfiber, recycled car-tyre and tennis-ball rubber. Materials sourced from Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Philippines.
Made in certified ethical factories in Portugal (primary partner: Savana, a family-owned factory in Felgueiras, ~40 km from Porto) and some production in Spain. Described as a living-wage employer by Immaculate Vegan, though it's unclear whether this extends across the entire supply chain. Publishes a Work Ethics Report.
Partners with ZeroPact to measure and compensate CO₂ emissions across the full supply chain. Pre-Loved circularity programme and RE-MOVE ocean-plastic project (2019). 100% recycled packaging. Reuses textile offcuts. Products designed to last 3–5+ years. Some styles feature Goodyear welted construction for resoleability.
Publishes a Sustainability Report (2023) and a Work Ethics Report. Lists specific certifications per material and names the partner factory location. But only partly traces the supply chain, with no full factory list and no formal Code of Conduct (only a workers' rights statement).
Sneakers ~€99–149, boots ~€119–179, sandals ~€69–119. Slightly more premium than Will's Vegan Store but comparable to Good Guys Don't Wear Leather and NOAH. Offers a 2-year warranty, new-customer 10% discount, and seasonal sales (25% off), Bloggers and reviewers call the price-quality ratio "very good."
What they do well
- Strongest certification stack in this roundup: PETA, OEKO-TEX, GRS, GOTS, and REACH, covering animal welfare, chemical safety, recycled content, organic textiles, and EU chemical regulations
- Portuguese craftsmanship: each pair involves 200+ production steps by skilled artisans drawing on 700+ years of Portuguese shoemaking tradition; primary partner Savana is a family-owned factory
- Carbon offsetting via ZeroPact: one of few vegan shoe brands to actively measure and compensate CO₂ emissions across the full supply chain from production to shipping
- Circularity in practice: Pre-Loved programme (return, clean, repair, resell used shoes) and RE-MOVE Project (ocean-recovered plastic sneakers since 2019)
- Goodyear welted construction on select styles: enabling sole replacement and dramatically extending shoe lifespan
Room for improvement
- Supply chain traceability is only partial, there is no formal Code of Conduct (only a workers' rights statement) and it's unclear whether living wages are ensured throughout the entire supply chain, not just at the final stage.
About Nae
Nae was founded in 2008 in Lisbon by Paula Pérez (German-Portuguese) and Alex Pérez (Spanish), at a time when ethical fashion was barely on the consumer radar. Paula describes the brand as "born out of my unwavering dedication to a world where the exploitation of animals is a thing of the past." The acronym NAE stands for "No Animal Exploitation."
The brand's material innovation is exceptional. Shoes incorporate AppleSkin (apple-waste leather from Italy), Piñatex (pineapple leaf fibre, via B Corp-certified supplier Ananás Anam), Portuguese cork from the Alentejo region, GOTS-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled PET from ocean-recovered plastic bottles, On Steam Bioeco (corn + recycled polyester microfiber), and soles made from recycled car tyres and tennis balls. Every material carries at least one relevant certification (OEKO-TEX, GRS, GOTS, or REACH).
Manufacturing takes place in certified ethical factories in Portugal (primarily Savana in Felgueiras) and some sandal production in Spain. The brand partners with ZeroPact to measure and offset carbon emissions across the entire supply chain. Through the Pre-Loved Programme, customers can return used shoes for cleaning, repair, and resale. The RE-MOVE Project (2019) introduced sneakers made from ocean-recovered plastic.
Pricing runs from ~€89 for loafers to ~€179 for boots, with a 2-year warranty and 10% new-customer discount. Nae ships worldwide with free US delivery over $149. The brand has the strongest sustainability credentials among the vegan shoe brands profiled here. Ecothes has featured Nae across eight different blog posts covering vegan shoes, dress shoes, heels, sandals, boots, and clogs.
Product highlights
London High-Top Sneakers
Piñatex + AppleSkin upper, bamboo lining, organic cotton laces, recycled tennis-ball rubber sole
~$139–149
Flagship sneaker packing the most innovative materials into a single shoe, water-resistant and unisex
Etna Boots
OEKO-TEX microfiber upper with Goodyear welted construction and non-slip ridged sole
~$149–169
Goodyear welt enables sole replacement, dramatically extending lifespan, top-class construction for a vegan boot
Lou Knee-High Boots
Eco-friendly OEKO-TEX microfiber with chunky sole and toe stitch detailing
~$159–179
Customer favourite highlighted on both Ecothes and Trustpilot for comfort and premium appearance
Tupai Sandals
Piñatex upper, cork insoles, recycled tyre soles
~$89–109
Summer showcase for Piñatex in a minimalist, anatomically comfortable silhouette
