Footwear Brands Observing Earth Day 2025 and More Sustainability-Minded Brands to Watch
While Earth Day is observed on April 22, the entirety of April has been designated Earth Month in honor of our planet, which is increasingly bearing the effects of anthropogenic climate change.
It’s no secret that the fashion industry plays a major role in our species’ outsized carbon footprint and environmental harm, but there are more than a few brands trying to mitigate that through a variety of sustainable practices and philanthropic initiatives. Below, FN rounds up initiatives and releases related to Earth Day and Earth Month in addition to sustainability-focused brands to be aware of.
Vivaia
Vivaia, which crafts shoes from recycled plastic bottles, is donating $1 to Milkyfund’s Oceans and Seas Fund for every purchase of its Mabel, Liana, Yara and Maville styles. The donations help to protect marine wildlife, decrease marine pollution and protect and restore marine ecosystems. As a thank you to customers for supporting the cause, Vivaia is also gifting sea turtle-themed drink coasters crafted from from recycled plastic bottles. As for the footwear styles, the Mabel is a square-toe flat; the Liana is a penny loafer; the Yara is a lace-up mesh sneaker; and the Maville is a pointed-toe slingback sandal.
Ferragamo
Ferragamo is celebrating Earth Day with its Back to Earth sustainability capsule, releasing on April 22. The “Made in Italy” collection, referencing the brand’s enduring commitment to sustainability and education, makes use of materials of natural origin like cotton and silk; these are treated with outside-the-box techniques and dyes. Amid many options, including clothing and a bag, the collection features a new version of the Ferragamo Ballerina shoe. Available in several colors, the flat shoe features geometric cutouts and a metallic adornment.
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Foreseeing a relationship between fashion and sustainability, Salvatore Ferragamo made of use of reclaimed and naturally sourced materials in the 1940s including straw, cork and hemp. The brand opened the “Sustainable Thinking” exhibit at the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in 2018, and the theme remains a focus for the Institution to this day.
Von Holzhausen
Von Holzhausen is shaking up the market by releasing the first shoe ever made entirely from the 100% plant-based plastic alternative known as Liquidplant, a durable, high performance material created without the use of petrochemicals.
Blowfish Malibu
Blowfish Malibu offers 100% vegan shoes, a label which even applies to the type of glue the brand utilizes. The women’s insoles showcase Bloom technology, which is a material crafted from repurposed algae; this helps to reduce water pollution and restore natural ecosystems while also offering comfortable, high-performance footwear to customers. From sandals to sneakers, the brand offers a wide range of footwear silhouettes for women and children.
Icebug
Swedish footwear brand Icebug has pledged to donate 100% of its North American website sales on Earth Day to non-profit organizations assisting with land conservation in the United States and Canada. These organizations include the Wilderness Society and Conservation Land Foundation for U.S. sales and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) for Canadian sales.
Icebug referenced in an official release the timeliness of their efforts in the U.S. given that more than 100 million acres of National Forest land have recently been put in danger of accelerated logging. Environmental protections were reduced on 58% of National Forest land because of an “Emergency Situation Determination” announced earlier this month in a secretarial memo issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Icebug said in a statement, “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins justified the determination by citing concerns over wildfire fuel and forest disease, but experts see the move as a way to bypass the environmental reviews and processes of public input that previously helped protect lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.”
“Icebug has always been committed to protecting the environment, and forests in particular, both in the company’s home country of Sweden and here in the U.S.,” said Teagan Bowar, Icebug U.S. marketing coordinator, in a statement. “Opening up this much more forested land to logging — especially without establishing measures to mitigate the environmental impacts — directly contradicts what we stand for. We must protect the forest, so we’ve chosen to support these three organizations on Earth Day.”
Among its environmental efforts, Icebug is also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning the company donates 1% of global sales every year to environmental organizations.
Ruthie Davis
The Bio by Ruthie Davis collection celebrates the fusion of luxury fashion and sustainability, showcasing two striking footwear designs: Candy, a bold 6-inch platform sandal, and Yardley, a 4-inch heel. Crafted from Uppeal bio leather—made from repurposed apple waste—the shoes are designed with minimal environmental impact. Inspired by innovation and ethical craftsmanship, Davis combines glamour and eco-conscious materials in the collection. The collection is available on ruthiedavis.com.
