The UK non-meat market is now worth £740 million, with more Brits choosing a vegan lifestyle than ever before. In the first five days of Veganuary 2021, Lyst, the global fashion search platform, reported a 63% spike in searches for ‘vegan leather’ and ‘eco-friendly’.
Coupled with new data suggesting 35% of Generation Z aim to be meat-free in 2021, Start-Rite’s new vegan-friendly school shoe collection couldn’t be more timely.
Enquiries from Start-Rite customers interested in vegan-friendly shoes have increased recently.
Commenting on this is Sara Driscoll, head of buying and product at Start-Rite Shoes. “Crucially, we recognised the need to support our customers looking for a vegan-friendly product that comes with our hallmark high standards when it comes to testing, quality and style.
“The result is a school shoe collection that is vegan – not just a PU or textile substitute. We even use adhesives with no animal content. Our new upper material mimics the natural characteristics of cowhide. It is lightweight, breathable, durable and water-resistant. It has also passed our trusted rigorous testing on factors such as surface abrasion and wet and dry flex testing in our on-site laboratory as well as through active wear trials.”
The Vegan Collection 2021
The Vegan Collection will be familiar to fans of Start-Rite’s school shoes as it is made up of styles that are proven bestsellers or long-standing lines. Available to purchase online, Start-Rite will be adding further styles later in the year.
Highlights include the Brogue Vegan in black synthetic. Offering a more mature shape for primary age feet, it caters to the developing foot without compromising on growing room. For seniors, the style has a lace-up fastening, padded ankles and cushioned insoles for comfort.
There is also the girls’ Impact style in black synthetic with a durable, engineered chunky sole for an on-trend style. The boys’ Isaac style in black synthetic includes a tough, durable sole with a removable footbed. It also has lace-up fastening and padded ankles for superior fit and comfort.
Fitting from home made easy
Start-Rite offers several measuring tools for easy home fitting, especially whilst shops are closed. Plus, its online guide can help check shoes fit once they arrive. The plastic foot gauge range comes in sizes small and large and can be purchased online for £10. Meanwhile, the ‘paper gauge’ with easy-to-follow instructions can be downloaded for an instant solution.
