Kat Von D can now add shoe designer to her long list of titles.
The multi-hyphenate tattoo artist-cosmetics entrepreneur-TV personality is launching a line of vegan footwear, including styles clad in faux leather made from compressed apple peels.
Von D Shoes, which drops 13 styles on Nov. 1—a.k.a. World Vegan Day—followed by another 19 over the next several months, will feature pumps, loafers, boots, oxfords and kitten heels replete with the witchy-cool, glam-goth vibe Von D favors. (Think plenty of spiderwebs, bones, glitter and shiny patent surfaces.)
The “L.A. Ink” star, a noted animal-rights activist who once said that veganism taught her to “look past [herself]” and consider her choices, says she isn’t interested in contributing to so-called “fast fashion” and so designed the shoes for the long haul.
“When I first became vegan, I found that finding vegan shoes was a lot more challenging than finding vegan food. I really felt like I could fill that void in the market by creating vegan shoes that are affordable, but built to last a lifetime,” she said in a statement. “Finding vegan shoes of good quality that you are comfortable wearing because you know they are vegan was my main concern. I think that my team and I did a great job executing this, and I can’t wait to hear what our customers have to say.”
Von D says that the line is “ethically sourced, has a clean supply chain and is made in healthy working conditions.” In the case of select styles, including the “Calavera” peek-toe pump, 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit no-kill animal shelters.
The shoes will cost between $90 and $350 and fit sizes 5 through 12—”just to be able to hook up all of my drag queen friends,” she told InStyle.
Vegan footwear currently accounts for 67 percent of the total assortment in the United Kingdom and 58 percent in the United States, according to research firm Edited, making it the top-stocked “vegan” category following beauty.
“Vegan footwear is a growing market as retailers introduce more animal-friendly ranges and seek alternatives to leather and suede,” retail analyst Katharine Carter previously told Sourcing Journal. “The footwear category makes up over half of all vegan products currently retailing, highlighting its importance as demand for cruelty-free products continues to grow.”