Animal-free shoes and accessories, founded in Lisbon and built around eco-conscious materials and ethical production.

“Our story is a tale of love, cultural diversity, and a shared passion for creating a better world — a world where the exploitation of animals is a thing of the past.” — Paula, co-founder.

Portuguese vegan footwear brand – Founded in Lisbon in 2008 – Manufactured in certified factories in Portugal – VISIT NAE →

(€ = budget | €€ = mid | €€€ = premium | €€€€ = luxe) (★★★★★ = heirloom + zero-waste preorder |

Most vegan footwear has a reputation for looking like an afterthought: the ethical option you choose reluctantly when comfort and style have already been sacrificed.
NAE has spent sixteen years dismantling that assumption from Lisbon, using materials made from apple industry waste, pineapple leaf fibres, and cork to build shoes that look and wear like quality footwear — because they are.
The brand sits squarely in the tradition of Portuguese shoemaking: skilled factory production, durable construction, and a commitment to craft that happens to exclude every animal-derived material on the market.

Brand Intro

NAE — No Animal Exploitation — was founded in Lisbon in 2008 by Paula, who was born in Germany with Portuguese roots, and her husband Alex, originally from Barcelona.
The brand makes vegan footwear and accessories including boots, sneakers, loafers, sandals, heels, belts, bags, and wallets, all produced in certified ethical factories in Portugal.
Its mission is direct: offer a commercially viable, well-designed alternative to animal leather — without compromising on style, durability, or the working conditions of the people who make the shoes.

Inspiring Story

In 2008, when Paula and Alex launched NAE, “vegan fashion” was still largely a fringe concept.
Rather than launching a niche product for a niche audience, they set out to make footwear that could stand on its own merits — and chose to build it within Portugal’s established shoemaking tradition instead of moving production offshore.
Over the years, that materials discipline became a genuine differentiator: NAE now works with AppleSkin from Italian apple juice waste, Piñatex from pineapple leaf fibres, cork, organic cotton, and OEKO-TEX certified microfibre — a materials library that continues to grow.
The brand was recognised as Best Vegan Footwear Manufacturer in Portugal at the LUXlife Fashion & Lifestyle Awards 2018.

Who is this for?

You want shoes that look sharp in the city and survive daily use, but you’ve decided that animal leather is no longer acceptable to you.
You are interested in materials beyond the generic “vegan leather” label — you want to know whether something is made from apple waste, cork, or pineapple fibres, and why that matters.
You are based in Europe, you buy fewer things but better things, and you appreciate that a brand producing in certified Portuguese factories is a different proposition from one outsourcing to anonymous supply chains.

DISCLAIMER Sustainability score is subjective. InEurope.eu finds this crucial, but conducts no audits. Assessment based on publicly available information and brand feedback

The information on this blog has been presented to the brand but not yet been verified.