Step into a sustainable summer with sandals that are not only stylish but made to last. I curated the best conscious brands making ethical sandals and footwear for every sun-drenched activity from beach strolls to city adventures.

Most of the brands featured make women's sandals, and I noted those that also stock men's footwear.

1. Dôen

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A women-founded slow fashion brand from Santa Barbara, Dôen is known for its nostalgic California clothing. Their sandals and other footwear are just as timeless, made with care in ethical factories abroad such as in Italy and Brazil.

2. Huma Blanco

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Huma Blanco is created by Adriana Crocco, a third-generation shoemaker and designer based in Lima, Peru. Inspired by the raw beauty of these Peruvian materials such as suede, alpaca and calf hair, her designs are works of art that incorporate classic silhouettes. Handmade in Peru, the brand has the goal to sustain long-term jobs for shoemakers in the country.

3. M. Gemi

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M. Gemi is designer Maria Mangemi's way of protecting and preserving the craft of the Italian artisans she grew up with, through handmade shoes, handbags, and small leather goods. The brand works with over a dozen family-owned specialty workshops in Italy, and their price points are very reasonable compared to high-end brands of similar quality. Due to their direct relationships with the artisan factories, they're able to restock sold-out items in 30 days.

4. Message

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Message's signature cork slides are made in small batches by experts in Portugal. They work with family-owned factories that sit within 40 minutes of one another for a low-impact supply chain. Their cork footbeds, made from unused and upcycled wine cork, offer the perfect amount of support, like "a hug for your feet."

5. Alohas

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ALOHAS was founded in Hawaii in 2015 and has evolved to incorporate fall/winter styles along with its summer footwear collections. Their pre-order business model allows them to only make what you want to buy, reducing wasteful production. The shoes are designed in Barcelona and handcrafted in Alicante, in sustainability and ethical facilities. They plan to work with more plant-based materials.

6. Beek

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Beek's mission is to create footwear that is both beautiful and comfortable. Designed in California and hand-made in Mexico, each pair takes over 48 hours to craft, using only the softest vegetable-tanned leather they can find. Their styles are feminine and timeless. Some of their sandals have molded arches for extra support.

7. Nisolo

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Nisolo is a B Corporation that pays 100% living wages to their workers. They've implemented many sustainability initiatives to ensure a low impact on the environment. Visit one of their US stores IRL. They also stock men's footwear.

8. Poppy Barley

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Poppy Barley is an Alberta-based shoe brand that makes luxury footwear for both women and men without the heavy markup. A B Corporation, they work with responsible factories around the world. Try on their shoes in person at one of their Canadian stores.

9. Ocelot Market

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Ocelot Market was originally founded in Brooklyn and launched as a brand working with three artisan workshops in Thailand, Morocco, and Turkey to produce conscious handmade shoes. Now they've grown to working with about more artisans and stocking conscious footwear and accessory brands around the world.

10. Nanushka

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Budapest-based designer fashion brand Nanushka is inspired by heritage, travel, and bohemian modernism. Responsibly produced with a focus on craftsmanship, Nanushka's footwear for women and women is elegant and fashion-forward.

11. Everlane

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Everlane is a popular US-based direct-to-consumer clothing brand for all your capsule wardrobe needs. Their Italian leather sandals are well-crafted and versatile to pair with any daytime outfit.

12. Sezane

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A certified B Corporation based in Paris, Sézane is known for French girl chic clothing at accessible price points for the quality. Crafted in ateliers, their shoes are as timeless, colorful, and vintage-inspired as their clothing. Visit their stores around Europe and the States.

13. Reformation

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LA-based Reformation is known for being a trendy, celebrity-approved sustainable fashion brand. They've since expanded to footwear, making stylish sandals and heels ethically abroad. Try on a pair in stores across the US, Canada, and the UK.

14. Castañer

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Founded in 1972, Castañer is known for making traditional espadrilles. After a meeting with Yves Saint Laurent in the '70s, they created the first espadrille with a wedge together, making fashion history. Today, the shoes are still made traditionally in Spain using natural materials.

15. Dear Frances

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Dear Frances works closely with artisan shoemakers in northern Italy to make luxury footwear for the modern woman. Each pair is made to last using age-old techniques passed down through generations of highly skilled shoemakers. Their sandals are simple, elegant, and made by hand in Italy.

16. VIVAIA

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VIVAIA is a high-end eco-chic British footwear brand committed to sustainability. They use a variety of eco-friendly materials, including recycled plastic water bottles. Their shoes are designed to be both machine and hand washable, so you don’t have to throw them away when they get dirty. VIVAIA also carries eco-chic bags and accessories.

17. La Canadienne

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Eco-conscious Montreal brand La Canadienne makes footwear that marries design, function, and ethics. While they make boots for surviving the harshest Canadian winters, they also carry summer-friendly sandals and heels. Their shoes are made in Montreal or abroad by expert craftsmen. You can browse their footwear, as well as outerwear and accessories in stores as well.

18. Maguire

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Canadian brand Maguire makes its footwear and accessories in ethical factories all over the world with transparent pricing. Founded by two sisters, their goal was to make high-quality shoes accessible to more people, including their eye-catching sandals.

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