Urbanima is Likely a Vegan Brand

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Urbanima Brand Highlights

"Urbànima is a Spanish slow-fashion brand from Valencia, passionately dedicated to designing and manufacturing 100% vegan footwear for women, made in Spain with the highest degree of quality and sustainability." - Urbanima team

About Urbanima

"Buying our heeled sandals is to make a conscious purchase because we work with local suppliers, we recycle to avoid overconsumption, and all our footwear is made with the highest standards of quality and care for detail." - Urbanima team

What materials are used to make Urbanima shoes?

Within each shoe's description on the Urbanima website it will give a detailed breakdown of the materials used to make that shoe. For example, their Arena vegan sneaker uses the following materials:
• Upper: recycled polyester (PET from recycled bottles) + recycled polyurethane + polyester + nylon
• Lining: recycled cotton guard
• Laces: dye-free cotton
• Insole: Recycled polyurethane compounds, FSC-certified cardboard, cellulose
• Outsole: TPU + recycled PET (from recycled bottles)

Are Urbanima shoes eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, Urbanima shoes, boots, & sandals could be considered quite eco-friendly (at least as far as leather-look footwear is concerned), as they do incorporate many natural and/or recycled materials into their designs. And while virgin man-made synthetics are still incorporated into their recycled materials (for structural reasons), those materials are still considered to be more environmentally friendly than animal-derived leathers (due to the inclusion of various toxic chemicals used in the tanning process, among other reasons). This is backed up by data from inside the fashion industry as well as outside of it. For the data, please see Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative.

Does production of their shoes create a lot of CO2 emissions?

While Urbanima doesn’t share specific metrics about their CO2 production levels, the brand does have processes in place that help reduce the amount of CO2 emissions it produces; according to the brand, "Almost all of our suppliers are very close to our production centres in order to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a circular, locally-sourced production."

Does Urbanima use ‘green’ shipping methods?

It's unclear from their website if Urbanima uses net-zero or negative emissions shipping partners, either domestically or internationally. We’ve asked them for clarification, and are currently awaiting reply.

Does Urbanima use eco-friendly packaging?

Yes - According to the brand, "At Urbànima we use exclusively designed, 75% recycled FSC-certified cardboard shoe boxes, with a self-assembly format with folds and grooves that make adhesives unnecessary. The boxes are transported in flat packs in order to make the most of each journey and have ecologically efficient logistics. Each and every detail is thought of from a sustainable perspective, so we work with water-based ink made with organic pigments. The paper we stuff inside our shoes to keep them in shape is 90% recycled, and both the tissue paper that protects them and the shoe trees that preserve their optimal shape are made with 100% recycled paper."

Are Urbanima shoes recyclable?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if Urbanima’s shoes are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from their team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my old Urbanima shoes?

We’ve asked their team if they currently have, or are developing, a shoe recycling program, and are awaiting reply. In the meantime, Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired, donating them to someone in need, or taking them to a clothing recycling depot (if available in your city), which can strip them down to their recyclable components.

Which stores can I buy Urbanima shoes from?

Urbanima shoes can be purchased from their website, and can be shipped to all EU countries, the UK, the USA, and Canada.. We've asked them if they have plans to work with retailers, and are currently awaiting reply.

Do Urbanima shoes ever go on sale?

We haven’t noticed any sales for their shoes, boots, or sandals when visiting their site and perusing their social channels.

Where are Urbanima shoes made?

Urbanima shoes, boots, and sandals are handcrafted in specialized workshops in Alicante, Spain - commonly known as the "cradle of Spanish footwear."

Are their shoes made with fair labour?

Yes! Urbanima shoes are made in Spain, which means their labourers are protected by the stringent labour laws of the European Union, which also include strong health and safety regulations.

Is Urbanima a charitable company?

We’ve asked their team about any charitable initiatives they're involved with (if any), and are currently awaiting reply, as there is no such information available on their website.

Does Urbanima promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Yes - According to Urbanima, "We are a slow-fashion brand, so our footwear production is limited to avoid overstocking."
The brand also incorporates several other elements of a circular economy/slow fashion model, such as: employing fair labour; using recycled materials; using natural materials; avoiding discount-level pricing; making timeless styles; making their products by hand; using eco-friendly packaging; promoting the ideals of slow fashion on their website; producing close to where they are based; and sourcing their materials close to where they make their footwear.

Is Urbanima an ethically vegan brand?

Urbanima appears to be an intentionally and ethically vegan brand, rather than one that uses vegan materials out of convenience, or for other reasons. On their website, they continuously stress that their heels, shoes, boots, and sandals are made with "cruelty-free" materials.

Urbanima Footwear Range

Urbanima makes elegant women's footwear and sells it at a mid-range price point. with a mostly leather-look aesthetic, their heels, shoes, boots, and sandals can be worn in both professional and casual settings. Their current collection includes: