They don’t make shoes out of leather anymore

[Mosschopz]

Or rather...not as the norm. Needed a new pair of work shoes, tried M&S, very reasonably priced but mostly manmade materials, same in Clark’s, same online on a couple of websites. Leather shoes were available, but much more expensive and lots of fuss and labelling as though a luxury product.

Annoyed...manmade fibre doesn’t ‘give’, you can’t break in a pair of plastic shoes, can you?

Why can't girls wear school shoes from the 'boys' section? My interview shoes are black leather boys school shoes, they are what I would wear if I worked in an office.

Leather lets your feet breathe too so they are actually healthier for your feet.

I can understand the ethics of some countries is questionable but companies are now starting to ensure that animals are killed more humanely.

I won’t wear plastic shoes as I find that they never fit property. There’s no wearing them in! I’d rather spend more and get leather shoes than buy shit plastic shoes from Primark for £6.

Unfortunately leather shoes do seem few and far between now.

As a vegetarian I wear leather shoes.

Leather is a by-product of the meat industry. People in general are eating less meat, and lab grown meat is becoming more affordable. There will eventually be a shift where more leather is needed than meat, and then meat will become the by-product. I hope for the sake of my feet, that at that point scientists will start inventing lab grown leather.

As well as this, the manufacturing of plastic shoes is unsustainable and toxic to the environment. Fabric shoes (cotton, linen etc) are better, but neither plastic or fabric shoes will last anywhere near as long as leather shoes will, creating waste and pollution.

Recycled leather, also called evo-leather is great, but shoes made from this

Back to the OP, I don't have too much trouble finding leather shoes, but there definitely more non-leather choices.
My favourite leather shoes are from Faerysteps. They will cost you a few bob but are so worth it. I have 2 pairs of shoes from her, a black pair for work, and a pink pair for play, and they are pretty much all I've worn for the last 2 years, and still look brand new! You can order from her online.

Eco-leather*

I am a footwear buyer. Leather shoes (particularly European made) are higher priced than they were a few years ago. Minimum wages have gone up in certain countries which means you then have to pay the next guy up more, then the next. Unfortunately as someone said people want or need to pay Primark prices but I have always seen shoes as worth the investment, far more than clothing.

People in general are eating less meat

Who are "People in general"? People in the UK? The world?

Leather is a by-product of the meat industry

Umm no it often isn’t it’s a massive industry across India where cows are trucked or walked for miles in extreme heat to be slaughtered in Bangladesh or Pakistan or Kerala, as cattle slaughterhouses are very limited in India, and then the leather is tanned with little regard for human safety or the environment. It is one of the most cruel uses of animals.

If you’re a vegetarian because you care about animal welfare impacts you’d be better off eating decent steak from a cow reared and slaughtered in the UK and never buying leather again.

BadLad: The UK, Germany, China, I'm not sure about consumption but the USA are producing less meat.

Veterinari: Do you have sources on this? And what companies might be using such unethically attained leather? When checking the country of origin of leather on products I've only seen the UK, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Brazil, and the USA.

Today I bought two pairs of leather sandals in Primark and a leather pair in Topshop. There were loads.

On the unrelated note, vegetarians who wear leather baffle me

I’m vegetarian so don’t buy leather shoes. It’s difficult in my view to find non leather. Leather shoes all over the place.

As it should be. Animals have to be killed in order for your feet to be comfortable??? Leather is no different to fur, yet most of us find fur abhorrent. There are many alternatives to animal skin.

www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-leather-is-disgusting-and-cruel/

metro.co.uk/2016/02/25/10-reasons-to-kick-leather-out-of-your-wardrobe-for-good-5717236/

Fabricwitch India is globally one of the biggest exporters of leather. Many leather items manufactured in other countries are actually made of leather that originated in India, it’s just that the product is put together elsewhere.

This article outlines some of the companies and human health issues:
www.just-style.com/news/brands-urged-to-tackle-exploitation-in-indias-leather-industry_id130254.aspx

And these outline some of the Animal issues:
newint.org/columns/currents/2010/07/01/india-leather-cows

theecologist.org/2012/oct/26/cruelty-and-animal-suffering-blight-indias-booming-leather-industry

www.rnw.org/archive/indian-cows-not-holy-leather-industry

I haven't noticed this so much with shoes but definitely noticed it with handbags!

A few years ago it was the norm to be able to get proper leather handbags from the likes of oasis, warehouse. now it is all crappy synthetic fake leather.

I like a nice leather bag, I like the feel of it. The synthetic stuff just isn't the same and I can't get along with it, so I just have to hunt harder and pay more for real leather.

gear, please read the links in the last few posts. There are decent alternatives that don't mean suffering and death for animals.

Sport op,but I think all shoes should be made of synthetic materials.
I certainly don't want to walk around with dead animal skin on my feet.

I think all shoes should be made from leather to save the environment from plastic production. Leather biodegrades better too.

Leather shoes are available from M&S, John Lewis, Russell and Bromley, but you have to pay for them! Ditto handbags.

I guess you tend to notice what annoys you, but as a vegetarian who doesn't wear leather I feel like I'm forever picking up shoes, looking at the label and finding they're leather and having to put them back! Sometimes at price points which suggests that this leather has come from a pretty dubious production process.

As I said, I don't wear leather so may be missing something, but I'm surprised to see people say that leather shoes always last better - my shoes tend to break in ways that are about the sole, and most of the leather shoes I see still have plastic soles.

My bugbear with shoes these days, is that the manmade (ie. Synthetic) soles wear smooth so become dangerous to walk in when it rains (skiddy shop floors etc).
I end up with shoes where the uppers are perfectly fine but the shoes become unwearable as I can't get them resoled/heeled.
Has anyone solved this?

Bubbles, the production of leather is devastating to the planet - please read the links posted upthread.

"Leather tanneries pollute with carcinogenic chemicals
The animals aren’t the only ones who suffer as a result of the high demand for leather. The modern day tanning process which is used to prevent the leather from decomposing uses extremely toxic chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens. Formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, and chromium are all used in different tanneries around the world, and these dangerous toxins are released into waterways during the manufacturing process. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered the unnerving fact that those living near tanneries were much more likely to contract leukemia, sinus and lung cancers, and other serious illnesses."

There are alternatives to plastic. They are making faux leather from things like pineapple skin now. MUCH more eco-friendly.