NAE Vegan Shoes

What NAE Vegan Shoes does

NAE Vegan Shoes is a Portuguese footwear and accessories brand founded in Lisbon in 2008 by co-founders Paula and Alex, operating under the philosophy "No Animal Exploitation." The company designs and sells 100% vegan footwear for women, men, and unisex consumers, alongside accessories (belts, socks, wallets, caps) and a recent Organique clothing line in organic cotton and lyocell. The core technical platform is sustainable material sourcing and small-batch production: products are handmade in four factories in northern Portugal and two in Spain using cork harvested from Portuguese oak, Piñatex (pineapple leaf fiber), AppleSkin (apple waste-derived leather alternative), recycled PET certified under GRS, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified vegan microfiber. The company carries PETA-Approved Vegan certification, an independent Good On You sustainability rating, and uses Zeropact for per-product carbon footprint disclosure (1.1 kg CO2e or less per pair).

Name

NAE Vegan Shoes

Legal name

NAE Vegan Shoes

Website

https://nae-vegan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAE Vegan Shoes is a Portuguese DTC brand founded in 2008 that designs and sells vegan footwear, accessories, and apparel handcrafted in Portugal and Spain from plant-based and recycled materials including cork, Piñatex, AppleSkin, and rPET, serving sustainability-focused consumers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vegan Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vegan/Alternative Material Goods Manufacturing (PU/Plant-based/Mycelium) (IMAOAHAH), Leather, Suede & Alternatives (PU/Bio-based) (CRAAAMAG)

Keywords

• Vegan footwear
• Sustainable fashion
• Eco-friendly shoes
• Plant-based materials
• Cruelty-free accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Carnaxide

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase model for footwear, accessories, and apparel through e-commerce and physical retail stores. Individual product sales with no subscription component.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Sale of products through partner retailers. A selection of NAE shoes is available through retail partners, with NAE providing guidance on nearest point of sale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NAE Vegan Shoes designs and sells vegan footwear and accessories made from plant-based and recycled materials. Products include women's, men's, and unisex shoes (flats, Oxfords, sneakers, sandals, boots, knee-high boots), accessories (belts, socks, caps, wallets, shoe care), and the Organique clothing collection in organic cotton and lyocell. All products are 100% vegan, PETA-Approved, and handmade in Portugal from materials such as cork, Piñatex, AppleSkin, recycled PET, and OEKO-TEX certified microfiber.

Product overview

NAE Vegan Shoes is a Portuguese vegan footwear and accessories brand founded in Lisbon in 2008 by co-founders Paula and Alex. The core offering consists of vegan footwear for women (flat shoes, heels, Oxford brogues, sandals, sneakers, ankle boots, knee-high boots), men (shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots), and unisex styles (shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots), all handmade in Portugal from plant-based and recycled materials. The product portfolio spans three main segments: footwear across all genders, accessories (belts, socks, caps, wallets, shoe care), and the Organique clothing collection in organic cotton and lyocell. Material-specific sub-lines include AppleSkin (apple waste-based leather alternative), Piñatex (pineapple leaf fiber), cork (from Portuguese oak), OEKO-TEX certified microfiber, organic cotton (GOTS certified), and recycled PET (GRS certified). The Pre-Loved program resells carefully used NAE shoes and samples. The brand's philosophy centers on No Animal Exploitation — all products are 100% vegan, certified by PETA, and independently rated by Good On You.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Organique: Clothing collection in organic cotton and lyocell, made in Portugal. Now part of the NAE universe.

Products and services

• Women's Vegan Footwear Vegan footwear for women including flat shoes, heels, Oxfords, sandals, sneakers, ankle boots, and knee-high boots, handmade in Portugal from plant-based and recycled materials.
• Men's Vegan Footwear Vegan footwear for men including shoes, sneakers, sandals, and boots, handmade in Portugal using plant-based and recycled materials.
• Unisex Vegan Footwear Gender-neutral vegan footwear including shoes, sneakers, sandals, and boots designed for all genders, made in Portugal from plant-based materials.
• Vegan Accessories Vegan accessories including belts, socks, caps, wallets, suspenders, and shoe care products made from organic cotton, microfiber, and other vegan materials.
• Organique Clothing Collection Clothing essentials made from organic cotton and lyocell, produced in Portugal, including tops, bottoms, and full pieces. Part of the NAE sub-brand universe.
• Pre-Loved Program Second-hand and sample NAE shoes offered at reduced prices (€20–€45) to support sustainability and reduce fashion waste. Limited sizes available.
• NAE Gift Card Gift cards available for purchase, allowing recipients to choose their own NAE Vegan Shoes products from the online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products emit 1.1 kg CO2e or less per pair (verified via Zeropact lifecycle assessment)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Corkor: Portuguese brand specializing in cork-based vegan footwear, bags, and wallets. Highly comparable to NAE given shared Iberian production base, cork material heritage, and vegan positioning.
• Bourgeois Boheme: UK-based vegan footwear and accessories brand founded around ethical, plant-based materials. Direct peer given shared vegan positioning, European market focus, and premium DTC model.
• Ahinsa Shoes: Czech sustainable vegan and barefoot footwear brand sold across Europe. Comparable in product category, sustainable materials focus, and DTC-led European distribution model.
• Matt & Nat: Canadian vegan accessories and footwear brand using recycled and plant-based materials. Directly comparable to NAE in vegan positioning, DTC model, and use of certified sustainable materials.
• Will's Vegan Shoes: UK vegan footwear brand offering a full men's and women's range of certified vegan shoes. Comparable product breadth, price points, and European DTC distribution to NAE.
• Ethletic: German fair-trade vegan sneaker brand using organic cotton and natural rubber. Comparable in vegan certification, sustainable materials, and European DTC model.

Broad incumbents

• Stella McCartney: Global luxury fashion house with a longstanding commitment to cruelty-free, sustainable materials. Comparable in sustainable fashion philosophy but operates at much larger scale across apparel and footwear.
• Veja: French sustainable sneaker brand using organic and recycled materials with ethical sourcing. Comparable in sustainable materials story and European DTC/retail distribution, though focused primarily on sneakers.

Emerging players

• Nothing New: US-based sneaker brand made with recycled and vegan materials. Comparable in vegan materials focus and DTC e-commerce model, though serving primarily North American consumers.
• Angela Roi: Vegan handbag and accessories brand using premium vegan leather alternatives. Comparable in cruelty-free positioning and DTC premium model, though focused on bags rather than footwear.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgiZary8oy665qV8R5z54oQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/naeveganshoes
• Instagraminstagram.com/naeveganshoes
• Pinterestpinterest.pt/naeveganshoes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naeveganshoes

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NAE Vegan Shoes