Product Review: Vivaia – Sustainable, Wearable Shoes for Every Occasion
By Ellen Rubin
I reviewed Vivaia several months ago for Unsustainable Magazine. It was my first experience with the brand. Since then, I’ve been wearing my shoes so I have an update on how they are holding up and their comfort level. Plus, I have four new pairs of shoes from their spring/summer line to review.
Urban Sneakers
Unisex Sneaker Sliders (Urban) – Wool – Sober Nature
I’ve been wearing my Urban sneakers fairly regularly. They are breathable in warmer weather (although I haven’t tested them out in truly hot weather yet), but my feet don’t freeze when it’s cool out either. When it’s below zero or I’m trudging through snow, I wear hefty boots.
I haven’t seen much, if any, wear on the shoes. The soles are holding up, and the cushioning hasn’t broken down.
I love being able to just slip my feet in without having to untie the laces. The stiff backing collar makes that so easy, yet never interferes with walking. I’ve worn them both with and without socks.
Exploring Spring Styles
Arabella Heels
Arabella are mid-height heels. I don’t wear heels on a daily basis anymore, but I have spent more time than I’d like to admit wearing dress shoes in the office, as a retail salesperson, or for an evening out. There are a couple features of heels, aside from the right fit, that either make your life miserable, or make them tolerable. Vivaia must have gotten a lot of feedback when they were designing their heels, because they’ve hit all the comfort notes that I want in a pair of shoes.
The materials used matter. This shoe uses the right materials to make them comfortable from the first wearing.
First, the sole is made from anti-slip rubber. I don’t know if you’ve ever put on a new pair of heels with a leather sole, then realized that you would slide across the floor with the first step because they were so slippery. We used to put the shoes on then go outside and swivel around on concrete trying to scuff the soles up.
Your other option was to use some sandpaper to rough them up. That isn’t an issue here. I started walking around on carpet and a hard floor and there was no slippage. I also think that the sole won’t look as ragged as it gets scuffed up as a leather sole does. There’s nothing that will make a dress shoe look worn and tired faster than a dirty sole and a scuffed leather upper.
The knit upper is made from recycled plastic PET bottles. Not only is this a sustainable repurposing of single use plastic bottles (which we’ll look at in the sustainability section of the article), but the material presents a clean, matte finish that won’t show scuffs or creases as you wear them. It’s also breathable, and has enough give that even though the shoes have a pointed toe, they didn’t pinch or crunch my toes.
Room to move and conformation to your foot are important and Vivaia has carried this over in all their shoes. Their straps are the epitome of adjustability. They are made from a slightly elastic material and have a buckle with an infinitely adjustable length. You aren’t confined to your choice of 4 or 5 holes, but can secure it wherever you like. They call it an AdaptAll Strap™ and it works. The added give in the elasticized strap also means that as you flex your ankle or foot to take a step, the strap won’t dig in. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten a blister from that in the past.
The heel height is 2.5”: high enough to give you the boost you want, but not so high that you tip over. The heel has a flair at the bottom to give you a stable base, is sturdy, and centered well under the heel of your foot. If any of these things were different, the shoe wouldn’t be as comfortable and easy to walk in.
The last element of shoe construction is the insole. Theirs is moisture-wicking with airflow capability. It has a slightly padded arch support with air holes, more airholes in the toe box, padding at the heel, and it’s a quilted-like pattern in between to allow airflow. The insole is antimicrobial, and overall, the shoe is breathable. This pair isn’t machine washable, but you can spot clean dirt it with a clean cloth.
Cristina Satin Sneakers
The day after I received my shoes, I saw an article about the latest fashion trend of ballet slipper-styled shoes for everyday wear and the first picture I saw was a supermodel wearing a pair of Cristina shoes with jeans. Vivaia calls them “Round-Toe Satin Sneakerina”. If you Google the term, you’ll find the definition:
“The term sneakerina…refers to a shoe that fuses the structure and support of a sneaker with the light, elegant aesthetic of a ballet flat. Most feature a slim, slipper-like silhouette with rounded toes, pliable materials, and rubber soles designed for traction and comfort.”
Vivaia’s sneakerina is the perfect pair of shoes to go from super dressy to dressed down, and everything in between. The pair I received were the off-white satin and my first thought was that if I were getting married, these would be the perfect shoes to wear with a wedding outfit because they are elegant-dressy while still being wear-all-day comfortable.
They call this color light gold, but to me they look off white/winter white. The satin and suede-like contrast reminds me of shoes that would go great with tuxedo suits. You have your choice of satin ribbon or stretchy satin shoe laces. Both are good choices.
The shoes have a rounded toe for comfort, durable rubber + EVA outsole for grip and a bit of cushioning as you walk, with a minimal integrated heel. The insole is the suede-like material for comfort. The shoe doesn’t have an integrated arch support. I like this because I prefer wearing barefoot shoes and don’t like when the arch hits me in the wrong spot. There’s an elasticized strip at the back to hug your heel. It keeps you secure while allowing you to move without fear of gaping or stepping out of the shoe.
The entire shoe is eco-friendly, made of recycled fabrics, and machine washable.
Jillian Casual Loafers/Boat Shoes
The Jillian are square toed, boat/deck style shoes. They have a heavier rubber outsole than many other styles. The tread pattern looks like it will grip well and let water flow around the nubs. The site calls it anti-slip. The upper is a knit which is both breathable and water-repellent and made from recycled PET Bottles. The cushioned insole has a bit more of an arch than some other styles. I lifted up the insole and got a peek at the shoe construction that looked very, very neat and sturdy. These are not poorly constructed shoes.
It’s a fairly slim shoe so people with very wide feet may have some trouble with it, but it’s also got some stretch in the fabric. There is a slightly padded binding around the opening for comfort and a loop in back to help you put them on.
The only comfort negative I found is that the tongue crumpled in a bit when I tried the shoe on. If you have very narrow feet, that might get a bit lumpy and you’d have to be conscious of smoothing it flat.
The tried the color Matcha which is a fun, light-green color. If I had to choose a descriptor, I’d say it was more pistachio than olive and is a bright, fun color for spring and summer.
Nelly Mary-Jane Styled Shoes
The last pair of shoes I tried are the almond-toed Mary-Jane styled flats, or Nelly. It’s a more covered shoe, encasing more of your foot than many summer shoe styles, but still incredibly comfortable because of the fabric and stretch in the upper.
It has the same AdaptALL Stap™ across the instep as the Arabella does. The Rose Gold pair comes with a brass-colored hexagonal buckle. The stretch strap makes it easy for people with a higher instep to still wear them without the strap digging in. I’ve run into this problem a time or two. It has an “almond” shaped toe box that is clean and elongated looking, but doesn’t pinch your toes.
The sole is rubber with a barely-there heel height differential so people who like a barefoot feel will appreciate the construction. The insole is suede-like fabric and comfortable, with no arch, and not removable. The shoe is super flexible and can easily bend in half.
This shoe can be dressed up or down. If you had to pick a single pair of shoes to pack in luggage that you could walk around in all day with jeans and then wear them with a suit or fancy outfit, you could get by with just the Nelly. This is another style that could probably fit in this year’s trend of “ballet” style shoes, yet are classic enough to be timeless.
Vivaia sent me the Rose Gold shoes. They are a pale pink with a shimmer of almost bronze thread woven in. Honestly, the shimmer part is not my taste, but I’m sure many people would love it. Actually, the shoes are my exact skin tone so when I put them on, they basically disappear except for the hint of shine. I think the beige or gray with black strap and piping would be a great choice for office wear. They truly are classic looking.
My Favorite Things About Vivaia
Vivaia’s mission states that they “start from the pain point of every woman: ‘Why can’t heels, and all women’s shoes, have sneaker-like comfort?’” I think they take this to heart and every pair of shoes I’ve tried so far has achieved the comfort of a sneaker while looking like a shoe you’d be proud to wear. They are an example that sustainability, comfort, and style can all be achieved in the same product.
Customer Service
Delivery was fast; it only took a couple days. Depending on shipping, availability, and seasons, this may take longer for you, but the site states that delivery is within 5-7 days. The packaging is perfect, fresh, and unblemished, unlike what you usually find when you shop in a store.
The four pairs came in a bubble envelope outer and each pair has its own FSC-certified cardboard box that is the perfect size for the shoes so there’s no waste. Each shoe has in insert to help it keeps its shape and it’s not just some tissue crammed into the toe box, but usually a cardboard form that has the tissue strategically placed. The part of me that wants perfect packaging and perfect shoes admires all the packaging.
The sustainable part of me is sorry that so much is necessary, although they use all recycled products for it all. I worry that people won’t find a way to responsibly dispose or reuse all this material.
They have a free return and exchange policy. I haven’t tried it out so I can’t report on its ease, but they have a stated policy. They also have free shipping on orders over $99.00, a newsletter, online chat help, order tracking, and a repeat customer reward program.
One of the things I really like about the site and the shoes is the sizing. They have a size guide that gives EU, US, and UK sizes with both foot length and foot girth in inches and millimeters. As someone who prefers wearing a US ½ size shoe, I appreciate that the EU and UK sizes also include ½ sizes. These shoes fit right, rather than having to get something that is either a bit large or small. I’ve also found that the shoes have been true to size which takes the guessing out of making a purchase.
Vivaia has stores in more than 30 cities around the eastern portion of the US, in Australia, and throughout Asia and serves customers in over 60 countries and regions. Their site offers shoes for every occasion, bags and totes, socks, and shoe accessories such as wash bags and cleaning kits, insoles, removable bows and charms, and shoelaces. I especially appreciate the insoles and shoelaces. I had the hardest time finding a pair of laces to replace a pair that broke on a pair of shoes from a different manufacturer.
Sustainability
While I wish there weren’t millions of used plastic bottles available from which Vivaia makes their shoes, at least something productive is coming out of the waste. The Repreve yarn used to create a pair of shoes generally recycles 6 plastic bottles. As of March 2025, they’ve reused almost 29.3 million bottles. Using Repreve has prevented 985 metric tons of CO2 from being released, saved 4,060 gallons of water, and reduced the depletion of fossil fuel that would have been used had they made their shoes from virgin plastics. Their recycled PET is certified by Global Recycled Standard.
I’m a big fan of finding uses for agricultural waste products. Not only does using these products provide a secondary income for the growers, but it keeps the waste out of landfills or from being burned. Vivaia uses sugarcane-based EVA, rice husks in their rubber outsole on their Aria 5° Hemp Flats, herbal insoles, and natural rubber. 90-100% of the cardboard and paper products they use is recycled material and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
The plastic materials they use are environmentally friendly and recyclable.
Charitable Contributions
Vivaia is celebrating Earth Day by donating $1 to help save the oceans for each sale on selected shoes.
Throughout the year they donate to Soles4Souls, Dress for Success, and SOS Children’s Village. I appreciate that their chosen beneficiaries are primarily women and children. $5 from each purchase of Avis flats goes to SOS Children’s Village to support training underprivileged women, providing nutrition for families in need, and income for healthcare.
Returned shoes are donated to Dress for Success or Soles4Souls. By repurposing these returns they benefit the recipient and divert waste from landfills. To me, their choices are a way for the purchases that women make to benefit other women.
Final Thoughts…
I’m glad that I’ve gotten the chance to review Vivaia’s shoes. They offer the comfort and style that I’ve been missing in both casual and dress shoes. It’s convenient that one brand can offer everything you need and want, plus offer an ethically run and sustainably made product.