Some Charles & Keith shoes are real leather, but most are not. The brand uses a mix of genuine leather, faux leather, fabric and satin, and each product lists its material in the details section. It does not describe itself as a vegan brand. So a faux leather pair contains no animal leather, but buying from Charles & Keith is not the same as buying from a brand that is vegan across the board.
The question matters because the answer changes from one shoe to the next. When we looked at the Charles & Keith US shoe listing on September 27, 2026, the material filter showed roughly 269 styles in faux leather against about 60 in leather, with suede, fabric and satin making up much of the rest. Most shoes were priced around $79 to $159. The listicles that rank for "brands like Charles & Keith" are mostly about bags and rarely say what anything is made of. This guide sticks to shoes: how to check a Charles & Keith pair, what the labels mean, and fully vegan alternatives in the same shapes, from $48.99.
Charles & Keith shoe materials at a glance
| Label on the product page | What it means | Animal-free? |
|---|---|---|
| Faux leather | A synthetic coating (usually polyurethane) over a fabric backing | Yes, for the upper |
| Leather | Genuine animal leather | No |
| Suede | Check the wording: real suede is leather, faux suede is synthetic | Depends on the pair |
| Satin, fabric, nylon | Woven textiles | Usually, but glues and linings are not always stated |
| Brand-level vegan claim | None; the range mixes leather and non-leather | |
Perrine Pleated Loafers
A soft patent loafer with a gathered apron, in the same price range as a mid-priced high-street loafer, and vegan all the way through.
Is Charles & Keith real leather?
Sometimes. Charles & Keith started in Singapore in 1996, founded by brothers Charles and Keith Wong, and built its name on trend-led shoes at accessible prices. Much of the range uses faux leather to hit those prices. The brand also sells genuine leather styles, including a curated leather collection of pumps, flats, mules and loafers, which on the US site sits at around $99 to $139, above most of the faux pairs.
In short, you cannot answer the question for the brand as a whole. You have to answer it for the pair in your cart.
How to check a specific pair
- Open the product details. The material is listed there, usually split into upper, lining and sole.
- Read every line. A faux leather upper can still have a leather lining or insole on some shoes. If any line says leather without "faux," the shoe is not animal-free.
- Watch the word "suede." Look for "faux suede" or "microsuede." Plain "suede" may mean the real thing.
- Use the material filter. On the shoe listing, filtering by faux leather is the quickest way to see only synthetic uppers.
- When in doubt, ask customer service before buying, especially about adhesives, which listings rarely mention.
Is Charles & Keith vegan?
No, not as a brand. "Vegan" usually means a company commits to no animal materials across its whole range. Charles & Keith sells genuine leather alongside faux leather, and it does not make a vegan claim. Some resellers label individual Charles & Keith items "vegan leather," which only describes that item's material.
If you are happy to check each listing, you can build a mostly faux leather wardrobe from the brand. If you would rather not read labels at all, it is easier to shop from a brand where every pair is animal-free.
Vegan alternatives, by shoe style
Charles & Keith is best known for ladylike flats, mary janes, slingbacks and loafers. Here are fully vegan pairs in the same shapes. Every one is made from vegan leather or other animal-free materials, with nothing to check on the label.
Mary jane flats
A buckled mary jane is one of the brand's classic flats. Ours comes in black, wine red and leopard print, in sizes up to EU 42.
Buckled Mary Jane Flats
A buckled mary jane in black, wine red or leopard, from $48.99.
Ballet flats with a bow
Bows are everywhere in Charles & Keith's flats. Iselle does it with a ruched upper and a cord lace bow instead of a flat ribbon.
Iselle Lace-Up Mary Jane Ballet Flats
A ruched vegan leather ballet flat tied with a cord bow, in black or red.
Vivra Strap Leather Ballet Flats
A strappy black ballet flat for when you want something plainer than a bow.
Slingbacks and pumps
If you like the brand's slingback pumps, look for the same pointed or squared toe on a low heel.
Mirelle Black Slingback Heels
Black slingback heels with a glossy patent finish, the closest match to a classic high-street slingback.
Margot Mary Jane Slingback Pumps
A mary jane and a slingback in one, with a square toe and elastic straps.
Loafers
For chunky loafers, a thick platform sole with a plain upper gives the modern look without extra hardware.
Talia Platform Loafers
A plain round-toe loafer on a platform sole, cut to be worn with a visible sock.
Something the brand does not make
When we checked, Charles & Keith's US range did not include split-toe tabi shoes. If you want one, that is where we differ most.
Claudia tabi slingback flats - Black
A black tabi slingback flat: a split toe and an open back in one shoe.
Price and material comparison
| Brand | Shoe materials | Brand-wide vegan? | Typical shoe price | Sizing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles & Keith | Mostly faux leather, some genuine leather, fabric and satin | No | About $79 to $159 (US site, Sept 2026) | EU sizes with a conversion chart |
| JW Pei | Known mainly for vegan leather bags, with some shoes | Markets itself around vegan leather | Varies; check current listings | See the brand's size guide |
| Steve Madden | Mixed: leather and synthetic styles | No | Around $100 for many flats | US sizes, generous fit |
| Lil Cacti | Vegan leather, vegan suede, satin, patent | Yes, every pair | $46.99 to $108.99 | EU 35 to 40 on most styles, some to 42 and beyond |
How does faux leather hold up?
Good faux leather wears well for everyday use, but it behaves differently from animal leather. It stretches less, so fit it right from the start, and it dislikes direct heat, which can dry the surface out. It also resists water better than untreated leather. We cover the details in how long vegan leather shoes last.
Caring for faux leather shoes
- Wipe with a soft damp cloth and a drop of mild soap, then dry at room temperature.
- Keep them away from radiators and hair dryers.
- Use a shoe tree or rolled paper so the toe does not crease deeply.
- For patent, buff fingerprints off with a dry cloth.
The full routine is in our guide to cleaning vegan leather shoes.
Charles & Keith, JW Pei, Steve Madden and us
Charles & Keith is very good at what it does: quick to catch a trend, well finished for the price, and available in stores and online in many countries. For shoppers who read labels, its faux leather line offers a lot of choice. JW Pei built its name on vegan leather bags and is a natural stop if handbags are the main goal. Steve Madden offers a huge range at around $100, in both leather and synthetic styles.
We are a smaller, shoes-first brand. Every pair is vegan, so there is no label to check, most styles cost $48 to $89, and we specialize in details like split toes, studs and lace-ups that the big high-street names do less of.
Frequently asked questions
Is Charles & Keith real leather?
Some of it. The brand sells both genuine leather and faux leather shoes, and most of its shoe range is faux leather. Check the materials line on each product.
Is Charles & Keith vegan?
Not as a brand. It sells real leather alongside synthetic pairs and makes no vegan claim, though many individual shoes use faux leather uppers.
Is Charles & Keith faux leather good quality?
It is generally well finished for the price. Like all faux leather, it stretches little and should be kept away from heat.
How can I tell if a Charles & Keith shoe is real leather?
Read the product details. "Leather" means genuine leather, "faux leather" means synthetic. Check the lining and insole lines too, not just the upper.
Are your shoes all vegan?
Yes. Every Lil Cacti shoe is made from vegan leather and other animal-free materials, with no leather or suede anywhere.
Read next
- Vegan Leather vs Real Leather Shoes: An Honest Comparison From a Brand That Only Makes One
- Brands Like Rothy's: Vegan Flats and Mary Janes Under $90, Compared (2026)
- aeyde Shoes Dupe? Vegan Alternatives to the Uma, Moa, Loafers and Boots (2026)
Browse all our ballet flats and mary jane flats, all vegan.