In 2015, Devika Srimal Bapna, a former CA (chartered accountant) from Delhi, launched Kanabis – a fashionable, PETA-approved footwear brand for women. The aim of the footwear label is to replace leather for high-quality canvas. To fight cruelty against animals, the shoes offered by the company are made from superior quality canvas, fabric, jute and other alternatives for leather.

You’ll be shocked to know that despite it’s illegal to kill healthy cattle in India, millions of cows are beaten, dehorned, deprived of food and water, and even tortured with iron rods. After the cold-blooded treatment, the poor animals are slaughtered for leather. India alone produces around one billion leather shoes every year for home market as well as export. The hide from one cow can produce about 18 pairs of shoes- that means around 50 million cows are slaughtered for the stylish pair of leather shoes you see in fancy stores.

After knowing about the cruelty that animals have to go through for leather, Devika decided never to wear leather again. Not only that, she also started looking for better leather substitutes to make good quality and affordable shoes. After thorough research, she finally started this durable and cruelty-free footwear label, but without compromising on fashion and quality. And, don’t think they are only selling the canvas shoes – they are also offering stylish variations in heels, flats, and boots.

Story behind the name

Well, it is a play on the word Cannabis (aka Marijuana). If you’re wondering why it’s associated with shoes, then you may be interested to know that there is a historical reason behind it. Earlier the canvas was made from hemp that came from the cannabis plant. Therefore, Devika found this name suitable for her fashion label, which is now a five-member team.

What’s unique about the brand

It is PETA-approved vegan footwear brand, which means only ethical and eco-friendly practices are involved in the production of each pair of shoes. Moreover, every part of the shoe is thoroughly tested to ensure high quality. On average, the price of their products ranges from Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,800. They are available online at leading marketplaces, and you can also find these vegan shoes offline at eight multi-brand stores across the country. The warehouse of the company is in New Delhi and they even work in collaboration with various logistics companies for shipments.

So, next time when you think of buying any leather products – do think about how brutally animals are beaten and killed for some designer shoes, bags or other stuff. Instead, look our for animal-friendly brands like Kanabis to enhance your daily look.

Also, check out the video to know more about Kanabis.

Via: YouthKiAwaaz | Kanabis