Eco-Shoes Sneaking Up On You

No matter how much you love the look of super-high Christian Louboutin slingbacks, nothing feels quite as good on a weekend morning as slipping on a pair of worn-in canvas sneakers and being able to do your errands in comfort. But although they're inexpensive and versatile, most sneakers along those lines aren't particularly environmentally correct, since they're usually made with pesticide-treated fabrics that are colored with toxic dyes.

There are certainly eco-friendly options out there — like Simple Shoes — but they can look a bit, well, crunchy sitting next to a stack of designer shoe boxes in your closet. Sometimes, it's better to just stick to the gold standard. If your idea of the perfect canvas sneaks begins and ends with a four letter word — Keds — there's finally an option available that's as good for the environment as it is for your feet. The iconic brand has just introduced a Green Label collection, which is initially focused around an updated take on its most classic lace up style: the Champion.

There's sustainability in every component of these shoes, from organic cotton tops to nickel-free eyelets to recycled rubber soles. (Even the shoelaces have been taken into account; they're made entirely from recycled water bottles.) Keds' green shoes are more expensive than their traditionally produced counterparts — $55 as opposed to $35 for a pair of Champions — but they're a tad more stylish too, with slightly thicker soles altering the trademark silhouette just enough to make it feel a tiny bit modernized.

Although the only style available right now is Willow, the lace up that's pictured, a moccasin that's perfectly suited to summer sundresses is set to launch soon. Willow comes in black, white, and — perhaps inevitably — a soft shade of grassy green.

There's an additional earth-friendly element to these shoes: Keds will offset its carbon emissions by planting a tree for each pair purchased this year via an affiliation with the Arbor Day Foundation. Trees will be planted together in a forest after the year is up. If you're tempted to climb up one of them, just make sure to leave those Louboutins at home and wear your Green Label Willows instead.

Keds Green Label Willow Sneakers. $55, www.keds.com.