OUR GUIDE TO VEJA TRAINERS

Let’s start our love affair for Veja trainers with a common question we’re often asked (and you would be surprised) ‘How do you Pronounce Veja?’ We can confirm it is pronounced “vey-ja” 😊.

Here at the Dressing Room, we love Veja trainers for a few key reasons;

a. Their clean aesthetic makes it a no-brainer trainer for every outfit

b. Versatility within the range means there’s something for your daily run and workwear wardrobe

c. Their commitment to transparency and sustainability. The latter is often something I chat to customers about, delving into the history of the brand and their unique production strategies.

Are Veja Sneakers Comfortable? Are Veja Trainers True To Size?

Having worn them myself for years, I can confirm that Veja trainers keep me comfortable when I’m on the shop-floor for 8+ hours a day! Also, would they be THE commuter trainer if they weren’t comfortable getting you from A to B? If the leather feels stiff at first, within a few wears they’ll soften and become far more malleable. I assure you, they’ll become your favorite no-brainer trainer in no time!

Another FAQ is ‘Do Veja do half sizes?’ to which the answer is unfortunately no. However, I do find them quite wide-fitting which provides a bit of wiggle room especially if you’re between sizes.

How To Lace Veja Sneakers?

Veja trainers are packed without their laces pre-done, however that just gives you the creative liberty to lace them as you wish. At The Dressing Room, we have no problem lacing them up for you 😊 but we usually start from the bottom, lacing them over and under in an alternating criss cross formation.

How To Clean Vejas?

Any water-based shoe cleaner will give your Veja trainers a good freshen up – just use a damp cloth and sponge them down. Leather is naturally water resistant so will come up well with just a wipe clean and don’t forget, many brands offer leather and suede protector sprays to ensure longevity in your purchase. For a style like the Veja Rio Branco for example, which uses both suede and Alveomesh (recycled plastic bottles!), again a damp cloth with a water-based cleaner will do just fine.

Which Style Of Veja Trainers Should I Wear?

To date Veja Trainers have designed 36 styles of trainers, so the big question is which style to choose from… their array of women’s trainers includes designs like the chunkier hiking style Veja Venturi, the Veja Dekkan running style to the classic slimline Veja Campo and Veja Esplar trainers. We selected some of the key styles we think you should definitely check out…..

Veja Campo

Veja Campo trainers were launched in 2019 and are a slimline, smooth and lightweight style of women’s trainer. Crafted in bovine Chrome Free leather, which undergoes an innovative tanning process where no chrome, heavy metals or dangerous acids are used.  The Veja Campo is a minimalistic low top style which are updated every season with different pops of coloured leather & suede, showcasing Veja trainers signature branding. SHOP ALL VEJA CAMPO TRAINERS >

Veja Volley

March 2024 saw the launch of the new Veja Volley trainer, based on the 70s Brazilian volleyball shoe, combining a sporty last with retro-inspired suede detailing. The Veja volley was one of the first models Veja trainers launched back in 2005, and has been reissued, just in time for the resurgence of the retro revival. The Veja Volley is made from 100% organic cotton cultivated in Brazil & Peru where it is agroecologically grown, meaning the method of agriculture used enriches the land after the organic and regenerative cotton is cultivated, improving the diversity of species and water retention in the soil. SHOP ALL VEJA VOLLEY TRAINERS >

Veja V10

The Veja V10 trainer was launched in 2015, as part of the brands 10th anniversary, and celebrates the brands commitment to sustainable footwear, with a combination of Chrome Free Leather, Amazonian tapped natural rubber and organic cotton laces. Due to the green processes used in manufacturing, the water usage is reduced approximately by 40% and after tanning the water is recyclable. The Veja V10 has a sport luxe retro feel with its perforated front panel and slightly thicker sole. SHOP ALL VEJA V10 TRAINERS >

Veja Esplar

The Veja Esplar is a streamlined simplistic style, with its low top design, which can be worn with jeans to dresses, as well as giving a suit a relaxed, paired down feel. Very similar to the Veja Campo, the Veja Esplar trainers have a thinner sole and a slightly more elongated toe than their counterpart, giving them more of a tennis shoe vibe. Also made from Bovine Chrome Free leather, those that have touches of suede, are brushed bovine leather, coated with water repellant oils to protect the suede from light rain. SHOP ALL VEJA ESPLAR TRAINERS >

Veja Rio Branco

The Veja Rio Branco has a more athletic feel, with its running trainer style featuring a raised tread sole for better traction during workouts and activities. The Veja Rio Branco is one of the few styles that Veja trainers recommends to size up when you are between sizes. The Veja Rio Branco Alveomesh is a technical fabric made exclusively of recycled polyester, giving the women’s trainer a lightness and breathability. SHOP ALL VEJA RIO BRANCO TRAINERS HERE >

What makes Veja Trainers sustainable?

Veja trainers began in 2005, with two French businessmen and long-time friends who identified a gap in the market for that ‘smart’ trainer that didn’t cost the earth (both financially and environmentally). And from day dot, the pair have refined several brand values which solidify their position in the world of ‘green’ footwear. When training new staff, I always start with the unique tale of Veja’s rubber tapping process. The rubber for each Veja shoe sole is collected by a ‘Seringueiro’ (Brazilian rubber gatherer) in the Amazon; the only place in the world where rubber trees grow in the wild. Elsewhere, the rest are planted superficially by destroying patches of land, contributing to deforestation. Then, by implementing Veja trainers’ ‘circular’ tapping technique, meaning each naturally growing tree is tapped to a point and then left to regenerate, no tree in the entire process is ever harmed.

I could write for hours about Veja trainers other efforts in sustainability; their cotton farming processes mirror that of their rubber, paying above market and sourcing their few-hundred tons per year from fair-trade family-owned partners in Brazil & Peru. But the brand’s aesthetics are also important to us as a consumer, and how we can offer the right product at the right time to our customer base. I think each of our stylists would agree that the pandemic changed everything when it came to the workplace wardrobe specifically. People seemingly realised that suits and a court shoe didn’t dictate how good you were at your job… Everything became more relaxed, offsetting perhaps just one piece of tailoring with a sweatshirt and trainers. And I think we’d all agree that Veja trainers are the go-to for an office sneaker.

Does Veja Use Real Leather?

Aside from questions about Vegan options and Amazonian rubber we are often asked ‘Does Veja use real leather?’. It’s a common misconception that as a ‘green’ footwear brand, Veja trainers are all vegan. They do indeed use real leather but once again work to source these materials in a sustainable way. So yes, Veja trainers can be made from leather, and the brand is committed to doing so as responsibly as is possible. The easiest way to do this is to select suppliers who monitor ‘the entire leather supply chain, from cattle farms to tanneries, ensuring full transparency in knowing the origin and production process of our leather.’

Hopefully we covered everything about Veja trainers in this guide, but if you have any other questions or need help with selecting a pair, never hesitate to contact us or ask instore, and a trained stylist will be on hand to help!

Shop Our Full Veja Trainer Collection Here