Beyond Skin and Peta announce winner of vegan footwear design competition

The winner of Beyond Skin and Peta's eco and animal friendly

shoe competition has been announced, whose shoe design will be incorporated into the vegan shoe's company's Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

Fourth year fashion design student at Leeds University, Alice Lambert-Gorwyn, was named the winner by presenter Laura Whitmore. Her winning submission featured a high-heel shoe design made from imitation exotic skin, faux leather and faux microfiber suede, which Whitmore described as “slick and sophisticated.”

"I am extremely passionate about animal welfare", commented Lambert-Gorwyn. "I am a vegetarian and have recently made the decision to stop buying leather. . . . I would love in the future to work for an ethical company, and this competition seemed like a great stepping stone and a fantastic platform to raise awareness of such an important issue."

Second place went to Stefanie Nuyts, a freelance shoe designer, whose concept featured rabbit silhouettes in satin and faux microfiber suede. Beyond Skin and Peta are committed to increasing awareness surrounding animal treatment, and the shoe company only uses animal-free, recyclable materials in their products. The competition was initially started to encourage designers and consumers alike think about what materials and products are used in their footwear.

Beyond Skin shoes are available online and in store at stockists Spice shoes and Sirene in the UK, as well as a number of international stockists.