© Getty Imagesveja trainers
Veja trainers have been a wardrobe staple amongst the fashion set for a while now. Influencers can't get enough of them, editors wear them 24/7 and even celebrities like Meghan Markle, Emma Watson and Emily Ratajkowski have been spotted wearing the trendy shoe while they're out and about.
In fact, I don't think you could walk anywhere in London last summer without spotting the brand's famous 'V' design at least once. They have remained undeniably popular season after season and, with spring officially upon us, we're all gradually starting to swap our boots for a pair of trusty white trainers so you might, once again, be considering investing in a pair.
Here to help you decide if they're right for you, as Fashion Editor, I've gone through and answered all the biggest questions you might have about Vejas, including how long they take to wear in, what they're made of and, ultimately, whether they're worth the money. But first thing's first - how do you actually pronounce the brand's name?
How do you pronounce 'Veja'?
Ah yes, when many folks say the brand's name, it sounds more like a question than a statement. 'Vay-a'? 'Vay-ja'? 'Vee-ja'? Which is it?
Fun fact: it turns out that 'Veja' is actually Brazilian for 'look' and, according to the brand's website, is a nod to how the label is dedicated to "looking beyond the sneakers, looking at how they're made." Yep, Veja's brand is all about transparency, fair trade and using organic materials - but more on that later.
As for how to pronounce 'Veja' properly, the correct way is 'Vey-ja' (where you sort of roll the 'j') so now you can say it with confidence. Here's a quick video tutorial for those who want to be super sure they're doing it right:
What are they made of?
There are multiple Veja styles to shop (I have the white leather V-10s), with different options including leather, suede, canvas, CWL (a combination of canvas and upcycled corn) and rubber. For more information on how each of these materials is sourced, jump on over to the brand's website here, but for the purposes of this review, it helps to know there are a few finishes to choose from.
Are they vegan?
Yep, some are. In fact, one out of every three Veja trainers made is vegan. In addition to their canvas range, they also offer leather substitutes. Rather than using plastic, which contains 99% petroleum, Veja uses something called CWL to make some of its vegan styles, which is essentially cotton canvas covered with a corn oil-based coating and is 63% bio-sourced. Neat huh?
Do they soften?
If you have friends who have bought Vejas, one thing you've probably heard them say is how much the trainers rub when they first got them. And, as someone who's also been there, this was the case for me too. Disclosure: I always tend to have a bit of a thing with shoes giving me blisters on my heels, so I wear preventative plasters under my socks as a matter of habit.
What I hadn't expected, though, is for the tongue on the leather style to be quite stiff. This meant that the end of the tongue rubbed against the top of my foot and made it quite red. To help speed up the softening, I bent the tongue back in the opposite direction and used a hairdryer on warm/high to help relax the leather and, after a few wears, the rubbing went away.
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I've also had folks mention that they hurt at the ankles and, although I've only experienced this once after going for a mega long walk when it was minus one degree (why I did this is beyond me), it's something to keep in mind. While the brand also makes a line of shoes specifically designed for running, I tend to use my classic V-10s for running errands around town more than specific exercise.
Now, some people might say 'why would you wear shoes that hurt?' and, like, fair, but I really love my Vejas and was prepared to invest some time into wearing them in. If that ain't the case for you, you might want to have a think about whether these are the right trainers for you.
Does the sizing run big or small?
Vejas are actually pretty true to size so you're a-okay to order your normal size. If you're a half size and can't seem to see your size, the official advice is to go up a size, however, I'm a size 6.5 and found that the 6 is great. Thankfully, Vejas are stocked at multiple places on the high street so, if you're not sure, you can always pop into the shops once they reopen and try them on for yourself and see which size feels the most comfortable.
Are they worth the ££?
With prices starting at £75 and ranging up to £150 for their main range (and as steep as £250 for designer collabs), Vejas are more expensive than many other high street trainers, but are they worth it?
If you're browsing the various styles, you'll notice that some of the options aren't leather, which might make you ask why they're so expensive? Well, it all comes down to the production process. Veja says its trainers costs five times more to produce than other big brand sneakers for a few reasons:
- they use fair trade and organic raw materials
- the trainers are more economically equitable for all parties involved in the production chain
- they invest in research and new technologies
In short, while you're paying a premium price for quality materials, that will last you for years to come, you're also supporting a business that has a broader social mission for positive change.
Ultimately, everyone's budget is different, but when trying to reason about whether you can justify splurging on a pricier purchase, I'm a big fan of the cost per wear logic. They might be £115 but if you live in your trainers day in, day out (like me), you might decide they're worth it.
For example, if you wore your £115 Vejas every day for a year - which is totally possible considering how versatile they are - it comes down to 30p/day, which feels far less intimidating. Whereas if you're only going to wear them on weekends, that looks more like £1.10/wear. It really depends how much you like Vejas and whether you think you're going to get much use out of them.
Do they ever go on sale?
If you're holding out for Vejas to go on sale before you buy a pair, you're not alone. With the slightly higher price tag many of us want to feel like we're getting a bit of a bargain in the process. While Vejas rarely go on sale on the brand's site or with major e-tailers (and are often exempt from blanket site discounts), you can still manage to save a few ££s if you time it right. Smaller retailers, like The White Company, occasionally have certain styles at a lower price and I bought mine from Liberty as part of a Black Friday promo.
© Getty Imagesveja trainers
Best Veja trainers to shop
Here's my pick of the most stylish and versatile styles to shop:
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