Is Converse vegan? Who owns Converse?
American footwear and lifestyle brand known for canvas sneakers and casual apparel, particularly the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star. Offers both vegan-friendly canvas options and leather/suede models.
The short answer
Converse is owned by Nike, Inc.. Only some products are vegan. The brand or its owner sells animal-derived products. The wider brand or its owner sells animal products.
Is Converse vegan?
Some vegan linesOnly some products are vegan
Company's own statementSource: VeganFriendly.org.ukIs Converse cruelty-free?
Not cruelty-freeThe brand or its owner sells animal-derived products
Company's own statementSource: Top Vegan ShoesDoes Converse or its owner sell animal products?
Sells animal productsConverse produces animal-derived products including leather and suede shoes. Multiple models feature leather uppers, suede components, and leather patches (e.g., Chuck Taylor 70 high-top models with leather embossed patches). The brand's parent company Nike explicitly permits the use of cow, sheep (including lamb), goat, and porcine leather in its products per Nike's Animal Skins Policy (2024). Additionally, some Converse canvas shoes are manufactured in facilities that also produce leather shoes, which Converse acknowledges may introduce cross-contamination concerns for strict vegans.
Who owns Converse?
Nike, Inc.Owned by Nike, Inc.
Official registrySource: Top Vegan Shoes
Last verified 13 September 2026
Ownership chain
- Brand
Converse
- Parent company
Nike announced in February 2025 that it would phase out animal testing, stating it has decided to stop using mice, rabbits, and other animals in product testing, citing advances in computer modeling and alternative methods. However, Nike has historically conducted animal testing since its founding in 1964 and previously tested shoes on animals including guinea pigs and chimpanzees. Nike continues to permit and use animal-derived materials (leather, wool, etc.) in its product lines, as documented in Nike's 2024 Animal Skins Policy, which lists permitted animal skins including cow, sheep, goat, and porcine leather.Company's own statement
Last verified 13 September 2026
Certifications
No third-party certification is recorded for Converse. That does not by itself mean the brand is uncertified — only that we have not verified one.
What this means
Our record lists Converse as a brand of Nike, Inc.. Ownership is a separate question from how a product is made: a brand can hold its own certifications while its parent company operates under different policies.
We hold no active third-party certification for Converse, so the statuses above rest on the sources listed below rather than on a certifier's audit.
On animal testing, our record for Nike, Inc. states: Nike announced in February 2025 that it would phase out animal testing, stating it has decided to stop using mice, rabbits, and other animals in product testing, citing advances in computer modeling and alternative methods. However, Nike has historically conducted animal testing since its founding in 1964 and previously tested shoes on animals including guinea pigs and chimpanzees. Nike continues to permit and use animal-derived materials (leather, wool, etc.) in its product lines, as documented in Nike's 2024 Animal Skins Policy, which lists permitted animal skins including cow, sheep, goat, and porcine leather. We publish sourced facts and dates so you can judge them yourself; see how we verify.
Independent vegan alternatives
- Matt & NatVeganCruelty-free
- RapanuiVeganCruelty-free
- WilbyVeganCruelty-free
- Will's Vegan StoreVeganCruelty-free
- Dr. MartensSome vegan linesCruelty-free
- Stella McCartneySome vegan linesCruelty-free
Frequently asked questions
- Is Converse vegan?
- Only some products are vegan. Recorded status: some vegan lines, last verified 13 September 2026.
- Who owns Converse?
- Converse is recorded as owned by Nike, Inc..
- Is Converse cruelty-free?
- The brand or its owner sells animal-derived products. Recorded status: not cruelty-free, last verified 13 September 2026.
- Does Nike, Inc. test on animals?
- Our record for Nike, Inc. states: Nike announced in February 2025 that it would phase out animal testing, stating it has decided to stop using mice, rabbits, and other animals in product testing, citing advances in computer modeling and alternative methods. However, Nike has historically conducted animal testing since its founding in 1964 and previously tested shoes on animals including guinea pigs and chimpanzees. Nike continues to permit and use animal-derived materials (leather, wool, etc.) in its product lines, as documented in Nike's 2024 Animal Skins Policy, which lists permitted animal skins including cow, sheep, goat, and porcine leather.