12 Brands Like Rothy's for Washable, Sustainable Shoes

The closest alternative to Rothy's is Vivaia, which knits the same recycled-bottle ballet flat and, like Rothy's, throws it in the washing machine. Allbirds and Giesswein cover the comfort and washable-flat angles, while VEERAH and Nisolo handle vegan and leather. Sort them by what you actually want: a washable knit flat, an everyday sustainable sneaker, or a dressier vegan pair.

People come to Rothy's for three things: a knit flat woven from recycled plastic bottles, the fact that you can wash it, and a look that goes with almost anything. The catch is the price (flats hover around $145) and a thin sole that some feet find hard to break in. Every brand below solves for at least one of those, and the list is grouped so you can skip to the kind of shoe you're after.

How we picked these brands

• Washable or wipe-clean like Rothy's. The number-one reason people buy Rothy's is that you can clean them. We flagged which of these you can actually machine-wash or rinse.
• Recycled or sustainable materials. Recycled bottles, recycled ocean plastic, apple-peel leather, ethically sourced leather, natural rubber. No vague "eco" claims without a material behind them.
• Real everyday comfort. Cushioning and arch support matter, since the most common Rothy's complaint is a flat, hard footbed.
• A direct-to-consumer track record. We stuck to real brands with reviews and a history, the same wave of direct-to-consumer names you'll find in our best DTC clothing brands roundup, and skipped mass-retail dupes with no sustainability story.

At a glance

1. Vivaia

If you want the closest thing to a Rothy's flat, start with Vivaia. It knits its uppers from recycled plastic bottles (about six per pair) into the same 3D-knit ballet shape, and the shoes are fully machine and hand washable. Reviewers who own both tend to find Vivaia softer underfoot, with more heel padding, which addresses the thin-sole gripe people have with Rothy's. Prices usually land a bit below Rothy's, and the brand ships direct to more than 60 countries.

Best for: the shopper who wants Rothy's exact washable-knit flat with a plusher footbed.

2. Allbirds

Allbirds is a Certified B Corp built on natural materials, and its Tree Breezer ballet flat is the piece to look at here: a breathable eucalyptus-fiber knit on a sugarcane-based sole, and it's machine-washable. The wool and tree-fiber sneakers get most of the attention, but the flats are the real Rothy's parallel. If you like the brand and want to see how its sneakers stack up against other knit options, our Allbirds alternatives guide goes deeper.

Best for: comfort-first shoppers who want a soft, breathable knit flat or sneaker.

3. VEERAH

VEERAH makes designer vegan flats for people who want something dressier than a knit ballet shoe. Its signature material is a USDA-certified bio-based apple-peel leather (roughly 51 repurposed apples go into a pair), paired with an algae-foam insole that replaces a chunk of the petroleum in standard cushioning. The styling leans toward the office and events rather than errands, so it fills a gap most Rothy's alternatives miss.

Best for: vegan shoppers who want a polished flat for work or a night out.

4. Giesswein

Giesswein is an Austrian family brand, and its ballet flats are knit from 100% recycled ocean PET, machine-washable, and water-repellent, which makes them a genuinely practical Rothy's stand-in. The same knitting know-how shows up in its Merino wool runners if you want a sneaker instead. The water-resistance is the differentiator here, since most knit flats soak through in the rain.

Best for: washable-flat seekers and travelers who want a wipe-clean, water-resistant shoe.

5. Birdies

Birdies started as "the slipper you can wear out of the house," and that comfort focus is still the point. Its flats and loafers sit on a 7-layer cushioned footbed, so they answer the arch-support complaint directly, and the range runs from plain black to bold prints. These are less about recycled materials and more about all-day cushioning, so weigh them if comfort is your top priority over sustainability specs.

Best for: shoppers who prioritize cushioning and want a bit of pattern.

6. Everlane

Everlane built its name on radical transparency, publishing its factories and a cost breakdown for most products. On the footwear side, the leather Day flats and Tread sneakers are clean, minimalist, and usually cheaper than the premium knit brands. It's a leather pick rather than a washable knit, so treat it as the "quiet basics" option. Everlane also makes a lot of apparel, and if that's your reason for the visit, our Everlane alternatives list covers the wider wardrobe.

Best for: minimalist shoppers who want a simple leather flat and price transparency.

7. Cariuma

If a sustainable sneaker would serve you better than a flat, look at Cariuma. It's a Certified B Corp (the first skate-shoe brand to earn it, with a 94.2 score) that plants two trees for every pair sold and has planted more than two million so far. The OCA and IBI sneakers use organic cotton, natural rubber, and recycled materials, and they read as everyday shoes rather than gym shoes.

Best for: shoppers who want a low-profile sustainable sneaker instead of a ballet flat.

8. Veja

Veja is the French sneaker brand you've seen on half of Paris, and its sustainability is real, not just aesthetic: wild rubber tapped from the Amazon, organic cotton, and recycled plastics, with famously no paid advertising. It sits at the premium end and it's a sneaker through and through, so it's the pick when you want something recognizable and street-ready rather than a flat.

Best for: street-style shoppers who want a well-known sustainable sneaker.

9. Nisolo

Nisolo is the leather-craft answer on this list. It has been a Certified B Corp since 2017, runs carbon-neutral, publishes living wages across its supply chain, and even prints a Sustainability Facts Label on its products. The loafers, flats, and huaraches are made to last rather than to wash, so this is the choice if you'd rather have one well-made leather pair than a knit you toss in the machine.

Best for: shoppers who want ethical, durable leather over a knit flat.

10. SUAVS

SUAVS weaves its slip-ons and sneakers from recycled water bottles, and the knit styles are machine-washable and light enough to pack flat. It's one of the more affordable washable options here, which makes it an easy first try if you're testing whether a knit shoe works for your feet before spending Rothy's money. The look is casual and sporty rather than dressy.

Best for: budget-conscious and travel shoppers who want washable, throw-in-a-bag shoes.

11. Thousand Fell

Thousand Fell is built around what happens when the shoes wear out. Its minimalist white sneakers use bio-leather made from corn waste and a recycled-rubber outsole, and they're fully recyclable through a closed-loop trade-in that gives you 20% off your next pair when you send the old ones back. If end-of-life waste is the part of "sustainable" you care about most, this is the one.

Best for: shoppers who want a recyclable, low-waste minimalist sneaker.

12. Native Shoes

Native Shoes makes lightweight EVA slip-ons, most famously the Jefferson, that you can rinse clean under a tap. Some styles use recycled content, and the brand runs a Remix take-back program for worn pairs. These are the most casual pick on the list and the easiest to hose off, which makes them a favorite for travel and for households buying for kids and adults at once.

Best for: travel and anyone who wants a waterproof, wipe-clean shoe.

How to choose a shoe like Rothy's

Start with the shape you actually want. If you're after the near-identical washable knit ballet flat, go with Vivaia first, then Giesswein if you want water-resistance or Allbirds if you want the softest knit. If your real gripe with Rothy's is comfort, Birdies and its 7-layer footbed solve that fastest.

Want a sneaker instead of a flat? Cariuma and Veja are the everyday-style picks, Thousand Fell is the one to recycle at the end, and SUAVS is the washable budget try. For dressier or animal-free needs, VEERAH does vegan dress flats and Nisolo does ethical leather. On a budget, Everlane, SUAVS, and Native are the friendliest.

If you're rebuilding a whole closet around this kind of brand, these shoes pair naturally with our best sustainable clothing brands, and for warm-weather trips you can round out the packing list with our best swimwear brands.

Frequently asked questions

What brand is most similar to Rothy's?

Vivaia is the closest match. It uses the same idea, a 3D-knit ballet flat woven from recycled plastic bottles that you can machine-wash, and owners tend to find it a little softer and cheaper than Rothy's.

Are there cheaper alternatives to Rothy's that are still washable?

Yes. SUAVS and Vivaia both make machine-washable knit shoes that usually cost less than Rothy's flats, and Native slip-ons rinse clean for even less.

What are Rothy's-style shoes made from?

Rothy's and the closest dupes (Vivaia, SUAVS) knit their uppers from recycled plastic water bottles. Others on this list use recycled ocean plastic (Giesswein), apple-peel leather (VEERAH), or ethically sourced leather (Nisolo, Everlane).

Which is more comfortable, Vivaia or Rothy's?

Most side-by-side reviews give comfort to Vivaia, thanks to a more cushioned insole and extra heel padding. Fit is personal, though, and some people prefer the firmer Rothy's feel.

Are there vegan alternatives to Rothy's?

VEERAH (apple-peel leather), Vivaia and SUAVS (recycled-plastic knit), and Thousand Fell (corn-based bio-leather) are all vegan. Check individual styles, since materials can vary within a brand.

Do sustainable flats have good arch support?

It varies. Birdies is built around a 7-layer cushioned footbed, and Vivaia adds heel padding, so both are stronger on support than a basic knit flat. If support is critical, look for a removable or cushioned insole in the product details.