If you spend hours digging around niche corners of the internet for alternative vegan fashion inspiration like I do, chances are the brand Koi Footwear has popped up on your radar. With their creepy-cute shoe styles and commitment to ethical production, this UK-based label has attracted quite the cult following in recent years.
But are their quirky, colorful designs all style over substance? After wearing multiple pairs from Koi for over 3 years, I’m breaking down everything you need to know in this brutally honest review.
Quick Brand Overview
Founded in 2016 by chief executive Uzair A., Koi Footwear aims to empower creative self-expression through animal-friendly materials and eye-catching details. The brand ethos embraces originality and aims to evoke emotion through each shoe.
With headquarters based in Bacup, England, all Koi shoes are made with 100% vegan leather, rubber, textiles or plastics. The company claims to follow strict ethical labor codes as a certified member of Sedex and Abtf. While shoes are manufactured in China, Koi asserts fair wages and safe conditions for all workers according to BSCI standards.
In terms of sustainability efforts, Koi utilizes recycled materials when possible and 100% recyclable packaging to reduce waste. They‘ve also launched artistic collaborations over the years spotlighting various causes.
Now that I’ve laid the groundwork, let’s dig into the satisfying clunk of a chunky Koi platform.
Signature Koi Aesthetic: Glam Goth Charm
Over 4+ years, Koi has honed a very distinctive design aesthetic characterized by what I’d dub “glam goth” and “fairy punk whimsy."
You’ll spot daring color pairings like pastel blue and neon green alongside mix-and-match materials marrying leather, holographic vinyl, and bold floral prints. Edgy hardware like spikes and safety pins make frequent appearances too.
Yet surprisingly, many styles also exude an innocent charm thanks to smiling animal faces, glittering stars and butterfly appliques. It‘s like Tim Burton and Lisa Frank came together to design shoes for Wednesday Addams.
In my experience, Koi footwear works best for making playful fashion statements versus blending into the mainstream crowd. Their shoes command attention rather than shrink away from it.
Reviewing Some Long-Term Favorites
Over the past few years, I’ve amassed quite the collection of beloved Koi shoes I almost consider friends at this point. Here I spotlight my thoughts on a few styles after heavy wear:
Lolita Ruffle Velvet Ankle Boots – These baby pink booties topped with ebony bows and pastel flowers capture the Koi aesthetic perfectly. The thick 2.5 inch sole feels sturdy yet shock-absorbently cushy even after miles of walking downtown. They‘ve also held up impressively well through three winters and still look freshly new. $79
Dolly-100 Black Vegan Leather Platform Boots – No shrinking violet, these towering boots let me rise a staggering 5.3 inches taller! I‘ll admit the extreme sole and generous spacing took some adjusting initially. But now I can sprint down the street just fine. Surprisingly lightweight thanks to the perforated material and moulded footbed. The PVC lace panel and silver buckles still gleam beautifully too. $124
Tira Rogue Raccoon Mary Janes – Whimsical and playful, I instantly fell for the woodland creature theme with the furry faux suede upper and ringed tail wrapped cutely around the block heel. The adjustable double straps prevent feet from sliding around and media outlets have even featured them as a customer favorite. Holding up impressively well too aside from minor heel scuffing. $67
Sai Spike Black Mary Janes – I‘ll be honest: wearing shoes with threatening silver spikes protruding over my toes took some confidence to pull off! But once I got past feeling like an extra in The Craft, I adore the bold goth-punk edge they lend any outfit. Surprisingly comfy for all-day wear aside from the slight break-in period and height adjustment to the chunky sole. The spikes show zero dullness or tarnish too. $63
The Emily Studded Backpack – Along with shoes, I rely on my Emily backpack to elevate my style while carrying daily essentials. The slick vegan leather feels luxuriously smooth and the PVC compartment makes an ultra-functional wipeable liner to prevent staining. Despite heavy use lugging around books, the silver studs still maintain their shine and hard edges with no visible wear. Roomy enough for my laptop too! $94
The Price Breakdown: Affordable With Some Markdowns
Competitively, Koi shoes retail at the lower end of the market mostly thanks to the vegan materials driving costs down compared to pricier leathers. Based on the pairs in my closet, here’s a pricing overview:
- Women’s Shoes – Range between $50 – $150 with most under $100
- Men’s Shoes – Range between $60 – $90
- Bags/Accessories – Typically around $60 – $100
- Sale/Discounted – Some pairs discounted up to 75% off (~$20 – $30)
I primarily buy directly from the Koi website to take advantage of any available sales, gift card promotions or seasonal coupon codes. Compared to big box retailers, you‘ll almost always score a better deal shopping directly through the brand.
Sign up for their email list too – I‘ve saved 10-15% multiple times from subscriber-exclusive discounts they send out.
How Koi Shoes Fit: Comfy With Some Adjustments
Finding the perfect fit matters just as much as the aesthetic. Here’s the tea on how most Koi shoes fit based on my experience:
I typically wear a size 7.5 US women‘s shoe. However, I size DOWN to a 7 when buying Koi because most pairs run slightly big. Their chunky platforms and thicker rubber soles seem designed to accommodate medium-to-wide feet best.
For comfort, Koi shoes lean extremely forgiving once broken in thanks to the thick cushiony soles. The textiles and synthetic vegan leathers feel smooth and flexible against skin as well. Those with sensitive feet prone to blisters may want to wear tall socks initially until materials soften up though.
In terms of support, a few ultra-tall platform styles took some adjusting to walk normally in at first before I adapted my balance and gait. The pronunced arch indentations in bottoms provide helpful ergonomic structure too.
While not the MOST comfortable line for all-day wear compared to athletic brands per se, Koi holds its own surprisingly well for fashion-forward footwear. Just expect some acclimation to the bouncy elevation and avant-garde shapes.
Quality and Wear Over Time
Investing in well-made shoes means expecting them to endure years of wear without falling apart before their time. Here’s how multiple pairs from Koi Footwear have held up in rotation:
Starting with materials, the vegan leather maintains a supple, grainy texture without noticeable fading or cracks thus far. I condition occasionally with a gentle wax to nourish the fibers over time.
However, the occasional loose thread and weaker glue points sometimes allow embellishments like bows to detach after repeated wears. Nothing irreparable, but worth noting.
In terms of structural integrity though, Koi’s chunky vulcanized rubber and EVA soles show impressive durability and shock absorption season after season. Aside from minor exterior heel scuffs, none have gone flat or developed cracks internally that I’ve felt.
For hardware and accents, spikes, buckles and other metal components maintain a bold shine with minimal dullness or tarnish too.
Considering I primarily walk miles daily in a harsh Midwestern climate averaging extreme heat, humidity, rain, snow and ice annually, most Koi shoes outlast a single season remarkably well. They may not last a full decade in pristine shape like what fine Italian leather can withstand. But given the affordable costs and ethical aims, Koi delivers satisfactory longevity that continues surprising me.
How Koi Compares to Competitor Brands
As a seasoned alternative shoe collector for over a decade now, I like to think I’ve developed a discerning eye for quality across brands. So how does Koi Footwear stack up to other labels playing in a similar vegan punk-rock space?
Compared to Demonias – The OG gothic shoemaker beloved for bringing platform boots dripping in studs and pentagrams to the masses, Demonias retail for about the same base prices as Koi. However, they run more narrow through the toebox in my opinion which causes cramping for wider feet. While Demonias relies predominantly on edgy goth themes, Koi pushes the style envelope further into more playful territories as well. For quality though, both achieve excellent durability mile after mile.
Compared to Dolls Kill – Another popular online destination for alt-leaning fashion, Dolls Kill stocks some Koi styles along with its in-house branded shoes. From the pairs I’ve tried over the years, Dolls Kill footwear relies excessively on paper-thin materials prone to faster deterioration compared to Koi’s sturdier construction. They also lack the carefully crafted details setting Koi’s design apart. However, Dolls Kill offers a wider range of trend-driven going-out looks if that’s your style priority.
Compared to Irregular Choice – A British footwear label with delightfully whimsical personality like Koi, Irregular Choice positions itself as more unabashedly cutesy and novelty driven by comparison. Known for outlandish Alice in Wonderland themes colored by pastels and animal motifs, they pamper your inner child‘s imagination. However, Irregular Choice’s offerings read much younger overall without the sophisticated gothic edge I prefer from Koi. And their designs incorporate more questionable materials like exotic leathers rather than animal-friendly synthetics.
So in summary, Koi Footwear holds up mighty impressively alongside competitors playing in the same niche space – while still retaining an innovative point of view entirely their own.
Pros and Cons of Koi Shoes
Over years of heavy rotation wearing Koi to death and back again, I definitely have some critiques. But luckily far more pros continue winning me over season after season as a diehard fan.
Here’s my candid list of pros and cons built from experience:
Koi Footwear Pros
- Unique avant-garde aesthetic not replicated elsewhere
- Affordable pricing compared to similar alternative brands
- Surprisingly well-made construction and longevity
- Cushiony comfortable once broken in
- Excellent customer service and support
- Buckles trends embracing veganism and ethical production
- Frequently new styles to discover
Koi Footwear Cons
- Limited sizing range
- Questionable ethics of Chinese manufacturing
- Break-in period required before optimal comfort
- Not designed to accommodate wide feet
- Difficult to find in stores to try on
- Cookie-cutter platforms lack innovation
- Rare quality control issues
As with any brand catering to a distinct audience though, Koi won’t impress every critic across the board. But for those enraptured by their dark fairy tale essence like me, the pros far eclipse a few fixable cons.
Koi Footwear Review: Final Verdict
If you haven’t already gleaned from my Koi super-fandom shining through this exhaustive review…I wholeheartedly stand by this brand delivering the alternative whimsy my fashion tastes crave without breaking the bank!
While the quality and comfort may not rival powerhouse names like Dr Martens or Vans, Koi outperforms most competitors playing in the vegan goth aesthetics niche. And their delightfully sinister personality continues winning me over among mainstream alternatives lacking excitement.
After accumulating half a closet stuffed with beloved Koi shoes over the past few years, I only find myself falling for their stylish spells more with each bewitching new release.
So if you identify with my self-professed flair for the darkly romantic and creativity-craving persona, I cannot recommend giving Koi’s ethically handcrafted shoes enough of a spin.
Just be sure to reference sizing info to find your perfect fit to enjoy for miles to come!
To browse Koi’s latest arrivals and step into your own beguiling pair, visit Koifootwear.com or their worldwide list of authorized retailers now.
Let me know in the comments if you end up falling under Koi’s uncanny shoes spell too! I’d love to enable another Koi convert into our coven of alternative shoe lovers. Just prepare for the compliments and questions asking where you discovered them!
