So I bought VIVAIA shoes because they’re everywhere on Instagram and everyone is obsessed with them and I was like okay let me actually try these and see if they’re as good as everyone says.
For context, VIVAIA is this brand that makes eco-friendly shoes. They started with these flat shoes and now they have sneakers, loafers, sandals, various styles. They’re marketed as sustainable and comfortable which sounds great in theory.
The brand itself is like a newer brand. Started maybe 5-6 years ago? They’re Chinese but they’re sold internationally and they have pretty solid online presence. The whole vibe is eco-friendly materials, sustainable production, comfortable shoes. That’s their thing.
They sell flats, sneakers, loafers, sandals, boots. Pretty standard footwear range. Nothing too wild. Just regular shoes in different styles.
The popular styles are their flat shoes (they call them ballet flats or something) and their sneakers. Like those are what everyone buys. The flats come in neutral colors mostly. Black, white, beige, navy. The sneakers are similar – pretty basic colorways.
Okay so let me actually talk about the sizing because this is where I had issues.
Their sizing is normal EU sizing which is fine. But the fit is weird. Like the shoe itself runs small. Not like a half size small. More like a full size small. I wear size 39 in most European brands. VIVAIA I had to get a 41. Which is annoying because it means ordering multiple sizes and returning stuff.
Also the width is narrow. If you have wide feet this brand won’t work for you. The shoes are just narrow. That’s not a sizing issue that’s a design issue.
I got their flat shoes first. They look so cute in photos. Minimalist design. Clean lines. Very Instagram aesthetic.
In person they’re nice looking. The material feels decent. It’s this recycled material they use which is fine. Doesn’t feel cheap.
For comfort though… they’re okay? Not amazing. Not bad. Just okay.
The insole has minimal cushioning. There’s like… a small arch support bump but it’s not substantial. For sitting around your apartment they’re fine. For actual all-day wear they’re not great.
I wore them to work for a day and by 4pm my feet were sore. Not painful but uncomfortable. The arch support just isn’t there.
The break-in period is real though. Like the first few wears they feel stiff. After like a week of wearing them they loosen up a bit and become more comfortable. But even after breaking in they’re not like… super supportive. They’re just flat shoes with minimal cushioning.
Quality wise the shoes seem well made. The stitching is good. The materials are decent. They don’t feel cheap. But also they’re not like… luxury quality. They’re normal quality shoes.
Price wise VIVAIA is mid-range. Their flats are like €70-90. Their sneakers are like €80-110. So not cheap but not expensive either. Similar price to brands like COS or Everlane.
That’s where I have an issue though. For the price and the comfort level, there are better options. Like you can get more comfortable shoes at similar price points from other brands.
They have free shipping to most countries which is nice. And their return policy is okay. Like 30 days to return I think? Standard stuff.
Customer feedback online is mixed. A lot of people love them because they’re eco-friendly and cute. But a lot of people complain about sizing and comfort. The reviews aren’t like universally positive which is honest at least.
The pros are: they look cute, they’re sustainable/eco-friendly, they’re mid-range price, quality seems solid, good brand values if you care about that.
The cons are: minimal arch support, runs small (have to size up), narrow width doesn’t work for everyone, not actually that comfortable for all-day wear, break-in period is annoying, honestly there are more comfortable options at same price.
Who should buy: if you like the aesthetic and you want sustainable shoes and you don’t walk much, sure. If you work in an office and mostly sit, they’re fine for that. If you want cute minimalist shoes for casual wear, they work.
Who should skip: if you have wide feet skip them. If you need arch support skip them. If you walk a lot skip them. If you want actually comfortable shoes for all-day wear, look elsewhere. If you’re price-sensitive there are better values.
Here’s my honest take: VIVAIA shoes are fine. They’re cute. They’re sustainable which is cool. But they’re not as comfortable as the hype suggests. They’re flat shoes with minimal cushioning. That’s what you get.
For all-day wear I’d recommend something with more support. For casual wear where you’re not moving much they’re fine.
The sizing issue is annoying. Having to order multiple sizes because they run small is frustrating. And the narrow width means they won’t work for a lot of people’s feet.
Would I buy them again? Probably not. They’re fine but there are better options. I’d rather spend the money on something more comfortable.
Are they worth it? If you really care about aesthetics and sustainability, maybe. But if you prioritize comfort, look elsewhere.
