Although going barefoot is the easiest way for a vegetarian to deal with the problem of footwear, it is an impractical solution for those who are faced with harsh weather conditions. There are many nonleather, natural, and synthetic man-made material sandals, boots, and shoes. For the person who needs foot protection, there is a company that has designed a boot that costs one-half its leather counterpart with twice the durability. The footwear needs of an individual who works in a contemporary business or office setting can be met by a canvas and rubber shoe that performs excellently and looks good at one-sixth the cost of its leather counterpart. A more widely available shoe for less formal purposes is the open weave, mesh top shoe, which comes in three colors and is practical in terms of wearability, style, and cost. Sandals are internationally popular, simple, inexpensive, and cool in hot climates. There are many varieties of sandal, from synthetic rope soles and straps, tire-tread soled sandals, Japanese wooden sandals, which are relatively easy to make, to the form-fitting wooden sandals of India which are more difficult to construct. Also in vegetarian India there are water buffalo hide sandals, the leather for which is obtained from animals that died naturally because of age or disease. Other popular styles are plastic Chinese sandals, thongs, and garden togs. The Mongolian felt footwear is warm and practical if worn indoors or inside other shoes meant to be worn outdoors. (AEM)