TOMS Shoes – The One for One Movement
Since its beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa through the purchases of our caring customers. In 2008 TOMS plans to give 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.
TOMS Shoes is a company started by a man with an epiphany. Blake Mycoskie, third place winner of The Amazing Race II in 2002, returned to Argentina in early 2006, where he was struck by the number of children who could not afford shoes. That’s when he decided to redesign alpargatas, the traditional shoe worn by locals. He also decided that for ever pair sold, he would give a pair to a child in need.
TOMS includes lines for men, women, and children (adorably named “Tiny TOMS”), and they have recently debuted Vegan TOMS, made of recycled plastic bottles and hemp. Don’t look for those on the website, though, they are sold exclusively through Whole Foods stores. TOMS also sells a few other items besides shoes, including a couple of t-shirts, hats, and a FEED Project Bag. The same goes for the shirts and hats as the shoes: one pair of shoes will be given to a child in need for every purchase. The FEED Bag, however, is a little different:
The FEED bag is designed to raise awareness and funds for hungry children and to help them get into school and out of hunger. Each FEED bag sold will provide a school year of meals for one child in need and give them the hope of an education and a regular meal. Whether you tote your FEED bag to school, work, play, or shop, remember that your bag helped to FEED and educate one child for one school year.
TOMS Vegan line, click for larger size
And since my birthday is next Friday (October 3rd), my favorite TOMS are Olive Patch TOMS and Navy/Plaid Patch Woven TOMS, and the FEED bag is awesome, too. *hint hint, wink wink* ;) A girl has to try!
