.jpg)
Living Arts
Toms Puts its Best Foot Forward
by Vanessa Harris
If these shoes could talk, they would rather sing to the tune of comfort and unity. Thirty-two year-old Blake Mycoskie, the originator of Toms Shoes, fostered a social movement from the ground up. The company’s philosophy of “one for one” is simple yet progressive—for every pair of Toms purchased, another pair of shoes is donated to a child in need.
Touching the youth of Latin America and Africa, Toms is a worldwide sensation, padding the soles (and souls) of thousands. Over 50,000 needy recipients and contributing supporters are learning to live a more conscious lifestyle, one step at a time.
The journey began in 2006 when Mycoskie first visited Argentina. Upon witnessing villages that lacked infrastructure and clean water, Mycoskie confronted the many health issues that children face on a daily basis.
“I was so overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had so little,” Mycoskie says. “And I was instantly struck with the desire—the responsibility—to do more.”
He was affected by the health hazard of barefoot children, who walked miles a day for food and water. Drawing inspiration from Argentina’s traditional footwear, the alpargata, Mycoskie created a functional and affordable, yet funky and fashionable shoe. Toms’ products are subject to strict guidelines that ensure fair labor practices and minimal impact on the environment.
“I think that people not only connect with the message but really resonate with idea of tangible change,” says Andrew Simmerman, a Pepperdine graduate who volunteered for Toms at its inception. “You know exactly where your money is going.”
On their very first “Shoe Drop” in 2006, Toms sold 10,000 shoes and physically delivered an additional 10,000 pairs to Argentinean children. Toms has extended its efforts to other impoverished locations as 50,000 pairs of shoes were donated to African children in 2008.
This year, Mycoskie hopes to donate over 200,000 pairs worldwide, including a return to Sub-Saharan Africa. For its next Shoe Drop, Toms will concentrate on the impoverished region of Ethiopia. Currently, over one million Ethiopians suffer from podoconiosis, a soil-transmitted disease caused by barefoot interaction with silica-rich soil. Silica is an ancient volcanic glass that penetrates the skin, causing the legs to swell, burn and itch, even bringing about the development of ulcers and painful infections. However, podoconiosis is 100 percent preventable simply by wearing shoes.
Comfortable, durable, and increasingly trendy, Toms’ army of foot soldiers has rapidly multiplied. In addition to its humanitarian interest and environmental friendliness, the shoes are hip and stylish. With new patterns of slip-ons and wrap boots emerging each season, Toms is covering the feet of children and adults alike.
Toms can be found at leading department stores or online at www.tomsshoes.com.