As you may all know, four days ago was the fifth of May, also known as Cinco de Mayo. However, not only did this day mark the date when the Mexicans army over threw the French in The Battle of Puebla, on May 5th, in 1862, it also marks the date of a popular organization's fourth birthday.
Starting four years ago, Blake Mycoskie founded the organization TOMS. In 2002, Mycoskie and his sister teamed up to compete on a CBS show, The Amazing Race, and although the pair didn't win, the travels they experienced during the show later on led Mycoskie back to one of the show's destinations (Argentina) in 2006. While there, Mycoskie had a first-hand experience of the hard-many children face every day in rural, developing countries. Many children had no shoes. Because of this, those children suffered brutal injuries to their feet, which later led to infections, and in some cases amputations. Mycoskie decided that a sustainable way to help these children would be to start a business. Thus, TOMS was created in Santa Monica, California. TOMS is short for a, "better tomorrow," which is exactly Mycoskie is giving children all around the world through TOMS.
Blake Mycoskie
The concept is quite simple. TOMS sells shoes, but they do not retain all the profits. Customers buy a pair of shoes from them, and TOMS then uses the extra profit to give away a pair of shoes to a child in need. Based on the alpargata style of shoes worn in Argentina, TOMS now sells shoes for all ages. They even carry lace up shoes (cardones), and wrap boots, but there most popularly sold style are their classic slip-ons.
A few styles from the TOMS women's selection.
All in all, it's for a good cause and, personally, I feel the prices are reasonable. TOMS prices range from about $50 - $60 on average, and hey, that also covers the cost for another pair of shoes that costumers will be donating from their purchase. It's about the same price of a pair of Vans, or Converse, so why not buy a pair of TOMS instead and put money towards a good cause? Many people on the site give reviews stating that shoes they have purchased from the organization are the most comfortable pair they have ever worn. I myself am a sucker for comfy shoes. In addition, they're oh so stylish. The media itself has been a large contributor to spreading the word about TOMS. Many magazines such as Teen Vogue have often featured TOMS in an issue, and have had many contests involving the shoes. TOMS are very customizable and many people often buy plain white slip-on TOMS, and decorate the shoes by themselves by using fabric paints, markers, and such.
I myself have been considering purchasing a pair of TOMS, and I believe I will next time I need a new pair of shoes, and have a sufficiant amount of cash. I was browsing through their selection of shoes the other day and I found these classic slip-ons hand painted by Tyler Ramsey. For those who do not know, Tyler Ramsey is an artist primarily known for painting portraits, and objects only with his hands, or straight from the tube of paint. It's been said he's never touched a paint brush, and over all, I found the shoes he painted quite artistic.
Classic slip-ons hand painted by Tyler Ramsey. I must say they are pretty attractive. :)
In addition, other artists have designed shoes in the TOMS' long line of shoe collections. If you'd like to learn more about TOMS, or even purchase a pair of shoes from them, please visit their website at: http://www.toms.com/. Please feel free to spread TOMS "one for one" cause.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog,
:Julia.
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