Shoe company works to make better TOMorrows

By Joanne Santomauro

TOMS shoes stands apart from other shoe companies with its simple premise: for every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. This idea, now called "One for One," is making a difference.

American entrepreneur, Blake Mycoskie, founded TOMS in 2006. He thought of the idea while vacationing in Argentina in January of that year. In a Vogue interview, Mycoskie said, "I was sitting on a farm pondering life, and it occurred to me, 'I'm going to start a shoe company, and for every pair that I sell, I'll give a pair to someone who needs them.' I said, 'They'll be shoes for tomorrow; I'll call them Toms.'"

Mycoskie insists that credit belongs to polo as the main influence behind TOMS. He traveled to Argentina in hopes of improving his polo skills and was inspired by the alpargata, a farmers' shoe commonly worn by polo players. On his blog Mycoskie wrote, "While my polo skills improved somewhat, I left Argentina with a vision that would change my life forever and one that I hope will inspire others too."

With numerous problems in developing countries, why did Mycoskie choose shoes?

"I did not choose shoes; they chose me," he said. "I have learned a lot about their importance in world health and the life changing vehicle they can be to people who are at risk for foot diseases such as hookworm or podoconiosis."

Shoes can protect wearers from deadly foot diseases by providing safe steps to places like fresh water and school.

"I plan on spending my life preventing these diseases so that these beautiful people can live the full life we each deserve," Mycoskie said.

His vision of One for One is now a worldwide movement. Friends of TOMS Shoes and various other charitable organizations help distribute shoes to children through "Shoe Drop Tours" in places like Argentina, Ethiopia and South Africa. TOMS also donates shoes to children in the United States.

In light of the recent earthquake in Haiti, TOMS is taking action. From Jan. 13-15, for every purchase of a One for One item TOMS donated $5 to Partner's in Health, an organization dedicated to providing quality health care and education to the poor, especially in Haiti. Additionally, by February, TOMS will have given 30,000 pairs of shoes to children in Haiti, with more on the way. TOMS has been giving shoes to the people of Haiti through Partners in Health since 2009. In early 2009, TOMS launched their second "Vagabond Tour," a nationwide tour of high school and college campuses, where TOMS "Vagabonds" spread information about the movement. The Dave Matthews Band sponsored the tour; their new album served as the official soundtrack. At the tour launch, one Vagabond said, "I would never have imagined in those days, that after the first Vagabond tour we would be approached by an organization like the Dave Matthews Band, a band that I know myself and probably a lot of you guys are excited about, that represent goodness and positivity and a better future to a lot of us...particularly with their new music, they're working on the same ideas that we're working on."

Their classic shoes are canvas slip-ons, with a soft leather insole and durable rubber outsole. Other styles include fleece-lined, plaid, paint-splattered and newly released lace-ups. For women, TOMS sells wrap boots -- vegan-friendly elastic boots that are 100% cotton canvas. Along with shoes, TOMS sells t-shirts, hoodies, jewelry and decals, all of which are part of the One for One movement. These comfy canvas slip-ons can be spotted all over Santa Clara as well.

"I bought them (because) I wanted to help the children out," freshman Marielle Groh said. "Plus, they are probably the most comfortable shoes ever. I didn't get any sort of blister after wearing them the first few times."

Avid wearer freshman Kanishk Desai advocates the company and its vision.

"What I thought was really interesting was that TOMS is not a non-profit: they are a for-profit company with a humanitarian mission and a demonstrated conscious in the sense that they use their success to give back to the community -- men for others if you will," he said.

Desai was most impressed with the company's success.

"I think that the fact that TOMS can crank out such 'in' shoes, post such good profits in a down economy and continue to hire people just as many other companies are downsizing shows that we as consumers do have a conscience," Desid said. "(It also shows that) companies (that) give some of what they make back to those in need are going to be even more prevalent in the future."

Mycoskie comments on the recent TOMS fashion trend, "Every time I go back to Argentina, my friends down there and I get a good laugh when I show them the pictures of our humble shoe on celebrities on the red carpet, runways of fashion shows and being 'guest designed' by the great Ralph Lauren...besides laughing at the irony of it, all my Argentine partners get a deep feeling of pride knowing that it is their shoe that is helping put hundreds of thousands of shoes on children's feet."

TOMS products can be bought online at http://www.tomsshoes.com or at stores such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Contact Joanne Santomauro at jsantomauro@scu.edu or (408) 554-1918.