One for One
How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet?
If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably have a pair to go with your favorite jeans or dress, along with a range of comfy shoes, sexy shoes, working shoes, walking shoes…you name it. I’d bet you have several pairs that you can choose from to fit your mood.
What about your kids? Do they have shoes for every occasion?
Soccer cleats, football cleats, dance shoes, tennis shoes, sandals, winter boots, slippers…the list goes on and on – but all of them are essential!
What if you could not provide shoes for your children? Would they be able to go to school?
I was recently made aware of an amazing company called Toms Shoes. You may have heard of them or seen their ads on TV, but the TV ads don’t really do justice to the impact that going without shoes has on kids around the world, and how Blake Mycoskie is out to change the lives of children, one pair of shoes at a time.
Toms Shoes was founded by Blake Mycoskie in 2006. His idea for Toms Shoes came about when he was in Argentina learning how to play polo, which he himself has been quoted as calling, ”The least noble cause in the world for me to go to Argentina, which goes to show you never know what is going to happen in your life.’
While on that trip, Blake observed the polo players slipping out of their boots into shoes called Alpargatas. The Alpargata are traditional Argentine shoes that have been worn by the Argentines for hundreds of years. That shoe was the basis for the Toms Shoe design.
Blake had zero experience in fashion or shoes, to which he says, “I think sometimes when you don’t have experience, you don’t know the rules; you don’t know which ones you are breaking and you end up creating true innovation.”
The name Toms Shoes actually started out as Tomorrows Shoes. It was shortened because Tomorrows Shoes was too long for the logo tags found on the side of the shoes.
The best part is – Blake was determined to donate a new pair of shoes for every pair purchased. One for One. How amazing is that! Read more
