Adore: One for One
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 10:53AM
How would you feel if you did not own ONE pair of shoes? Imagine that you had to walk around on bare earth vulnerable to cuts, infections, and diseases on a daily basis. What if your child could not attend school because you could not afford shoes? Unfortunately, this is how millions of children live all around the world.
Blake Mycoskie discovered this in 2006 when he traveled to Argentina. He was moved to make a difference and created TOMS Shoes. For every purchase of TOMS shoes he would give a pair to a child in need. One for One. Later that same year, he returned to Argentina with 10,000 shoes for children, made possible by his movement. 
Click the link to watch a short video. http://youtu.be/aKhV9kpGM-k
Seriously, how rad is this dude. Here is a great entrepreneur that wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, and working with the good in people created an awesome, stylish, comfy shoe. And I mean c-o-m-f-y! They are like slippers and now part of my uniform.
I have never even heard of TOMS when my friend Megan bought all three of my boys a pair for Christmas. They opened their gifts and I thought they were just a pair of cozy, hippie, type shoes. When she told me the meaning of them, I was blown away. They are now pretty trendy, which is actually awesome because it just means more shoes for kids. Recently, I bought a pair for my Mom for all of her help over the past months (who am I kidding, the past 30 years).
Here is the pair Megan got baby M.
I can't wait to get my hands on more pairs. Nordstroms carry some and you can order them online at toms.com or amazon. They come in all colors and patterns. They even make wedges, boots, wedding, children's, and vegan shoes. Many people get the white shoes and make it their own by painting or coloring them. I am currently loving the black TOMS with paint splattered. They also have a pair for Earth Day and Mother's Day.
If you have a minute, read this great interview by Jacob Gordon from TreeHugger with the founder of TOMS. He tells you how TOMS got its name.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/the-th-interview-toms-1.php