TOMS Shoes - Buy One, Give One Away
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 11.14.06
When Blake Mycoskie went to visit Argentina he discovered the typical soft shoe called Alpargata (similar to the Spanish Espadrilles) but also that a lot of children don't have shoes which leads to major health issues. Blake saw an opportunity for a business idea that 'makes life more comfortable' and returned home with exactly that: TOMS Shoes was born.
It's simple: with each pair of TOMS you buy ($38), a pair of shoes is donated to a child in Argentina on your behalf. And what's also comfortable to know is that the shoes are produced in Argentina under strict 'no sweatshop' criterias, made from local materials such as canvas and leather. Women, men and 'tiny' shoes are available (online as well as in stores across the US) in all sorts of colours and patterns as well as a limited hand painted graffiti edition by Tyler Ramsen. For the full TOMS Shoe story check out Blake Mycoskie's video clip here. ::via Springwise ::TOMS Shoes
Wow
this is so cool
i am so happy someone is actually doing something abou thte poor kids in Africa because they matter too. And not only do you get awsome shoes but you let some other kid get a free pair too!!
THESE SHOES ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:]]]
Funny, I bought a pair of Toms and they read "INDUSTRIA CHINA"...I don't think I'll be buying another. Treehugger: maybe do a little more research before being so quick to praise these shoes.
Ha ha! oh, i think that it is so GREAT that someone in this world is big enough to take a chance and try and help the little unfortunate ones. I was in the BeeHive ( a awesome store in a town near me) and they had a special shelf for these shoes and it told about how when you buy a pair, someone unfortunate will get a pair! My Mother and I thought that it was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has done lately!
So i say, Go out and buy a pair, to help the little unfortunate ones that dont have things that we do.
Just think about it......
Oh yea! and they are really comfortable!!
I agree with Ben. TOMS are not organic and do not use ato dyes or ecoleather. They use the Argentine flag for a logo and borrowed the design from the alpargata but moved manufacturing to China.
They don't even talk about their "no sweatshop credo" anymore and I can't find details about how they make sure they're not using sweatshops. Its sort of paternalistic to go around giving away free shoes when there is no social responsibility behind it. Trade not Aid!
anyone know if/where I can buy tom's in vancouver?
(In response to the comment on the sweatshops)
On their FAQ page, Tom's explains that they do make their shoes in China and other countries, but they monitor the conditions to make sure it's fair wage labor.
Trade & aid maybe?