For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS Shoes donates a pair of shoes to people living in poverty.
That's a sole with soul.
Isn't that amazing?
Speaking of amazing, TOMS Shoes is a company owned by Blake Mycoskie, a former contestant on The Amazing Race and with an amazing social conscience.
A few years ago, Blake flew to Buenos Aires to perfect his polo and learn a little Spanish.
But The Amazing Race contestant didn't know that he also would end up recreating the alpargata with his polo instructor.
The alpargata -- the canvas shoe that is to Argentine as the saddle shoe is to America -- is the nucleus of TOMS Shoes.
After seeing poor children without shoes in Argentina, Mycoskie made a huge commitment: "The idea is for every pair you sell, one pair goes to a child who doesn't have shoes. It would be providing shoes for tomorrow."
TOMS SHOE HISTORY:
- During the first year in business, TOMS sold 10,000 pairs of shoes.
- Blake returned to Argentina to lead his first Shoe Drop during which he gave to the children who had inspired him.
- In November 2007, TOMS had its second Shoe Drop, placing 50,000 pairs of shoes on children in South Africa.
- In the fall of 2008, TOMS had its first Shoe Drop in the United States, giving shoes in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida.
We received our TOMS shoes last week and are in love with both TOMS and BLAKE. The best description of the shoe was provided by Blake: "You take the best of the Havaiana and the espadrille, put them together and that is what TOMS is."
TOMS are the perfect summer companion -- a complement to the laid-back style of the season with maximum comfort.
When we put on our TOMS, it made us step a little higher knowing that a child in need was getting a pair, too. This conscience-raising shoe paints us a picture every time we slip into the canvas. The inscription inside the shoe reads "For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair to a child in need."
TOMS Shoes are available in multiple colors and fabric combinations for men and women and include a line of shoes for toddlers called Tiny TOMS.
The collection is available online at tomsshoes.comand at specialty stores and retailers across the United States including Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Whole Foods Market and Urban Outfitters.
For all our sweepers, you can enter for a chance to win your very own pair of TOMS Shoes and Blake will donate a pair on your behalf to a child in need. That's sweeping with a conscience.
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