Every year a new fall trend emerges: UGG boots, pea coats, skirts with leggings, plaid jackets. And I must admit, every year I give in to all of them. All it takes is for a couple of celebrities to throw on a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses and they’re all over the place.
But here is a crazy idea: what if we started a trend. Not just a trend that looks good but one that makes a difference. TOMS Shoes is a company that sells stylish canvas flat shoes for men, women, children and toddlers. But here’s the best part: with every pair you buy, a pair is given to a child in need around the world.
The business started in 2006 when founder, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found that they had no shoes to protect their feet. In most developing countries, walking is often the primary mode of transportation; people have to walk miles for food, water, shelter and medical attention. Having shoes enables them to walk distances they couldn’t walk without shoes. Shoes also prevent them from getting cuts and injuries on unsafe roads contaminated with parasites. Parasites penetrate the skin through open sores and can even lead to amputation.
Sometimes children can’t even attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. Therefore, “no shoes” prevents education, and no school prevents them from realizing their true potential.
After his trip to Argentina, Mycoskie decided to start TOMS Shoes and later that year returned to Argentina with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS’ customers. His business has encouraged consumers to purchase and give more than 500,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need all around the world.
I would rather buy a pair of $60 canvas shoes that provide a pair for a child in need than a $100 pair of UGG boots.
They don’t only sell shoes, TOMS has T-shirts, hoodies and hats you can buy that provide a pair of shoes for a child in need. Other “trend setter” companies, such as Ralph Lauren, now sell co-branded Polo Rugby TOMS, giving a matched shirt with every pair sold. Element Skateboards has issued limited edition TOMS+Element shoes as well as a One for One skateboard. With every skateboard sold, one will be given to a child at the Indigo Skate Camp in Durba, South Africa.
The best part yet is that Blake Mycoskie will be at Stewart Theatre this Monday at 2:30 p.m. Let’s make this the start of our new fall trend: making a difference.
From gold glitter to red canvas shoes, TOMS has is all, even boots. There is a pair out there for every style. With every pair out there, there is a child in need waiting for them.
At Blake Mycoskie’s speech on Monday, let’s launch our new fall trend. Go to www.tomsshoes.com and find the pair for you. You can even have a “Style Your Sole” party with your friends, sorority or club where you order white or black canvas shoes and decorate them. Let’s make fall fashion different this year and channel our love for shoes into making a better tomorrow.
