TOMS Shoes: A Different Kind of Two For One Deal
Inspired by countless shoeless children he saw when he visited Argentina, former Amazing Race contestant Blake Mycoskie created TOMS Shoes,basing the style on the traditional light-weightArgentinean shoe called alpargatas. For every pair of TOMS sold, a pairis donated to a child in need. The shoes are personally fitted onchildren in trips the company refers to as shoe drops. In 2006, 10,000pairs were delivered to Argentine children; in 2007, 50,000 were givento South African children. This year, the company expects to donate200,000 pairs. Additionally, the Hanson brothers, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac,walked a mile with fans before each of their shows as part of their"The Walk" tour, even encouraging all to walk without shoes toexperience what it is like to live without shoes. In 2007, the companywon the People’s Design Award, sponsored by Target at the annualNational Design Awards Gala in New York City.
The shoes come in kids’ sizes 2-10 (birth – 4 years), women’s 5-11,and men’s 7-14, and range in price from $34-58, depending on size andmaterial.
To bad I need a weekend trip to London to buy the shoes, because they look dead comfortable and I really lika the cause.
