TOMS - One for One Movement

TOMS is an ethical, eco, sustainable company that makes shoes for men, women and children out of organic cotton, hemp, recycled bottles and recycled rubber. But there's allot more to TOMS than simply being another eco friendly company that makes sustainable products.  

Many of us take for granted that we can buy the essential things we need; like shoes. But for some children around the world, shoes are a luxury they cant afford, so they go without.

This is what TOMS has to say about this issue:

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

- TOMS Shoes

This information from TOMS is very informative; But what are we going to do about it? Further more; What is TOMS going to do about this problem? 

Is TOMS going to give these children Free Shoes?

Yes! With every pair of Shoes you buy, TOMS will give a child in need a Free pair of shoes. Talk about inspiring, I watched this video regarding "TOMS - One for One Movement"" and it got me; Right in the Heart.

Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS shoes in 2006 out of the desire to help remedy this situation, and he is succeeding. He is succeeding because he made a conscious choice to make sustainably made products people need, for a cause that put's people before profit! Wouldn't it be great if other companies followed Mr. Mycoskie's business model. Even if a small fraction of other companies did this, the world would be a much better place.

I would go as far to say; Blake Mycoskie deserves a Nobel Prize.

Why? Because he found a way to build an ethical, sustainable, profitable company that helps people; help others, simply by buying a pair of shoes for themselves.

"One for One", that's a noble concept I'm sure will catch on like wildfire.


(Photo provided by: Toms Shoes)