The Do-Gooder Legacy of Toms Shoes

You’ve probably seen Toms’ signature canvas slip-on walking the streets of your city. Maybe you even already know that every time Toms sells a pair of shoes, a child in need gets a pair, too. But there’s more to the story — a philanthropic journey that starts with service and ends with cute shoes.

Learn more about the history behind the Toms brand and do some good of your own.

An Amazing Story

When Blake Mycoskie first visited Argentina in 2002, he was competing with his sister in the televised contest The Amazing Race. While there, he noticed that locals wore a canvas shoe called an alpargata while playing soccer in the streets, and was inspired to start wearing them himself. On a later trip to Argentina, Mycoskie took note of how many children were running in the streets without shoes, and decided to produce an alpargata shoe for the American market—with one caveat.

Wild Success

Mycoskie’s condition upon starting the company was that for every pair of shoes purchased, a child in need would get a new pair of shoes free of charge. Though this seemed like an overtly altruistic business model, it didn’t stop Toms from exploding practically overnight, with 10,000 pairs sold within the first six months. Since their introduction in 2006, Toms has expanded their range of products to include eyewear, bags and even coffee—the sales of each of which benefit a different global cause.

Expanding Range

Toms’ shoe catalogue once only included  their signature alpargatas, but today’s Toms show a range of styles never seen before. In addition to offering specialty finishes on the classic slip-on like lace, print and chambray, Toms now also makes boots, sandals and high heels. The one-for-one business model still stands, but now the options on how to do good are better than ever.

Rack up some good karma by purchasing a pair of Toms Shoes that give as good as they get.

Toms shoes have a philanthropic legacy that makes them feel good both on your feet and in your heart.