Living a gypset lifestyle opens your eyes to so many different “alternaitives” throughout the world. Wether it is through food, design or travel there is always an abundance of creativity that it presents itself when experiencing different enclaves and their cultures. That said, we have a great company here on US soil that demonstrates so much of what inspires an “alternative” way of doing business. TOMS is one of my fave socially conscious companies. I recently watched a video interview of TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie, and was inspired to share the story of this company that gives back. Mycoskie first had the idea to start TOMS back in 2006, when he was traveling in Argentina and encountered children who did not have shoes.
“I was so overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had so little, and I was instantly struck with the desire — the responsibility — to do more.”
He developed the idea of a One for One organization: for each pair of shoes purchased, one would be given to a child in need. Since the company’s inception, over 35 million pairs of shoes have been donated to children in over 60 countries! The One for One movement took off from there, and it has served as a business model for many other companies engaged in charitable giving.
In addition to shoes, TOMS has developed a one for one line of eyeglasses (over 250,000 people in 10 countries have had their vision restored) and a premium coffee line that provides clean water for people in developing countries. The coffee is sourced from Guatemala, Peru, Malawi, Rwanda, and Honduras.
For every bag of coffee sold, a week’s worth of water is donated to people in need in the producing countries. Blake Mycoskie shared the personal story behind his mission and business model in Start Something That Matters (A New York Times best seller), a book he published in 2011.
You can check out TOMS’ fabulous shoes for men, women, and kids HERE. To check out the vintage-inspired eyewear line, click HERE. On the TOMS website, you will also find a marketplace for goods from other socially conscious companies.
Aside from running his successful business and spin offs, he enjoys reading and traveling the world in his spare time. He once competed on the Amazing Race with his sister Paige (they finished in third place). Recently he was at the Byron Bay Surf Festival in Australia. TOMS will be a featured brand in the Tipi Pop Up Block. You may even catch a glimpse of his sister Paige’s Aviation Nation vintage-inspired surf lifestyle wear (she is a designer and co-founder).
TOMS founder on marrying business with charity
