The well-known company Tom's Shoes has launched a summer nautical line for men, that expands their clientele as well keeping this trendy label in fashion. Popular among the celebrities, Tom's Shoes strives to accomplish their mission of giving a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold. The company has also been successful in using natural materials and sustainable manufacturing methods.
Inspired by barefoot Argentinian children, Blake Mycoski sought to create a program to give children shoes, not once, but over and over again. Shoes may seem like a minor amenity, but in many cultures children must have the proper uniform in order to attend school, which includes shoes. Shoes are also a very important factor promoting major health concerns.
TOM stands for "Tomorrow" and Mycoski believes these are the shoes for tomorrow. The idea is that if you buy a pair of shoes today, a pair of shoe will be given away tomorrow.
The design was inspired by traditional Argentinian farmer's shoes that have been around for hundreds of years. Using the shoes practicality and adapting it to modenr fashion, Toms shoes is a quick drying material that weigh less than the popular Havanas flip flop while availabel in a variety fo colors and designs.
15 volunteers every week are taken to differetn dorp sites incliding Africa, South America and even the United States, to help distribute and give children shoes. But Mycoski notes that this company is not only about the children in need, but also about the volunteers that get an experience of giving somewhere else in the world. Mycoski hopes that the volunteers on Toms drops will help inspire the concept of giving so more people can benefit for this ideology.
Toms shoes has gone from 9 employees last year to 42 full time employees this year. But Mycoski says that the young fast-growing company is still struggling on the business side. He explains that most companies that sell in high retail stores like Nordstrom are hundred million compnaies and this small company just does not have the business background that most companies such as Nike or Tori Burch have, yet they are selling in the same retail stores and hope to grow even more.
