So how was the whole TOMS Shoes phenomena born? Over a year ago, Blake Mycoskie, an entrepreneur who lost on The Amazing Race, decided to get away from it all in Argentina. While he loved the beauty of the land, he was troubled by the overwhelming poverty he witnessed...specifically all of the children without shoes. That's when he had an epiphany: He was going to start a shoe company, and for every pair he sold, he was going to give a pair to a kid in need.

A few months later, he arrived in Los Angeles with 200 pairs of TOMS in four duffel bags. "Each pair had been handmade, inspected and deeply cared for by me and my Argentine friend, Alejo Nitti," Blake has said. Flash forward to the recent months—Blake has distributed over 10,000 shoes to indigent Argentine children, and his brand, which started off in smaller boutiques like Fred Segal, American Rag and Scoop, is taking orders from big name chains like Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Bloomingdales. So what does he make of all of this success?

"Originally, my goal was to sell those 200 pairs, but we've had a full page feature in Vogue. That's pretty surreal. We're a $38 dollar shoe and we're going to sell in Bergdorf Goodman this summer! It's because they recognize that there's something about wearing TOMS that makes people feel good. It's because it's so simple. You buy a pair, we distribute a pair. We literally put them on kids' feet. And we're taking volunteers now, if you want to check out our Web site and register to help out!"

His advice for future fashion savvy do-gooders? "Truly, there are no barriers. Create something that is different and desirable, and you can get in the door. You don't have to have experience; if you have an idea that's truly great, then the people you need will come to you. Good word travels fast in the fashion world!"

RANDOM TANGENT:
The design of TOMS shoes is inspired by a traditional Argentine shoe popular among polo players and their stylish girlfriends!

Similar Topics:Fashion, Line We Love, Shopping

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