Toms Movement

Apart from the fact that I really like Toms shoes, I believe they have similar/ really cool philosophies that would look amazing along side my collection. 

This is the toms story:

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Why Shoes?

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.

I believe that in order for zero waste to work it would have to have a mantra like toms and a deeper STORY. This encourages people to have more of a connection with items of clothing which prolongs the wearing time reducing mass consumption etc.

Their website is really positive and engages with the customer in a big way encouraging you to get involved. Alain needs to have this open relationship between consumer and retailer.