TOMS Blog

Meet the Paseos

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:35:47 -0400

It’s not every day you find an everyday shoe!

Guys: Meet the Paseos:

http://toms.sh/12hntMx (Can)

What’s so rocking about the Paseos?
+ Rubber cupsole: To pay homage to classic SoCal skate shoes.
+ Easy on, easy off: Three eyelets keep Paseos snug & uncomplicated.
+ Higher sidewall: So they always stay in shape.
+ Optional lacing: It can be a traditional lace-up or a casual slip-on, and the tongue always stays put.

Top 10 reasons you should come to the TOMS + Sun Diego Art of Giving Event:

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:56:00 -0400

10. Fresh brews from our friends at Stone Brewery!

9. Take a look at our new Paseos, our first guys only shoe.

8. Get some culture people. Check out amazing works of art on display for a silent auction. You can even bid on some if you’re feelin’ rich!

7. One of artists will be working on a mural all week, see the big reveal in person (and not just tagged on instagram at #TOMSartofgiving)

6. Dance your face off with our Aussie DJ. The one and only Cutsnake will be on the ones and twos for your listening pleasure.

5. Buy a pair of TOMS Shoes/TOMS Eyewear and one of our artists will style them however you’d like.

4. Fresh brews… for reals!

3. Nom noms: True Foods will make sure everyone has a bite to eat, awwwww yeaaaah.

2. It’s Memorial day weekend, what else do you have to do?

1. It’s for a great cause gosh darn it! Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the art program at the San Diego Youth Services

We could keep going but why don’t ya do yourself a favor and head over to Sun Diego and check it out for yourself. Event info here: http://toms.sh/166wqi1

…and take part in all the fun with the hashtag #TOMSartofgiving

The 50 winners of TOMS Ticket to Give

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:33:00 -0400

This year, thousands of inspiring people created entries to tell the world why they should win a spot on a TOMS Giving Trip. They reached out to their friends, their families, their communities, and beyond, and asked for support. The rest is history, and you helped write it.

You chose…

Citizens of South Korea, of the United States, of Canada, and of the United Kingdom.

Soon they will all be travelers; citizens of a One for One movement, giving shoes to children in need.

You chose…

Gentlemen and ladies who spend most days as social workers, students, restaurant managers, teachers, creative directors, nannies, journalists, sales people, band directors, fire fighters, CEOs, lifeguards, and baristas.

Soon they will all be volunteers and guests of a TOMS Giving Partner, seeing One for One in action..

You chose…

Conversationalists who engage in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Korean, German and French.

Soon they will communicate with the universal language of play, with which children everywhere can connect.

Today, we are beyond excited to extend a CONGRATULATIONS to 50 awesome and eager TOMS fans who are packing their bags and joining us on a Giving Trip this year.

With that comes a big THANK YOU to all those who entered, all those who voted for the entrant they felt should win, and all those helped spread the word.

Check out the winning entries now at http://toms.sh/10KTzi9 (US site); http://toms.sh/12ibDl1 (UK site); http://toms.sh/14yYC8v (Canada site)

And return to the blog here to (blog.TOMS.com) to follow this journey as it unfolds…

Partner Profile: Eastern Congo Initiative

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:49:00 -0400

Around the world, TOMS partners with organizations that invest in and advocate for local community leaders — those change-makers who help rise their communities out of poverty and help create more opportunity and a better future.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), TOMS Giving Partner, Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) takes a community-based approach to change, and incorporates TOMS Shoes into part of its deeply integrative programming. Founded by Ben Affleck in 2010, ECI is an advocacy and grant-making organization that works with and for the people of DRC, the third most populous country in Africa, and one that struggled under a cycle of violence for nearly 20 years – particularly in the east.

ECI envisions an eastern Congo that is vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish. The organization lives out the belief that local, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Among its programming, ECI provides grants to local organizations that help rehabilitate vulnerable populations including former child soldiers and victims of sexual violence by restoring health, education opportunities and instilling a new sense of pride and hope.

For many former child soldiers and vulnerable children living in DRC, the cost of attending school prohibits them from doing so. According to the World Bank, only 61 percent of Congolese children are enrolled in primary school. And while that statistic is alarming, its implications are almost more vital to understanding the need for attendance. In the Congo, school does not just mean reading and writing; for many it also means a comfortable, safe place to spend time.

Many children must also walk great distances to attend school, and lack the proper footwear to navigate the jagged volcanic soil found in the region. To help promote school attendance, ECI distributes new TOMS Shoes to children through multiple community-based organizations with programming that opens the door to education, as well as skills training, counseling and necessary medical care.

At selected sites, the organizations distribute each pair of TOMS Shoes alongside a pamphlet with pictures to illustrate the importance of school and the consequences of belonging to armed groups.

ECI works to provide local people with important information where they are already consuming it. In addition to distributing pamphlets, the organization shares information on local radio to educate communities through public broadcasts. Community mobilizers — advocates who go door-to-door to find children in need — also teach parents, kids and extended family the importance of education, highlighting it as the single most important intervention that can have a long-lasting impact on the future of the Congo.

For these reasons, among many others, we are honored and excited to announce that, for the first time, we’re collaborating with a Giving Partner on special-edition shoes.

Inspired by Congolese textiles, the TOMS x Eastern Congo Initiative shoes (for men and for women) represent a shared commitment to inspiring change for and by the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each purchase still means a new pair of shoes for you and a child in need, but it also helps fund ECI’s partner programs for youth and families in the region.

Shop & give with the products of this collaboration:

http://toms.sh/16ncJT9 (US, Aus)

http://toms.sh/105jl0z (UK - coming soon!)

http://toms.sh/13qlPHq (Canada - coming soon!)

Learn more about Eastern Congo Initiative at www.easterncongo.org

Start Something that Matters: The Base Project

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:22:20 -0400

Start Something that Matters, a book by TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, challenges readers to make a positive change in the world and start a project that matters to them. Struggling with their corporate roles, Chris and Doug Akin, twin brothers, decided to start their own socially conscious company, The Base Project.

After working for so many years in the corporate world, the brothers wanted to bring their knowledge of marketing and media to a company with meaning and the ability to give back. After dinner one night, they came up with the idea for The Base Project.

The project employs local artisans in Namibia to produce bracelets made from up-cycled plastic. The goal of the project is to produce a fashion item in a developing country, sell the item in the USA and then reinvest that money back into the community the pieces are produced in. The project not only creates jobs for local artisans, but it creates entrepreneurs who now have the tools to start businesses in their local communities. The artisans learn basic business skills; including operations, finance and marketing.

The bracelets themselves are hand carved from plastic water pipe. The pipes are smoothed and polished by the artisans, who then carve tribal designs into the plastic. The finished product is a beautiful, hand carved wearable art piece.

Working on this project together has been quite fulfilling for the brothers. They’ve traveled the world together for the past two years and are closer both personally and professionally. The biggest struggle for the duo has been finding balance in the working world. Not only must they find balance when it comes to setting fair prices and balancing profits, but for businesses with a social mission, that balance becomes even more important. Being fair and balanced to artisans and local communities is an important factor for this type of business model.

Chris left us this piece of advice to those of you looking to start something that matters:

“Shift your perspective when defining who is an entrepreneur and what it takes to launch a venture. The realization that all people are innately entrepreneurial and that ventures come in the form of road side basket weaving, public art, and silicon valley start-ups makes it that much more attainable to go from aspiring entrepreneur to launching your venture.“

Be sure to check out the Base Project to learn more about the company and purchase your own bracelet at http://thebaseproject.com/.

What's In Your Bag:: A Global Edition

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:33:00 -0400

As the One for One Movement has grown over the past seven years, one of the most exciting things about working with international partners is seeing how TOMS fits into the local culture and lifestyle.

So how do TOMS fans in Seoul, Manila, London, and even world travelers fit TOMS into their daily life? What better way to see than to take a peek inside their bags!

Who: Lauren

Where: Manila, Philippines

What: Here Lauren shares the essentials of her straw beach tote which includes a couple beach friendly bracelets, a sheer wrap-over scarf, some SPF lip balm, and of course the TOMS Eyewear in Champagne Crystal

Who: Joe

Where: London, England

What: A man’s bag! Rail card, flash drive, laptop and his Champagne Crystal TOMS Memphis sunnies, no frills just a light english country rose parka in case it starts pouring. how very British!

Who: Dana

Where: Seoul, South Korea

What: A mini fan with a traditional Korean symbol to cool of the summer heat; a vintage film camera, an old leather diary and pencil to remember all the best moments of life, a chocolate bar, scissors for scrapping, scarf for style, and of course TOMS Marisol for shades of Summer.

See more bags from our friends all over the world in this Facebook album: http://toms.sh/15Or62J

TOMS x Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI)

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:48:00 -0400

This year, we’re expanding our partnership with Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), an advocacy and grant-making organization founded by Ben Affleck, wholly focused on working with and for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

ECI is already one of our Shoe Giving Partners, and now we’re collaborating on special-edition shoes, inspired by Congolese textiles.

Each purchase means a new pair of shoes for you and a child in need (as do all TOMS Shoes purchases), but it also helps fund ECI programs for youth and families in the region.

Shop the special-edition TOMS x Eastern Congo Initiative shoes and give to the people of eastern Congo:

http://toms.sh/15JpdV9 (US, Aus)

http://toms.sh/15JpdV9 (UK) - coming soon! Sign up to find out when!

http://toms.sh/12rZlrU (Canada) - coming soon! Sign up to find out when!

Fun fact: It’s the first time we’ve designed shoes (that you can purchase) with a Giving Partner – an organization that delivers the One for One promise by distributing shoes to children — and we’re honored and excited to embark on the deeper journey with ECI.

Watch the video below to learn about Eastern Congo Initiative’s work…and stay tuned for Giving stories from the partnership and beyond…

Caps off: Graduation Spotify Playlist

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:05:00 -0400

Whether you’re tossing your graduation cap in the air, or throwing back like we are with the songs on this playlist, you know what we’re talking about when we say a graduation anthem sticks to the brain.

Years have passed (some more than others!) since we accepted those diplomas, but we still hum our grad songs whenever we think of that big day.

Tweet with the hashtag #TOMSgrad with your grad song, so we can add to this playlist!

Just remembered it’s graduation time, and you want to pick up a little something for that high-achiever you know? We can help! Shop TOMS gifts for grad: http://toms.sh/15Gm48A (US, Aus); http://toms.sh/10Tboue (Canada)

Daniela's mom says….

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:14:00 -0400

We asked the TOMS family for some good advice via their TOMS moms, a source we know is chock-full-o-inspiration. Read what Daniela, on the TOMS HR team, relays via her (incredible) mother:

I guess you can say my mom has taught me how to spend money wisely.

My parents came to the United States when they were 25 years old, with no money in their pockets, and we are all proud of the life they have built. Today we are a family of four; my dad owns a own small business; my mom has managed to make a life for all of us.

Growing up my mom really instilled in us that it’s okay (and kind of awesome) to shop at thrift stores, paint your own home, garden on the weekends, and be frugal. I understand that because she was thrifty, we could enjoy things that would otherwise be out of reach. Now, I’m practicing her tricks and saving up for an around-the-world trip.

Like this story? May we also recommend…

Together we travel (by Daniela, too!)

A little motherly advice from TOMS HQ

I am my own art director

The inner workings of our movement

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:10:25 -0400

A whole portal of answers to your big questions? It’s called “Our Movement” and it’s right over here:

http://toms.sh/18yRix3 (UK) - http://toms.sh/134v7Zy (Can) - http://toms.sh/12lLUIS (everyone else!)

We’ll show and tell you how change happens with shoes and sight & how to get involved further in the One for One movement!

Like this post? You might like these, too:

From HQ: TOMS is grown’ up

Inspiration: Put it all to use

A TOMS fan story: Our Open Road

From the Giving side

Inspiration: Cooking From Scratch - Veggie Ravioli

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:27:00 -0400

The Beauty of inspiration? It can hit you at anytime. Sorta like getting hungry. Speaking of, our pal Daniel on the Social Media team was kind enough to share how cooking from scratch inspires him. Read on… and bring your appetite!

Why from scratch? It’s not easy. It makes a mess out of the kitchen. It takes hours. And more often than not, it can be frustrating. Often, I realize half way through that I am in way over my head as I stare at the mess of ingredients and consider that I probably should have just ordered in from one my favorite local spots (What’s up BAD Sushi?).

But the insanity of it all is the point. My girlfriend Jacquilyn runs the food blog Jacquilyn in the Kitchen. I may not be at her level of culinary expertise just yet, but I am enjoying the crazy process getting there. As I am slowly learning, good cooking can be an experience as fulfilling as a hard workout, intense yoga or world travel to new destinations. At the end of a few grueling hours, I leave the kitchen refreshed and, more than likely, very, very hungry.

Last weekend, Jacqui and I decided to welcome in this amazing spring weather we have been having here with our most recent ‘from scratch’ culinary attempt: Veggie Ravioli. For the filling we used fingerling potatoes, ricotta and gruyere cheeses, and spinach. And we used a gluten free dough to make the meal ready for all of our friends.

The results were delicious and I think these photos do the meal justice. I plan on making this dish again throughout the summer for friends and family, especially after those long beach weekends and local hikes. I hope you can try it for yourself and I hope you can check out Jacquilyn’s blog for tons of other delicious ideas. I have enjoyed getting to be an official taste tester myself!

Step 1: Make the BasicPasta Dough

1-1/2 cups of flour

Tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

5 eggs

1 egg yolk

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the dough is just combined. Dump out the dough onto a lightly gf floured surface and knead several times until the dough is satiny and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a bowl and cover. Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes before proceeding.

Step 2: Make the Filling

Roughly 10 small mixed colored potatoes, baked at 375 for 20 minutes or until tender

1 cup ricotta

1 cup gruyere

5 oz spinach sautéed and chopped

1 tablespoon butter

Once you skin the potatoes, mash them with 1 tablespoon of butter. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper. Add in gruyere, ricotta and sautéed spinach. Mix well in large bowl until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.

Step 3: Make Ravioli:

Working with the gluten free flour mix to make the pasta sheets for the ravioli was a bit challenging because of the consistency, but we found great directions from food blogger Glutenfreeda for this part of the recipe.

Step 4: Make the Sauce:

3-4 large tomatoes sautéed

1 tablespoon of basil

salt and pepper to taste

If you like this story, check these guys out:

I Am My Own Art Director by Allie G

Together We Blend

Style Spotlight: Reva

Where does TOMS give shoes?

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:34:10 -0400

Our philosophy & mission statement: With every purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. One for One.

And TOMS Shoes were the foundation for all of it. True to the same promise since the day TOMS was born: with every pair of TOMS Shoes purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Our approach: Where we give is driven by the needs our Giving Partners —- the organizations that include the One for One give into their holistic programming — identify on the ground. We work closely with them to add new communities and countries where shoes will have the greatest impact.

This map shows the 50+ countries where we give TOMS Shoes, powered by your purchases; but that give often exceeds the literal One for One.

Learn about the complexities, accomplishments and challenges of the Giving side of both TOMS Shoes and TOMS Eyewear in this updated TOMS Giving Report.

Did you like this post? Awesome… then you might like these, too:

A look into how we give sight

The Last-Mile Contribution ( <- something we bet you won’t know!)

How we give shoes: step-by-step, in pictures

And more…

Campus Supporter of the Month -

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:33:57 -0400

Shout out to Alison Figliomen of Eastern Michigan University!

(She wrote this…and is awesome.)

This year for One Day Without Shoes at Eastern Michigan University, I planned a Barefoot Dodgeball event on my college campus. I had never planned a big event like this on my own so I was pretty nervous about how everything would go at first! However, after reflecting on everything, I would say I learned a lot of valuable lessons and I’m really happy to share them with you.

Here are some first-hand guidelines for event planning on your campus for all of those who just… don’t know where to begin!

Brainstorming: Pick your event! How will you decide what you want to do? Here are some guidelines that I made for myself to help me narrow down an activity:

Weather Dependency: Being from the Midwest, our weather here in Michigan is very unpredictable. Although it may be a nice day, I would encourage you to choose an event that you are able to do either rain or shine, or in an enclosed facility where the weather won’t disrupt your plans.

Neutral Activity: Pick an activity that that everyone can play, both the athletic and not-so-athletic people. You don’t want to narrow down your audience; you want to encourage as many people as possible to participate!

Quick, Simple, Fun: Pick an activity* that is easily broken down into little bits or “rounds”. College students’ schedules can be very hectic and very inconsistent, so by making an activity convenient and easy to drop in and out of, you can increase your number of total participants. People may be more likely to stop in if they know it’s something that is not an “all or nothing” time commitment.

*Also, pick an activity that is easy to understand, if not already pretty universally known already. This way you won’t have to spend too much time explaining the rules several times to those who jump in and out throughout the day.

Promotion: Advertising* is probably one of the most crucial parts of your event planning. Your event sometimes heavily relies on your participants, so you want to make sure that your event is well known to as many people as possible. Here are a few crucial points that I found truly helped to make my event a success:

*Use the available online resources from the TOMS Campus website! They’re there to help you.

Social Media: Make an event and share it everywhere! I made a public event from my personal Facebook and attached the link to each piece of promotional material I shared, which provided consistent information source for people to refer to.

· Pictures speak a thousand words. It’s true! Social media strategy tells us that people are more likely to look at an image and absorb information quicker via a flyer or colorful advertisement than they will a long paragraph of text.

· Stay active on your page. Once people visit your event, they will receive notifications every time something is posted. Share fun facts or questions to get people excited for the big day! Post reminders, or blurbs straight from TOMS Campus’ page to be constantly interacting with your audience and keep the anticipation up for the event.

· Share you event. Post your digital imagery with a quick title/description not only on your own Facebook, but on other campus organizations too! I shared mine on the official Facebook for my University and before I knew it, I noticed other organizations on campus were also sharing my event with their audiences as well. Networking is always KEY!

Printed Materials: Use the DIY resources available and stay consistent with your promo materials. People are more likely to remember your event if you see similar imagery in multiple different locations throughout your campus and digitally on the web.

Post everywhere! Here is where you friends come in handy. It’s common on a college campus for individual students to have a large portion of their classes in a select number of buildings or locations due to their concentrated area of study. Pass some flyers along to your friends studying in a variety of disciplines and ask them to post the flyer in their buildings as well.
Ask local businesses for their help. On smaller campuses like mine, it’s not uncommon for little coffee shops and restaurants, even bars, just off campus to be frequented by students throughout the week. Ask the local business owners if they would mind you sharing your flyer at their places of business. Often times these local “college town” businesses may already have a designated area for promoting local area events, just like this one!

Art: Make passersby do a double take on their commute to class. You don’t have limit your promotional materials just to indoors!

· Campus “graffiti”: On my campus, as I’m sure there is at a lot of college campuses, there is a “spirit wall” which is open for students and/or organizations to share their school spirit or promote their events to the students on campus. Use it (with permission)! That’s what it is there for. It’s usually located at a centralized location on campus for exactly this purpose so that people walking by will notice at all times during the day.

· Sidewalk Chalk: Everyone uses the sidewalk, and if you use the right colors that are both clearly legible and noticeable, people can’t help but to look down and see your event info!

At the Event: If possible decorate your event area with recognizable TOMS Campus “stuff” to intrigue people to come to your event. This is where the DIY toolkit really comes in handy! Here are some pictures of how I used the DIY toolkit inside the gym at my One Day Without Shoes Barefoot Dodgeball event:

Rally Signs and Displays:

Stickers and Info. Cards: I just designated a table of giveaways and prizes. That way people can come share and enjoy!

Barefoot Dodgeball was a success! I had almost 30 people within a two-hour period come and join in for a few games. The school newspaper even stopped by to interview me! One of the best parts (as the event planner) was when several people asked if I was going to do this again!

I hope that this was helpful and that your find yourself a little more relaxed about your event planning that lies ahead. The TOMS Community Team is also very helpful and friendly! I encourage you to send them an email if ever you have any questions or concerns about a TOMS event you’re planning on your campus.

Good luck, everyone!

One day in Peru

Tue, 07 May 2013 20:12:00 -0400

Author/Giver/TOMS Employee: Vern

Location of Giving Trip: Lima (and surrounding areas), Peru

Host/Giving Partner: Buckner International

Today we visited an area called section # 6. The people who live here have built their homes on the side of the hills. The air is hot and the soil is very dry. There is very little annual rainfall. The luxury is running water, but it is not the case for all houses we see in the area. Many people have taken old boards, and tin to build a shelter to live in.

I am reminded of how life is outside the city limits in many places I have seen. Much like the living conditions I have seen outside of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Turkey (Istanbul). Poverty surrounds prosperity. Traveling 20 -30 kilometers takes you from excess richness to extreme poverty. The rich live near the very poor; only the tall walls or large highways divide two neighborhoods.

The children we meet are wonderful. They are so curious and sweet-natured. I am glad to see so many smiling faces. Life is very challenging here, yet the children display hearts full of love.

Our TOMS team helps the Giving Partner place shoes on a few hundred children’s feet each day, today included. I love the time we spend with the children. My Spanish isn’t too good, but they don’t seem to care. I count toes, tickle feet, and, in return, am gifted with many smiles and blessings.

After lunch we play on a rented soccer field for about two hours with the kids. So much fun! I try to keep up with the kids, but in the end I am worn out.

After soccer, we return to the community center that the local parents built with the help of Buckner International, an organization we call a Giving Partner (the one that is hosting us here; one of the many that gets shoes to the kids).

Later this day, we proceed to gather paint, brushes and rollers, and head to another community building. We paint the first coat onto this building that would soon be used for community events and meetings. What a great day today is.

Start Something that Matters - Set it Forward

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:19:15 -0400

Start Something that Matters, a book by TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, challenges readers to make a positive change in the world and start a project that matters to them. Students in particular have been inspired by the movement. At the young age of 16, Sara Butler decided to start her own charitable company, Set it Forward, a charity that brings sports to a community in need.

Sara, an avid volleyball player, has always had the drive to make a change. In the past, she volunteered with children, coaching volleyball teams and camps. She quickly realized how organized sports bring communities together and teaches kids crucial leadership and team-building skills. The goal of Set it Forward is to hold camps for kids to teach them how to play, set up a court, and supply the community with volleyballs. Her hope is that she can bring these skills and equipment to children all around the world. To aid this effort, she sells volleyballs on her site, SetItForward.com, and each purchase goes toward providing volleyballs to the children.

While starting her business has been an exciting adventure, it is not without struggles. She is currently in the process of raising money to go on her first trip to set up a camp. Finding venues to fundraise has been a challenge, but with the launch of her website, students have gravitated to the site and are eager to help Sara reach her goal and share her story on social networks. Seeing her company evolve is what keeps Sara motivated.

Sara left the TOMS community with this advice: “Stick up for what you believe in and know that you are able to achieve anything you put your mind to.”

A Look into How We Give Sight

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:12:04 -0400

The loss of sight can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life, affecting a person’s family, and further, the community. We wanted to help alleviate that burden, and contribute to smart solutions to the issue of access to eye care. So we launched TOMS Eyewear, with a One for One give that saves and restores sight to people in need, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of eye care organizations around the world.

Though we don’t claim to be eye care professionals, we do know how to find strong, responsible partners who deliver the One for One promise and are committed to sustainability.

TOMS Eyewear unlocks even more potential for expert eye care provision, on the ground, in the 13 countries where we give. Through partnerships with organizations that delve deep into communities, we’re helping build lasting and professional eye care programs and create sustainable, local jobs.

Here’s the gist of how it happens…

Identify the need
In looking to how we could become not just a shoe company, but the One for One company, this fact stood before us: 285 million people across the globe are blind or visually impaired, but solutions are available to cure or prevent up to 80 percent of these cases. [source to Vision2020, 2012]

With TOMS Eyewear, we support partners who are addressing the most widespread needs in the smartest ways. When one person purchases a pair of TOMS Eyewear, a professional, locally staffed eye care program will have the resources it needs to reach one more person with eye care.

Our Sight Giving Partners

Through our partnership with Seva Foundation, our lead Sight Giving Partner, we work with a global network of eye care organizations in areas we would not otherwise be able to reach. The organizations we call our Giving Partners incorporate TOMS’ support into their strategic plans, figuring out how to use the resources provided by One for One to reach more people with eye care.

The One for One Give

On the ground, TOMS Sight Giving Partners have hospitals and clinics with teams of local professionals that provide each patient with a full eye exam before determining the best course of treatment.

TOMS offers support in one of three ways: through prescription eyewear, medical treatment or a sight-saving surgery. We give our partners a lot of flexibility in determining what mix of these services best meets their needs.

For prescription eyeglasses, local eye care professionals determine the corrective lenses a person needs. The patient is able to choose his or her own new frames. An eyewear technician then grinds the lenses to fit the patient’s exact prescription.

Our partners also treat many sight-threatening conditions — from infections, like conjunctivitis, to injuries — by prescribing medications or removing foreign objects from the eye. Each patient also receives follow-up care and education on proper eye health.

If surgery is needed, doctors will perform the necessary operation, such as a cataract or corneal surgery. Cataract surgery is particularly impactful, as cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world, and the surgery can be done in as little as 15 minutes.

Support Beyond Medical Intervention

The One for One in eye care also leads to other exciting opportunities for our partners. It allows them to extend their services to remote locations. The organizations set up mobile “eye camps” where they work with local leaders to spread the word about access to eye care in remote areas. They then bring staff and equipment to screen all who come with vision problems. Many patients can be treated on site, and those who can’t are transported to a hospital for proper eye care.

Your purchase also allows our Sight Giving Partners to train local teachers, volunteers and community leaders to learn about basic eye health and how to screen for potential eye issues.

TOMS Eyewear + You

With your purchase, you’re keeping the cycle going. With every pair of TOMS Eyewear you purchase, you renew opportunity for patients around the world, eager to return to work, their family and communities. And you help us invest in sustainable, smart eye care programs that are building for the future. One for One, you’re helping people in need reclaim their independence.

TOMS is growin' up!

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 -0400

This Sunday’s May 5th, and those of you partaking in a fiesta are in good company…if we do say so ourselves. That day marks seven years since Blake launched this One for One company in a scrappy little home in Venice, California.

That’s right: TOMS turns 7 this Sunday, and in the midst of our celebration for the movement that’s kind of our baby, we’re realizing that we’ve come a loooong way since the early days.

Since the saying goes, ‘we live in the house we all build,’ we thought it’d be pretty neat to track the growth of the TOMS family through the lens of the humble abodes we’ve called home throughout the years.

We started out as a small-but-mighty team in a Venice loft we called an office. Starting to outgrow the space, we deemed a storage unit our warehouse/shipping facility, and convinced the postman to do pick-ups from the unit. (#winning)

In time, we hired those interns, collected some new friends and ‘colleagues’ and moved on over to our first real HQ in Santa Monica. That HQ was a warehouse that took new shape, color, personality as our movement, company and culture did. While we were there, it felt like the perfect home, scrap wood, makeshift desks, et all.

And then in 2010 we realized the day would soon be upon us when we’d have outgrown that TOMS-ified space, and that we’d have to leave the minivan-backseats-turned-couches behind to find a new HQ. Fast forward to February 2011, and on we went, to our current home, with actual conference rooms, real wallpaper, and wood-planked desk separators that kind of match!

That’s where we’re at now, as we celebrate our seventh year in this biz, and pause our annual bocce ball tournament to appreciate the journey. From this HQ, the last one, and the loft before that…plus any that may house is in the years to come, we’ll always know that you helped us get here, build these homes, and to give the movement a place to root. Thank you for being part of the last seven years; in lots of ways, this is your birthday, too!

- The TOMS Family, from this #lovehome

Atlas Genius- "Trojans"

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:47:00 -0400

Atlas Genius playing a live set on MTV rocking TOMS eyewear. Whether you’re wailing on the guitar or just catching a few rays, snag some new seasonal shades here: http://toms.sh/109ubT4 (US, AU); http://toms.sh/16zmRr8 (UK); http://toms.sh/165PufA (CA)

TOMS Art of Giving Tour:: Whistler Mountain, British Columbia

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:50:00 -0400

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The TOMS Art of Giving Tour is a re-imagining of TOMS by prominent artists in the communities they visit. TOMS has brought the concept to creative communities across the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Over the past couple weeks, a talented collection of local British Columbian artists developed their own artistic interpretations of giving using TOMS Shoes and Eyewear as canvas. The final products came together for a two week installation and silent auction hosted by the Whistler Mountain Convention Center in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Proceeds from the silent auction were split between three local charities: WAG, the Whistler Animal Shelter, who cares for and re-homes hundreds of animals each year, Playground Builders, an organization that creates safe spaces where kids can be kids, and strives to include the local community in the building process, and The Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, who provides at risk and homeless youth from the Vancouver & Sea to Sky Corridor with an opportunity to experience mountain life through adventure programs.

Meet a few of the featured artists:

Katie Carter: Hailing from Whistler, British Columbia, Katie’s approach was naturally close to home. Katie took her inspiration from her pug named Boxer. The piece included shredded up TOMS and a guilty looking ‘lil Boxer. A great hit, the piece sold that same night.

Taka Sudo: A popular Whistler resident and artist Taka Sudo drew his inspiration from One Day Without Shoes. Can you spot the foot in his piece? Taka proudly spent One Day Without Shoes embellishing white TOMS Classics with his bright one-of-a kind designs, creating quite the crowd pleasing spectacle.

Presha: Vancouver artist Presha, lent her whimsical stylings to this piece featured at the TOMS Art of Giving Tour. Her piece was donated to one of the three charities.

See more of the art featured in this latest installation of the TOMS Art of Giving Tour on our Facebook page: http://toms.sh/ZnvwFM

Style Spotlight: Reva

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:49:00 -0400

We have no shortage of unique and diverse employees here at good ol’ HQ and those qualities are definitely reflected in the personal style of each person. From custom alpargatas with panda bears painted on them from a Style Your Sole event to a special hat bought for a trek to South America, our style ranges from unconventional to inspired (which is a pretty accurate reflection of how we do things ‘round here), and we want to share these folks with all of you!

So, without further ado, meet Reva. She works on the marketing team, drags us to Cardio Sculpt group fitness on Tuesdays, and can usually be found with her fluffly pup, named Chewie, resting on her lap.

So, Reva, tell us a little bit of your history here at TOMS and how you came to be one of our most favoritest people on the marketing team?

I had been working in retail/fashion for 12 years and loved the industry, but wanted to feel like all the work I was dedicating in my career had more of a purpose, so I stalked TOMS for 6 months before a position opened up that matched my skill set. Two years later, I’ve traveled to El Salvador on a Giving Trip with TOMS, launched new products, and been a part of amazing campaigns. Time flies when you are having fun!

Can you tell us something awesome about yourself people might not know? Well, I am obsessed with Fantasy and Science Fiction novels like Harry Potter, Eragon and Game of Thrones. Daenerys Targaryen (Dani, as they call her in the books) is really killing it this season of Game of Thrones—she pretty much makes my Sunday nights.

What is your favorite Spring trend?  I can’t get enough of the relaxed boyfriend jean look. I love how effortlessly chic it is! I feel its truly indicative of the laid back Southern California culture that I can break out my favorite beat-up jeans and broken-in tees and be ready to go to brunch or an afternoon meeting at the office.

We love your approach to casual style. What are your TOMS wardrobe essentials?  My TOMS Strappy Wedges.They are the perfect compliment to my boyfriend jeans. I also like the added height that the wedges give me, everyone can use a little boost, right? As for TOMS eyewear, my Marisols are great because I feel like the oversized frame injects a little glamour into my everyday life.

Do you have a style icon who inspires this easy-breezy dressing?  Jessica Alba – that girl is always relaxed chic. For a girl who is always on the go she always manages to look put together. Additionally, she is great at rocking new trends, like printed jeans, in an attainable fashion.

Are there any other items you can’t leave the house without?  My iPhone and Burts Bees lip balm. How did we ever survive with simple flip phones?

Something special you touched upon was your Giving Trip. It is pretty sweet that employees get to go in to the field and help distribute shoes after their first year at TOMS. Is there a special souvenir from your Giving Trip that you hold near and dear to your heart?  A wood El Salvadorian calendar from Save the Children. It reminds me of the amazing work Save the Children does in the El Salvadorian communities and the great kids I met on the trip.

Shout outs to Reva for taking a few minutes to chat with us, keep an eye out for our next Style Spotlight coming soon!

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