www.toms.com
I, like so many of you, have seen countless hipsters and eco-loving fashionistas sporting the uncomplicated and straightforward designs of Toms Shoes. In the past I have always kind of dismissed the brand as nothing special. Until now. I recently read an article about this company and, I swear to you, it is a business model I can’t help but admire and strive to be like.
You may or may not know, but my business re-branding has not only been about being environmentally responsible but also about maintaining economically and socially responsible practices. I truly believe in designing with a purpose and apparently, so does Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms. He has based his business on the idea of giving away much of his product for free in order to better the lives of children in need around the world. For every pair of shoes the brand sells, a pair is donated to a child in a developing country. And it has always been that way. The company’s philanthropic work is so unbelievably inspiring and I can only dream of creating a brand that follows in its footsteps. It makes me proud of what I’m trying to do and anxious to get a variety of charities on board. I, too, cannot wait to utilize fashion and charitable collaborations to develop a business that works towards the betterment of others.
As quoted by Mycoskie to Women’s Wear Daily, “I’m trying to encourage everyone to think about how they can incorporate giving into their business model. It feels good, but it’s also good for business, for building morale, which is equally important“. I could not have said it better myself, Blake.
