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The Today Show profiles our Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, highlighting his entrepreneurial passion and the inspiration behind TOMS.  He explains how the One for One business model provided a way to combine business with social causes.

Business sense came naturally to him—Blake’s parents talk about how a young Blake used to come to the golf course and sell cookies and lemonade to other golfers. And how in college, he started a laundry service for his campus. They’re clearly proud of their boy, especially his work as an adult.

Blake explains the big idea behind TOMS, saying he “wanted customers to know they’ve made an impact.” Snap shots of the humble beginnings of TOMS are shown, highlighting how only a handful of passionate interns in a small Venice apartment got the One for One movement off the ground. He explains how starting a company about shoes, something they knew nothing about, didn’t come automatically: “The first two years, it was a grind—I practically had to beg people to buy shoes!”

But on the first Shoe Drop, he realized that TOMS was not just an idea anymore, and that TOMS could eventually help thousands of more children.  He tells the story of taking that first shipment of 10,000 pairs of new shoes to Argentina, and the impact he saw in person as he hand-placed shoes onto children’s feet. 

The piece goes on to highlight the passionate young following of TOMS. College kids declare their passion for the brand, saying TOMS is something different, something people can really connect with. And the One for One message resonating with young people is one of Blake’s main goals with TOMS. He explains how it’s critical to inspire young people who really care, and his hope for a future filled with other socially conscious brands.

In February, TOMS partnered with leading UK fashion retailer Topshop to host a Style Your Sole event at the retailer's Oxford Circus location. This was the first Style Your Sole event to take place in the UK and was part of a Topshop's greater event schedule for London Fashion week. Customers, fans, and fashion week attendees purchased canvas TOMS and had them transformed into one-of-a-kind, hand painted kicks.

Philippa, TOMS UK PR Director, says, "It was a brilliant day, the artists were busy all day and probably painted about 30-40 pairs. Customers loved it, we saw a lot of TOMS fans, and Topshop were really pleased – all in all it was a very inspiring and successful SYS event."

Local artists included Tika, Nathalie, Claire, Sarah, and Lise B. TOMS Founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie was also present to lend his creativity for the 2-day event.

About Topshop

Since Topshop launched in 1964, it has become a major style authority and one of fashion's biggest success stories. Exemplifying up-to-the-minute affordable style, its brave and irreverent approach to fashion has made it the number one high street stop for style conscious shoppers and industry insiders alike. 

To show support of the TOMS mission, Threadless has started a t-shirt design competition to support our favorite holiday, One Day Without Shoes.

One Day Without Shoes is an effort to bring attention to the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life.

Your challenge is to design a tee capturing the spirit of One Day Without Shoes.

In addition to helping promote One Day Without Shoes, the winner of the design contest will receive:
• A year’s worth of TOMS (one pair per month for 12 months)
• The opportunity to design an official TOMS t-shirt
• $500 Threadless Gift Certificate
• $2,000 in cash

You can enter your t-shirt design from February 1st through the 21st.

Find out more at threadless.com/loves/tomsoneday
About Threadless:Threadless is an online community-based t-shirt company with an ongoing, open call for submissions. www.Threadless.com

This past October, a crew of TOMS and Element employees, passionate volunteers, a Chief Shoe Giver, and a pro skater embarked on a Shoe Drop very far from home to fulfill the promise of a unique collaboration.

In February of 2009, two like-minded SoCal companies, TOMS Shoes and Element Skateboards, came together to create a limited edition line of TOMS Shoes and a One for One skateboard. This was the first time TOMS collaborated with another brand on a One for One product and the audience responded with overflowing positivity. After the shoes and the boards quickly sold out, the pieces of the Shoe + Board Drop in South Africa began to come together.

Volunteers were accepted, sweepstakes winners were chosen, employees scheduled the time off. Shoe Drop locations were confirmed, itinerary packets were drafted, and excited emails were sent around.

Mid-October, the pack boarded planes and met halfway around the world in Durban, South Africa. The following days were spent giving shoes and skateboards to children in need at Element’s Indigo Skate Camp in the Valley of 1,000 Hills, at primary schools, and youth centers.

The hospitality and compassion shown by each child was the most genuine “thank you” we could have asked for. In the midst of a high energy, beautifully chaotic Shoe Drop, you couldn’t help but look around and think, “This is what it’s all about.”

As one of the ways TOMS gives shoes to children in need around the world, a TOMS Shoe Drop is a special experience and the Shoe + Board Drop was an awesome opportunity made possible by many amazing people at TOMS and Element.

To see a gallery of photos and videos from the TOMS + Element Shoe + Board Drop, visit Element’s site or the TOMS Facebook Page.

Chapter 1: A beautiful adventure awaits...

Chapter 2: Oh boy! We're goin' to South Africa!"