What a great business model – now you can buy shoes and feel good about helping a child in need. Socially-conscious TOMS shoes has unveiled its new spring collection inspired by the journals of Dan Eldon, a photo-journalist who was killed on assignment in Mogadishu, reports Fashionetc.
The shoe company has taken the world by storm with its ‘One for One’ campaign that donates a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sell. Other companies are beginning to copy the socially-conscious entrepeneur and former Amazing Race competitor Blake Mycoskie.
“Four styles from our spring collection feature direct prints of Dan’s artwork on canvas,” explains company founder Mycoskie. “These include his well-worn passport thumbprint; his iconic painted faces, playful elephant illustrations, and his famous motto: ‘The Journey is the Destination.’
“I really hope this collection inspires people to follow their creative dreams and use their talents to become a creative activist like Dan—transforming bold ideas into positive action.”
TOMS 2011 spring collection has over thirty lightweight styles for men and women available online and in stores. The Wrap Boot, Stitchouts, Cordones, and Botas all have rubber soles, and TOMS offers several vegan styles as well.
The classic TOMS canvas or cotton fabric shoes are based on the Argentine alpargata design, worn by Argentina farmers for hundreds of years.
As of September 2010, TOMS has given over one million pairs of new shoes to children in need.