FOUNDED IN 2006 BY BLAKE MYCOSKIE, TOMS Shoes was an American footwear company based in Santa Monica, California. Although TOMS Shoes was a for-profit business, its mis- sion was more like that of a not-for-profit organization. The firm’s reason for existence was to donate to children in need one new pair of shoes for every pair of shoes sold. Blake My-
coskie referred to it as the company’s “One for One” business model.
While vacationing in Argentina during 2006, Mycoskie befriended children who had no shoes to protect them during long walks to obtain food and water, as well as attend school. Going barefoot was a common practice in rural farming regions of developing coun- tries, where many subsistence farmers could not afford even a single pair of shoes. Mycoskie learned that going barefoot could lead to some serious health problems. Podoconiosis was one such disease in which feet and legs swelled, formed ulcers, emitted a foul smell, and caused intense pain. It affected millions of people across 10 countries in tropical Africa, Cen- tral America, and northern India. For millions, not wearing shoes could deepen the cycle of poverty and ruin lives. Upset that such a simple need was being unmet, Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes in order to provide them the shoes they needed. “I was so overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had so little,” Mycoskie said. “I was instantly struck with the desire—the responsibility—to do more.” The name of his new
venture was TOMS Shoes.