Local Voices: Happy With a New Pair of Toms

So… for those of you who read my blog, you know that I just took my very first trip to Vegas!  I think I’ll have several blogs stemming from that trip, but this first one is dedicated to Toms.  Not plural for Tom, but rather the shoe company Toms.  See, I’d been looking for a new pair of gray shoes before my trip and I finally broke down and tried on a pair of Toms.  They were reasonably priced and comfortable, so I bought them.  I then decided to wear them to Vegas.  I took some heels and some sandals too, but 95 percent of the time, I wore my Toms.

They’re amazing!  I first saw them when Julia Roberts was photographed wearing them on the set of “Eat, Pray, Love.”  I have to admit, I wasn’t very fond of them.  Thought they were a bit “granola,” but over time they began to grow on me.  When I tried them on, I noticed that the box said that for every pair of Toms purchased, they would donate a pair to someone in need.  I decided to investigate that a bit further.

On their website, I found this statement:

"In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers."

To date, Toms has donated over a million pairs of shoes.  That’s a pretty great concept.  Their business model is now being followed by other start-up companies as well.  I like the message, but even more, I like the product.

If you’ve ever been to Vegas, you know it’s hot!  95 degree days in September!  We spent countless hours walking the 4 and a half mile “strip” that Vegas is famous for.  Though I hadn’t planned to, I ended up doing most all of it wearing my Toms.  They are so comfortable.  They look deceptively flat and you’d think there would be no support, but that’s not the case.  I love the leather sole that absorbs sweat.  I hate when you don’t wear socks in a pair of shoes and your feet sweat… yuck!  Not a problem with Toms.

I’ve decided I need a pair of Toms in every color.  They have eyewear (works on the same principal… one for one), clothing, and a lot of new footwear styles.  I fear that I may well never wear my other shoes again!  As for Vegas, if you plan to go, plan to put a pair of Toms in your bag so you’re ready for all of the walking!  You won’t regret it!