A Day Without Shoes

5:20 AM Unknown 0 Comments

 Since a decade ago when the company has started on 2006, I have always known and loved TOMS Shoes for two reasons: first, is for bringing the casual footwear into the next level with my favorite, the all-day wear, alpargata-inspired classic espadrilles slip-ons that come in a variety of materials like canvas, tweed, wool, burlap, etc., and which style feature the signature classic toe stitching, elastic v-panel, suede leather footbed, and a flexible rubber outsole; and another, is for their charity works that bring countless smiles to the faces of tens of thousand children. Considering these, therefore, I never felt guilty spending money on any pair for I know that not only have a scored a comfortable yet stylish shoes, I have also helped a child in need probably halfway across the world.  

 Needless to say, I was very happy to have been invited with a couple of friends in the first photo last May 10 to celebrate TOMS’ One Day Without Shoes event, where I have been given yet another chance to help a child in need of shoes to have his own pair by walking barefoot around the area. Indeed, for every person who walked barefoot, a child who cannot afford to buy his own pair will be going home with a new pair of shoes to boot.  

 For those who do not know TOMS’ advocacy to help children, their business model has been referred to as the "one for one concept", referring to the company's promise to deliver a pair of free, new shoes to a child in need for every sale of their retail product. In addition, they also hold this annual One Day Without Shoes event where people who have never known such extreme poverty put themselves in the shoes of those who are forced to go without them every day, thus raising not only awareness about the problem but also the money to combat it. Hence, according to daysoftheyear.com “the best way to celebrate this day is to make the decision to go without shoes for a day just so you can see for yourself how much a few pieces of leather and rubber can change a life for the better. You could also convince a few friends or family members to do the same—the more people become aware of the problem, the better. Of course, you could also make a point of purchasing a pair of shoes from Toms so another pair can be donated to an impoverished child somewhere. If you don’t need another pair of shoes, you can go through your closet in search of both shoes and clothes you don’t wear anymore that are still in good condition and then donate them directly to organizations devoted to helping clothe the less fortunate. Any little thing you do can help!”  

 Anyway, here’s what I wore to the event. 

 I thought it best to keep it nice and simple since dressing up flashy for a charity event sounds hypercritical to me. Also, I kept the colour light not because of any metaphorical meaning but because I knew I'd be standing under the sun for several hours. I know it wasn't particularly hot that day but still. 

  Some more photos after the jump