Shoes With A Purpose

Find out the meaning behind one of the fastest growing footwear trends at CB.

Move over Vans, TOMS shoes are making their mark at CB.

From the basic canvas, to the newer artistic designs, Toms Shoes are sweeping Christian Brothers High School and the Talon set out to find the true meaning behind this popular trend.

You may recognize Blake Mycoskie from the second season of CBS’ The Amazing Race, but his accomplishments are far greater than his attempt at a million dollar prize on a popular reality TV show.

Mycoskie founded TOMS shoes, after an inspiring trip to Argentina, where he volunteered with a local non-profit organization that delivered shoes to children in the villages outside of Buenos Aires.

TOMS provides a new pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair purchased and to date, the popular shoe company has given out over one million pairs of shoes in 25 countries worldwide.

Along with helping impoverished people, most CB students enjoy the light comfort and stylish design of the cloth shoes. Primarily a ladies shoe, but also worn by fashionable men, TOMS seem to “go with everything,” says Shannon Jose (’14).

The craze is even going “international — Christian Brothers foreign exchange student Elena Chiello (‘14) has been rocking the American shoes since the first day of school. Although having never owned a pair in Italy, Elena is very pleased with her purchase.

Although most CB students buy TOMS for the style and comfort, it is a bonus to know that a sum of their money goes to helping those in need, embodying the Lasallian core principle of concern for the poor and social justice . In the words of Mycoskie, “Giving [to others] is what fuels us.”