TOMS One for One- From my Inbox

Earlier this month I received an email about a new pop-up store at Covent Garden in London. 

TOMS POP-UP STORE ARRIVES IN SEVEN DIALS

Today Seven Dials welcomes footwear brand TOMS who are hosting their first ever UK stand-alone store in the area just in time for summer. The Seven Dials pop-up store will be showcasing their latest Spring/Summer 2012 shoe collection and their recently launched 'eyewear' range. In true TOMS fashion, for every pair of shoes or sunglasses sold, TOMS will donate a pair to a person in need as part of their ‘One for One’ philosophy. Throughout their residency in Seven Dials, TOMS will also be playing host to an exclusive series of events, including a debut 'contemporary exhibition', TOMS Community Fair and a live acoustic session. TOMS pop-up store will be open from 3rd May to 28th June at 69 Neal Street.

I've been wanting to buy a pair for a while and wasn't sure where to find a good enough selection to choose from, so this was the best opportunity. 

TOMS One for One pop-up store, 69 Neal Street

TOMS One for One concept was developed by Blake Mycoskie, an American who, during his travels in Argentina, found that there were children who didn't have any shoes. So he started TOMS Shoes, a company that donates one pair of shoes for every pair bought. TOMS has a network of humanitarian organizations that helps distribute the donated pairs, mainly to countries in Africa, South America and Asia.

The shoes are basic fabric shoes, with the bulk of the collection in Classics or Switchouts- a simple plimsole with a light rubber sole - that are good for light walking. The Seven Dials pop-up store is the first of its kind, which aims to really promote the One for One concept as a cause rather than a platform to sell the shoes, which can be found at many shoe retailers.  The store also carries the newly-launched eyewear range, which also follows the One for One concept, so if you buy a pair, another pair is donated to someone in need.   

A selection of TOMS shoes, for men and women

TOMS One for One eyewear

TOMS also makes "Tinies", a collection of shoes for younger people

Prices: I bought the Spring Classic for £40, and a tiny Youth Classic for £28. 


Where to buy: The pop-up store is only scheduled to be open till the end of June, but shoe retailers in the US and the UK stock limited selections of TOMS shoes. 


Information: To learn more about the TOMS One for One movement, check out TOMS, or follow on twitter @TOMS or on facebook.