a day without shoes

One of my greatest loves is shoes.  Shoes, shoes, all things shoes.  I work for Aldo, an amazing shoe store and company--with a tantalizing employee discount that eats up many of my paychecks.  Needless to say, when it comes to fashion, shoes are my number one.  Then again, what is not to like about them?  Even on your "fat" days you can find a cute pair that fits.   

One footwear fad that has hit the scene in full force is Toms Shoes--a non-profit organization that lives by the 'one for one' concept of donating a pair of shoes for every customer purchased pair.  The movement started in 2006 when Blake Mycoskie, traveled to Argentina and met a large amount of children that did not have shoes.  Not having shoes leaves you vulnerable to diseases, cuts, injuries, and isolates you from various privileges and activities that require shoes.  Therefore, Toms is dedicated to donating a pair of shoes to a person in need around the world, for every pair of shoes purchased.   

The company has expanded and become a driving force in fashion's popular culture.  The styles, colors, patterns, and textures are all over the map, and are available for women, men, and children.  

A huge part of the Toms movement is their worldwide campaign of One Day Without Shoes.  On April 5th, supporters across the world are encouraged to go the entire day without wearing shoes.  The idea is to spread awareness, gain support, and feel what it would be like to not have any shoes to wear.

For our spring philanthropy event, my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, sponsored this day on our campus.  We tarp-ed a walk around our main quad with a shoe check-in, so that students to walk barefoot for at least a short amount of time.  We also had an awareness booth, fliers, donations, wristbands to sell, and more.  While we encouraged everyone to walk barefoot the entire day, the walk we set up served as a chance for people to participate in the purpose of this day--experiencing life without shoes.  

I went almost the entire day without wearing shoes...it was an eye-opening experience.  I cannot imagine having to stumble over the rocks, pavement, and dirt all day every day.  

I have a newfound appreciation for my shoes, and the fact that I am able to even have shoes to wear at all.  It humbling to get the slightest glimpse of what people across the world are forced to live like--although this is something I will never fully be able to experience.  

It is refreshing to see such an up and coming trend in the fashion industry giving back to a global issue.