TOMS shoes founder and creator Blake Mycoskie speaks at Jesse Hall

Posted to On Campus by Justin Whaley at 1:42 a.m., Oct. 28, 2009

Blake Mycoskie, founder and creator of TOMS shoes, spoke in Jesse Hall Tuesday night about his experiences of losing “The Amazing Race” by four minutes, playing polo with Argentinians and his experiences of changing many lives with shoes.

He sparked the idea for TOMS while on a vacation in Argentina.

TOMS started off slowly, Mycoskie said.

He and his Argentine friends began making shoes, modeled after those of Argentine farmers, in their garages. A simple slip-on design in mind, the crew added a rubber insole, arch support and a smooth leather lining complementing the canvas material.

After 250 pairs of shoes were completed, Mycoskie returned to the U.S. to try to sell them.

American Rag was the first buyer. Shortly after seeing the TOMS window display at American Rag, Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour contacted Mycoskie about his company.

A feature about him soon followed.

Mycoskie’s goal for donating 300,000 pairs of shoes by the end of 2009 is nearing. He said he may have to increase the number to 400,000 if sales continue at such a rate.