You Look Good Living Fair Trade

Questionable TOMS: Are They Ethically Produced?

It’s a TOMS shoe news spreeee! Sorry for filling your dash with reasons why not to support TOMS, didn’t want to make that awkward moment as you glance over at your pairs. I’m not mad at people who buy TOMS, I am understanding and patient of all previous knowledge about these issues. This is why I am posting all of this information, so that readers will know and understand now and think twice around how they choose their charity.

-AS

“Frustrated, I began my search for ethically-made shoes manufactured outside of the United States.  The first shoes that came to mind were TOMS Shoes.  However, not even TOMS Shoes quelled my fears about the ethics of their production, with its factories in China, Argentina, and Ethiopia.  It claims on its Website: “We require that the factories operate under sound labor conditions, pay fair wages and follow local labor standards.”–which is exactly the line that Nike and Adidas provide in an attempt to cover up their dismal factory conditions– because different countries have different labor “standards” in the name of exploiting workers for capital.  Sure, perhaps I’m wrong and TOMS Shoes factories are excellent places of employment– and TOMS, if you’re reading this, please set me straight– but I really didn’t want to take any chances.  Full disclosure of your factory conditions on your Website would be greatly appreciated, TOMS.”

From the website Against the Grind

I Do Not Hate TOMS…

My boyfriend was one of the many individuals that jumped on the bandwagon about three years ago and started purchasing TOMS, currently I believe he has three pairs, two that are still wearable. As you might have noticed, I discourage the support of TOMS in my past posts and verbally to my circle of friends. The other day my boyfriend made a comment about me, “hating TOMS,” which is not true, I just have some issues about it.

I never felt easy about the whole TOMS marketing campaign and since looking into the issue, I now clearly know why. At first I disliked TOMS because it was the cool new thing to have, people mindlessly purchasing these shoes for shallow reasonings. I usually hear two comments people made about their new TOMS shoes: (1.) they look cool/ unique and (2.) they did something good for somebody across the globe. Generally, that was the attitude and extent of knowledge I perceived from purchasers of TOMS and I do understand that it is a severe generalization but I have yet to come across somebody that had a deep passionate reasoning for choosing TOMS. Perhaps it wasn’t the right venue or environment to encourage such dialogue but generally speaking, this has been my experience.

From the beginning I was irked by TOMS “feel good campaigns” this thought is not original and has actually been echoed throughout a lot of different websites online. I’m reblogging another blog post that basically echoes my issues with TOMS as well as further links to explore, I also encourage checking out A Day Without Dignity. Like my title suggests, I’m not here to necessarily rip on TOMS.

Not all is at fault with TOMS marketing schemes, in case you haven’t noticed, the general public doesn’t think much about how their stuff is made. In the United States, we do what we do best and that is to consume, that’s just it, there is such a disconnect among consumers with their stuff. 

Black Mycoskie , developed TOMS after he was moved by an experience abroad to DO SOMETHING. That in itself is incredible, especially how popular TOMS have come along from its birth. What Mycoskie  has done is one of the most effective marketing campaigns tapping into and roping in new “ethical’ consumers. Mycoskie  has been able to get groups to mobilize and involve youth, ie. clubs on college campuses and awareness days, to advocate for simple human rights issues that apparently can be combated with shoes. Yeah, this is another aspect of his marketing strategy and a smart way to gain new consumers but at the end of the day, the issue of child education, health, safety are raised. 

You can’t deny foreign countries and its people infiltrating at least for a brief second into the minds of Americans that for the most part, might have not thought about them in the first place. Blake Mycoskie  was deeply moved by an experience and was determined to set action, he is a catalyst for change.

Flaws, yes. Hate necessarily? No. I admire his work and serves as an inspiration. Could have thought it through a bit fuller the idea but i suppose when you are starting out, you can’t afford to work ethically and donate shoes without getting bankrupt in the first quarter. Well, the exact language TOMS provides is that “kids don’t make our shoes… Our factories in Argentina, Ethiopia and China are all third-party audited to ensure they employ no child labor, and pay fair wages.” I mean, I guess they don’t want to pay for Fair Trade certification but I’m going out on a limb to say it’s produced in ethical conditions? Maybe I’m letting him off the hook too easy, maybe we should just hold that expectations from the beginning. 

Now, BOBS from Sketchers? That’s a whole other bone for me to pick at, and this time my patience and tolerance is running thin.

-AS

***author’s note***

Below is the same text from an earlier post I’ve made.

The Working World

It’s okay if you like the alpargatas shoe style, like that of TOMS shoes, there are just other and more ethical options to choose from such as The Working World. Here producers from Argentina produce their native shoe style through Fair Trade, they even have complete transparency and have posted all the costs that goes into making the shoe and sending it to the United States.

Worth to check out if you still like that shoe style and make a better purchasing choice!