They are not the prettiest of shoes in my opinion, but they are here doing great things.

The idea of TOMS Shoes came about in 2006 when one American traveler befriended the children of an Argentine village and found that they had no shoes to protect their feet. With no shoes, their feet are exposed in environments that lead to cuts, pain, infection, hookworms and other diseases such as Podoconiosos.

So, the idea is a simple one but a grand one.With every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, one will be given to a child in need. Within the first year, 10,000 pairs were dropped back to the original Argentine village. In November 2007 at the South Africa Shoe Drop, 50,000 pairs were given away. The next stop will be in Ethiopia.

Who would have thought a solution to a global problem would come down to this - SHOES! You can be a part of this great idea and buy your pairs online or at Sitka Surfboards in Victoria, BC.

Sunny Shum, Your Industry Insider