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I also find the entire idea disingenuous. Do these "artisan shoe makers" actually exist? Or is the author just creating a crappy straw man? If they do exist,

I also find the entire idea disingenuous. Do these "artisan shoe makers" actually exist? Or is the author just creating a crappy straw man? If they do exist, why haven't the poor people in their area purchased their wares? It's not like TOMS is giving shoes out to people who have them. They're probably not wearing them because it's not economically feasible. So, the author thinks that the vast majority of the population in their area should be shoeless so that one person can keep a probably struggling business afloat? Makes no sense. Even further, it seems having shoes would lead to positive economic effects. The recipients will probably be able walk further, stay healthier, and generally lead better lives. That seems like a longer term net positive than someone's small shoe shop that may or may not exist and may or may not have actually been impacted by this.

honeydrip 13y ago
Yes. Toms did not come up with the designs for their original shoes. They are called espadrilles and are a Latin American tradition. He got the idea when he was on vacation in Argentina I believe. These shoes are made in Argentina, for example. http://www.paezshoes.com http://www.paezshoes.com
- jeremymcanally 13y ago
  I realize that alpargatas and espadrilles are a thing (I own some higher end ones myself! :)). I meant are these "artisan shoe makers" actually in the communities where they're sending shoes and are being actively hurt by their actions. I believe the answer is no, but I'm definitely open to being proven wrong.
- RBerenguel 13y ago
  They are a Catalan tradition, spread then to South America
dnautics 13y ago
agreed on the positive economic effects, at the risk of getting political, it seems to me like there is this 'meta-paternalism', selectively applied depending on the political stance of the speaker: When the person is against government subsidies or government welfare, the argument is the recipient will be dependent on the state. When the person is against private charity or private welfare, the argument is that the recipient will not be able to be economically self-sufficient. Both arguments which are very similar and both somewhat disingenuous.

honeydrip 13y ago

Yes. Toms did not come up with the designs for their original shoes. They are called espadrilles and are a Latin American tradition. He got the idea when he was on vacation in Argentina I believe. These shoes are made in Argentina, for example. http://www.paezshoes.com http://www.paezshoes.com

jeremymcanally 13y ago
I realize that alpargatas and espadrilles are a thing (I own some higher end ones myself! :)). I meant are these "artisan shoe makers" actually in the communities where they're sending shoes and are being actively hurt by their actions. I believe the answer is no, but I'm definitely open to being proven wrong.
RBerenguel 13y ago
They are a Catalan tradition, spread then to South America

dnautics 13y ago

agreed on the positive economic effects, at the risk of getting political, it seems to me like there is this 'meta-paternalism', selectively applied depending on the political stance of the speaker: When the person is against government subsidies or government welfare, the argument is the recipient will be dependent on the state. When the person is against private charity or private welfare, the argument is that the recipient will not be able to be economically self-sufficient. Both arguments which are very similar and both somewhat disingenuous.