There are so many reasons we love Osborn Shoes. The bright and bold oxfords, booties and flats are handmade in a sweatshop-free environment by local artisans in Guatemala, they are fair trade, and each artisan benefits from his/her work.
Raaja Nemani and Aaron Firestein met while volunteering with impoverished kids in Argentina. Both wanted to give back and came together to create BucketFeet. Each shoe is designed by up-and-coming global artists and 5 percent of the proceeds go to the charities MAGIC, love.futbol, and Children Mending Hearts.
While volunteering in Uganda, Liz Forkin Bohannon became friends with a group of incredible young women who had dreams of becoming teachers and doctors. She wanted to help and founded Sseko, a shoe company that gives women the opportunity to make sandals and pay for college.
Ssekos come in all different colors and can be worn in many different ways. Purchase your Ssekos and learn all the fun ways to wear them here.
(Photo: ssekodesigns.com)
TOMS Vegan Shoes
Buy a pair of TOMS Shoes and give a pair to a person in need. Founder and "chief shoe giver" Blake Mycoskie started TOMS in 2006 after a trip to Argentina, where he witnessed how many kids go each day without shoes to protect their feet.
The Parton brothers wanted to create a marketplace to sell global goods and inspire activism. From their dream, Apolis—meaning global citizen in Greek—was born in Los Angeles in 2007. Since then, the Partons have provided struggling, impoverished communities access to world markets. These men's sandals are made with care at a co-op in Tel Aviv.
For every pair of Groobs you buy, not only will you be giving a new pair to someone in need, but you will also get to give 50 percent of the proceeds of your purchase to a charity of your choosing. Charities include Soles4Souls, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Operation Smile.
Fergie's sparkly hot pink pumps are being sold for a limited time to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. To coincide with the launch of the heels, Brown Shoe Company, Fergie's partner in her footwear line, is donating $20,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Shoes retail at $79.99 and can be purchased here.
(Photo: fergieshoes.com)
Bobs
Skechers and TOMS fell in love and BOBS was born. When you buy a pair of BOBS, Skechers will donate a pair to an impoverished child. Purchase your BOBS here.
(Photo: skechers.com)
Jojos
Designed to look like a bandaged foot, Jojo shoes are helping to heal our environment. Choose your shoe, pick a charity that either plants trees or installs water pumps in Africa, and check in to see how each project is progressing.
