The Bite Magazine Issue 17

traveller, Mycoskie is passionate about inspiring young people to help make tomorrow better, encouraging them to include ‘giving’ in everything they do and desires to see a future full of social- minded businesses and consumers. He released his first book called Start Something That Matters in 2011, a New York Times bestseller that spoke about his own amazing story of inspiration and the power of incorporating giving in business. He also referenced other companies and individuals in the book who have been motivated and inspired to integrate philanthropy into their pro- fession as well as their personal lives. In 2009, Mycoskie and his brand received the Secretary of State Award of Corporate Excellence (ACE). Then at the Clinton Global Initiative Univer- sity plenary session, former President of the United States, Bill Clinton intro- duced Mycoskie to the audience as “one of the most interesting entrepreneurs [I’ve] ever met” while People Magazine featured him in its ‘Heroes Among Us’ section and TOMS Shoes was men- tioned in the Bill Gates Time Magazine article ‘How to Fix Capitalism’. In 2011, Mycoskie made the Fortune Magazine’s ’40 Under 40’ list, which recognised him as one of the top young businessmen in the world. It just goes to show that when you have a heart of gold and help those who are less privileged than you are, other people will recognise your potential, which encourages you to continue moving mountains that would have been otherwise impossible. We salute Blake Mycoskie for his tireless efforts of creating a better world for those who are unable to create their own. As well as supplying pairs of shoes to those in need, the brand also pro- vides a variety of footwear styles for men, women and children, ranging from everyday men’s shoes like Paseos to fun and flirty Strappy Wedges. In collaboration with The Hill-Side, a Brooklyn-based menswear brand, TOMS has created a limited edition collection of footwear and eyewear for gentle- men of all ages, as well as an accessory selection of neckties, bowties, scarves and pocket squares. Both brands have a concept of doing things differently and through this, TOMS has embraced the entrepreneurial spirit of founding broth- ers Emil and Sandy Corsillo. As the first menswear collaboration for both TOMS and The Hill-Side, each brand has taken away something from the other, such as The Hill-Side learning more about ‘Giving with TOMS’ and how giving back can be incorporated into a larger busi- ness model. The collection comprises of The Hill-Side’s exclusive fabrics with footwear silhouettes including a navy Herringbone Chukka boot for men and Paseo trainers for men and kids. There is also a striking Japanese indigo sashiko material used in the men’s and kid’s navy classics, a TOMS original silhouette. The neck accessories feature one of The Hill-Side’s first prints ‘Big Crazy Floral Punk’ which can be seen in the detailing of the eyewear. This collection consists of three sunglasses silhouettes of tortoiseshell frames with the floral print inlayed and a black and white print against tortoiseshell. The neckties also have the halftone black and white floral print that is different from the norm and will surely stand out when you’re out and about in town. What struck me about the lookbook for the collabora- tion were the heart-touching images of fathers with their sons which were taken in natural poses. There is one of a father carrying his son on his shoulders, with the boy wearing infant Sashiko shoes in lightweight indigo and a kids’ tie in floral print while his father wears one of the eyewear. Another image shows another infant in tiny navy Her- ringbone Tweed Paseo trainers standing on the feet of his father who has the same make. Another fascinating image is of a close-up of a bicycle with the child wearing the tiny classic Sashiko shoes and his father wearing the men’s Paseo trainers. The TOMS x The Hill-Side collection is now available from The Hill-Side’s Brooklyn boutique, TOMS stores and online, as well as selected retailers around the world. www.toms.com/thehill-side bite men “I was so overwhelmed by the spirit of the South American people, especially those who had so little, and I was instantly struck with the desire – the responsibility – to do more” – Blake Mycoskie Images courtesy of Modus Publicity