By Deirdre Carroll: Senior Editor

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—TOMS recently announced its evolution from a shoe company to a “One for One” company, with the launch of its second product line, TOMS Eyewear. The concept of TOMS Eyewear is to address another pressing need around the world—vision loss.

“Ever since 2007, I’ve realized the TOMS One for One model could do more than give shoes—it could and should address other needs around the world,” said Blake Mycoskie, TOMS founder. “Sight is a fundamental need. The loss of sight has a dramatic impact on a person’s life—and on his or her family and community. With TOMS Eyewear, we feel like we are starting all over again, and there is still so much to give.”

With the TOMS Eyewear line, One for One will mean more than just giving eyeglasses. Three styles of TOMS sunglasses will be offered to customers and with every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need through medical treatment, prescription eyeglasses and sight-saving surgery, administered by its first Sight Giving Partner, Seva Foundation. Based in Northern California, Seva has been implementing sustainable blindness prevention and sight restoration programs for over 30 years. The first countries to be helped through TOMS Eyewear and Seva will be Nepal, Tibet and Cambodia.

TOMS will expand its sight giving initiative to other countries once it has identified additional Sight Giving Partners, expert eyecare organizations already on the ground. With TOMS support, these Sight Giving Partners will organize screenings in communities to identify the people who need care.

TOMS will be accepting applications for additional Sight Giving Partners, and interested organization should visit www.TOMS.com/eyewear/givingpartners. ■

dcarroll@jobson.com