Why Don’t People Want TOMS Anymore?

One decade ago, TOMS was stepping toward world domination. The footwear brand was known for its distinct espadrilles and its “buy one, give one” model. Each time someone bought a pair of shoes, another pair was donated to a child in need.

In the early 2010s, wearing TOMS was a statement that meant that you were fashionable and philanthropic. The brand was valued at $625 million in 2014, but by 2019, creditors took over the company. The company had a $300 million loan due in 2020, and it wasn’t expected to be able to pay it off.

Like most fashion trends, TOMS doesn’t seem to be infinitely popular. But, it hoped its charitable efforts would prolong its favor in the public’s eye. Despite this, the shoes are far less popular than they were in prior years. You can still buy them, but there are many reasons why people are spending their dollars elsewhere.

Fashion is fickle

TOMS offers its customers a variety of products including different shoe styles and glasses — it even sold coffee at one point. However, it’s primarily recognized for the Alpargata shoe, which once made up roughly 50% of its sales.

It seems TOMS’ signature styles are becoming dated, and it’s forcing the company to pivot into different offerings like sneakers. This still falls under the footwear umbrella, but…