One Day Without Shoes 2023: Date, History, Facts about Canvas

One Day Without Shoes is observed annually on May 10. It is to raise awareness of how shoes can affect the existence of a child. Some individuals view shoes as an unimportant necessity that can always be afforded. However, for some individuals, shoes are a luxury they can barely afford. There are millions of children around the world who do not have shoes to safeguard their feet. One Day Without Shoes encourages participants to experience a day without shoes.

The background of One Day Without Shoes

The company Toms Shoes created One Day Without shoes in 2007. In 2006, while on vacation in Argentina, the company’s founder, Blake Mycoskie, encountered a woman delivering shoes to children. Along the way, he noticed that many children were not wearing shoes. Realising that a scarcity of shoes was a significant issue in Argentina, he devised a business plan. He decided to create simple canvas slip-on shoes based on the “one for one” paradigm, also known as “buy one, give one.”

The company would donate one new pair of shoes for every pair sold to young people in Argentina and other developing nations. In 2006, 10,000 pairs of shoes were sold, and in October of that year, the company distributed its first shipment of 10,000 pairs of free shoes in Argentina. In November of the following year, South African children received complimentary shoes. Since April 2009, 140,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed to children in the United States, Argentina, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Since 2012, the company has distributed over one million pairs in forty countries.

As a result of the risk of infection and disease, such as podoconiosis, a dearth of footwear can become problematic. Podoconiosis is estimated to affect four million individuals worldwide. It is a form of elephantiasis induced by prolonged exposure of the feet to irritant volcanic red clay soil. Therefore, footwear can serve as a preventative measure. This disease can be prevented by the consistent use of footwear and attention to foot sanitation, particularly among those who live in areas with red clay soil.

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5 CANVAS FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Before cotton became popular, hemp was used to create canvas, and the word canvas derives from the Old French word ‘chenevas,’ which means ‘hemp.’

Canvas is inherently water-resistant because the fibres expand when they become wet, preventing more water from penetrating the material.

Canvas will not tear readily when frequently dragged.

There are two fundamental varieties of canvas: ordinary canvas (very coarse) and duck canvas (smoother).

Canvas is simple to dye and retains its colour well.

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	May 10	Wednesday
2024	May 10	Friday
2025	May 10	Saturday
2026	May 10	Sunday
2027	May 10	Monday