Different.

The year was 1964, and somewhere in South Africa a small shoe brand* was about to break onto the scene and change the way people looked at their sneakers for good. (*That’s us.)

Hard shoes were the norm back then, even though they offered very little in terms of comfort and style. So, we gave South Africans something different: the original canvas sneaker. We never could have prepared ourselves for what happened next. All of a sudden, people were wearing Tomys everywhere from work to weekend braais. The shoe we created for commuting and casual wear became an icon that’s still recognisable to this day.

Women.

Specially designed to combat the discomfort of wearing shoes in Southern Africa’s dry local climate and walking on the hard ground, our iconic canvas sneaker was deeply influenced by the women at the time. Women were looking for more comfort from their shoes, but also more durability and versatility. That’s what they got with the Tomy Original Canvas Sneaker. (Because what’s a woman without her go-to pair of sneakers, right?)

Options.

Fast forward nearly 60 years with a team led by and made up of mostly women, and we know how important it is to keep up with the latest sneaker trends. Now, our collections feature all the colours, styles and silhouettes South African women love to wear. That’s what makes Tomy so special; we’re a team of women, making sneakers for women.

Women-kind.

Yes, when we say that women are at the heart of everything we do, we really mean it. That’s why a portion of every sale is donated to organisations that support women and girls across South Africa. Girl power!

So, thank you for making Tomy a part of your stories. From getting you across campus, to carrying you through those first waitressing shifts, and making sure you could dance the night away at your best friend’s wedding – it’s an honour to know that we’ve been there for so many of our customers, for all these years.

Different.

You’re not like other girls and neither are we. We’ll always stick to what made us stand out in the first place: The original black and white canvas sneaker, since 1964.

Women.

Specially designed to combat the discomfort of wearing shoes in Southern Africa’s dry local climate and walking on the hard ground, our iconic canvas sneaker was deeply influenced by the women at the time. Women were looking for more comfort from their shoes, but also more durability and versatility. That’s what they got with the Tomy Original Canvas Sneaker. (Because what’s a woman without her go-to pair of sneakers, right?)

Options.

Fast forward nearly 60 years with a team led by and made up of mostly women, and we know how important it is to keep up with the latest sneaker trends. Now, our collections feature all the colours, styles and silhouettes South African women love to wear. That’s what makes Tomy so special; we’re a team of women, making sneakers for women.

Women-kind.

Yes, when we say that women are at the heart of everything we do, we really mean it. That’s why a portion of every sale is donated to organisations that support women and girls across South Africa. Girl power!

So, thank you for making Tomy a part of your stories. From getting you across campus, to carrying you through those first waitressing shifts, and making sure you could dance the night away at your best friend’s wedding – it’s an honour to know that we’ve been there for so many of our customers, for all these years.