Zhou Xun announced as TOMS giving ambassador

The American footwear company TOMS announced in early March actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Zhou Xun would become its Goodwill Giving Ambassador in Asia. Zhou and the company's founder Blake Mycoskie went on a trip to Yunnan province late last year to donate shoes to primary school students.

Zhou went to a primary school in Luquan county, Yunnan province where she measured shoe sizes for students and helped them try on shoes. She also joined the students for lunch and played games with them. The students, shy at first, later happily joined in.

"One for One is my favorite charity model. For every pair of shoes sold, one pair of shoes is given to a child in need," Zhou said. "My conversations with the children today are honest and direct. I am grateful for the day off so that I can experience this."

Mycoskie traveled with Zhou for the donation trip. He said TOMS is giving the children not only a pair of new shoes, but memories of happiness, equality and love. He is delighted to have received Zhou's support.

Zhou also designed a collaborative Goodwill Capsule Collection for TOMS, which hit shelves in early March at TOMS storefronts and on its official website. This is the actress's first foray into combining charity and fashion. She hopes to encourage more people to join the One for One project and reach out to children in China's remote areas.

Through the One for One project, TOMS and its global partners have given away over 75 million pairs of new shoes to children in need over the last 12 years.