Since it first opened in 2009, Peace By Piece Co. (132 W. Main, Belleville, Ill., 618-233-1519) has made it their mission to do business with a heart. The popular Belleville boutique carries handbags, jewelry, and clothing and specializes in American-made products and fair-trade items. The chic boutique also makes every effort to do business with enterprises that give back, like TOMS Shoes, a company started with philanthropy in mind that donates a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. Although the standard selection of TOMS seems endless, our favorite take on the trend is to customize a pair—perhaps the most thoughtful (and guilt-free) gift you can give to a shoe-obsessed friend or loved one. For Valentine’s Day, we’re especially enamored with the heart-adorned pair above and think the idea of writing your own personal love note on a pair of TOMS is undoubtedly the sweetest present ever. Peace By Piece shoe artist Makenzie Fietsam will be making appearances today and tomorrow (call for details) and will be happy to customize a pair of TOMS with your own special sentiment in mind. Once Valentine’s Day is over, it should be noted that Cardinals, Rams, and Blues themes are also a very popular option, especially for those “super-fans” that seem to find themselves much more sports-minded than love-struck.
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