In 1962, the first pair of iconic Havaianas (a Portuguese word for Hawaii) were made in Brazil. The brand was inspired by the Japanese Zori sandals, whose soles are made of rice straw. Havaianas uses rubber soles with a rice grain pattern, a special detail that makes the brand’s flip flops unique.
origins
Scotsman Robert Fraser created the first flip-flop with a rubber sole. The shoe won the hearts of Brazilians and was quickly adopted by the entire working class of the country due to its simple style and low price.
evolution
In the 1980s, the Brazilian Treasury declared that flip-flops were a "Necessity for the Brazilians" be. During the ’90s, the brand reached important milestones, most notably in 1994 with the launch of a new line of eight solid color flip-flops called the Havaianas Top. After that, printed flip flops were added to the collection, which included seven new colors. It was also around this time that people from the upper classes started wearing flip flops. Today, consumers can choose from an assortment of fifteen colors.
In 1996 the patent for the Havaianas rubber sandals was registered by the Brazilian manufacturer Alpargatas. The Havaianas concept consists of a flip-flop with a rubber sole to which a strap and two braided parallel strands are attached. From that point on, the flip-flops could be manufactured in larger quantities.
Current
Today, the Havaianas are among the most popular shoes in the world. The brand makes 150 million pairs of shoes every year. The brand sells its products in more than 620 stores in at least 100 countries around the world. Havaianas also has a clothing collection that is made in Portugal. The flip flops are made in Brazil.
2021 has been an important year for Havaianas in terms of collaborations. You have designed a collection with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape. Also, thanks to Fortnite, the label entered the world of video games, where an island called Havaianas x Fortnite was created to promote the collaboration collection of the same name.