For fashion snobs, humble rubber flip-flops may seem like a style travesty of epic proportions. But before you turn your nose up and write-off the once imperial footwear of Greek gods and Roman philosophers as a fashion faux pas, slip your feet into a pair of Havaianas. So much more than an average pair of vacation
WRITER NIKOLA LASHLEY
O
n discerning soles everywhere, this Brazilian design champions style and comfort
flip-flops,
Havaianas
(pronounced
ah-vai-
yah-nas) have managed to balance form and function—we’re talking timeless footwear built for exceptional comfort. These 100 percent rubber flip-flops naturally mold around the posture of your foot for a perfect fit, with a slightly textured foot-bed that gives solace to tired, overworked soles. In the sprawling northeastern city of Campina Grande, home of Brazilian manufacturing and technology, sits an industrial estate the size of 20 football fields. Here, every year 400 million pairs of sustainably-produced Havaianas, in 600 vibrant shades and 16 different styles, are molded to perfection from a secret rubber formula—creating flip-flops that embody the sizzle of Brazilian culture. Not only seen in the stylish enclaves of Rio and Sao Paulo, where Havaianas have gained cult status, these flip-flops have been spotted around the globe, including in celebrity goody bags at the Oscars. The toe cleavages of stars such as David Beckham and Angelina Jolie have been photographed in this stylish minimum footwear.
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And because of their popularity, many attempts have been made over the years to imitate Havaianas flip-flops. So, for newcomers to the brand, the company introduced a hologram sticker in 2005 on the reverse of the swing tag as an official seal of authenticity. There is no age or gender distinction when it comes to Havaianas; these flip-flops with beach appeal also include an uber-trendy collection that rates highly in the cute stakes for babies and toddlers in a range of colors and styles. Havaianas also teamed up with iconic crystal jewelers Swarovski to produce a crystal-encrusted flip-flop for women who appreciate bling. In 2009, when Vanessa Taylor and Andre Steiner, president of Walk Good Caribbean, the exclusive distributor of Havaianas for the region, launched their first concession in the gift shop at the Luxury Included® Sandals Montego Bay, an embossed Jamaican flag (exclusive to Havaianas, Jamaica) was added to the V-strap, and the sandals quickly became a favorite with Jamaicans and vacationers alike. Today, Havaianas—“unofficial footwear of the Caribbean, officially the best rubber sandals in the world’’—can be purchased at Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts throughout the Caribbean. If ever there was a brand that truly lived up to its slogan…well, you’re probably picking out a pair right now.
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