At Havaianas, it is since 1962 that we spread Brazilian joy, fun, good vibes and cool fancy-free style to the rest of the world. This year we do so with even more conviction as we celebrate our 55th anniversary! We are at the height of our golden age!
We’re not sure if we have ever told you that Havaianas are originally based on Zori sandals. The traditional Japanese footwear made with a rice-fibre soles, which Havaianas re-invented to create the flip-flops made of vulcanised rubber (featuring the rice grain print to honour these origins), came out in 1962 and, within 2 years, it had become the footwear all Brazilians were wearing. Back then, travelling salesmen would go up and down the country in a small Kombi van selling the original Havaianas. Just picture being in a small van, travelling the country, wearing Havaianas! What goes through your mind? Don’t these seem like visionary characters to you? They were a bit like Hippies ahead of their time, a bit like surfer-boy dreamers!
To celebrate our anniversary, we have decided to let you in on some little secrets. Did you know that…
In the 60s Hawaii was very fashionable and was the holiday destination to go for? It was so cool that it inspired us when it came to finding a brand name: Havaianas is the Portuguese word for inhabitants of the famous archipelago, the Hawaiians.
The first pair of famous Havaianas flip-flops was born in 1962, with its rubber sole and single strap. Now the design is world-famous, but in the 60s it was truly revolutionary and rocked the world of footwear.
Nowadays, Havaianas are recognisable through their colour, prints and eye-catching patterns…. But, what if I told you that, actually, everything started with a manufacturing error! For years, there was only one 2-colour design: white and light blue. Then, by mistake, they came out green and white! Instead of getting rid of them, we decided to sell them, causing a huge sensation! In the following years, we began coming out with new models and colours until we ended up with the amazing variety we have now. Can you imagine Havaianas without their famous burst of colours?
In the 80s, they were so popular in Brazil that the government decided to add them to the list of staple goods: a basic necessity, just like rice and beans, to help control inflation. They are now such an integral part of Brazilian society that tourists travelling to Brazil come back home with a pair of Havaianas in their suitcase as a symbol of the country.
The flag featured on the “Brasil” model, now a sign of brand recognition, was only included for the 1998 World Cup. The model was designed to celebrate the famous football championship, and although Brazil lost, we came out of it with our flagship flip-flop design.
In some Brazilian schools, student protests took place to demand the right to wear Havaianas flip-flops in class. Since then, in Brazil you don’t get “Casual Fridays” but “Havaianas Days” instead!
In 2006, we made it to the Guinness Book of World Records with the longest line of Havaianas flip-flop-shaped inflatable lilos in the world, on an Australian beach.
