There was a time when Havaianas, the best-loved flip flops in Brazil, were also a kind of well-kept national secret - something foreigners discovered by accident during a Brazil vacation or when a friend brought them over as a gift. Today, Havaianas - pronounced ah-vye-UH-nas - are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide. If you're heading to Brazil, you may still want to buy them at the source to save a little cash, or maybe to show a favorite person you made room in your luggage just so you could surprise him/her with one of Brazil's hottest souvenirs.
Traditional Havaianas
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
Havaianas Top
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
It didn't take long for Brazilians to realize that the frugal design of Traditional Havaianas was great for creative intervention. Women customized theirs. Surfers started a trend when they removed the straps from Havaianas and put them back on with the sole side up. The company capitalized on this fad by launching monochromatic Havaianas Top, a unisex design, in 1994. The new sandals helped the company overcome a downturn and paved their way towards upper class consumers who had been reluctant about wearing Traditionals.
Tops are currently available in 20 solid colors. They, too, are popular for customizing. Brazilians use them to make Havaianas bordadas (embroidered) and silkadas, that is, printed with silk-screen.
Havaianas Baby and Havaianas Kids
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
Tiny feet look cute in Havaianas. The Baby model has elastic straps that snuggle comfortably around soft heels. Havaianas for babies and young kids come in several fun, colorful models besides classic designs such as Traditional, Top and Top Brazil, which has small flags on the straps.
Besides being comfortable and beautiful, Havaianas are great for kids because they are very washable and dry easily.
Havaianas for Women
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
Thinner straps, metallic colors, high heels and feminine flower, stripe and animal print patterns are some of the features of Havaianas for women. Slim, with very thin straps; High, which have a clunkier look that doesn't sacrifice comfort; and Flash, all about very bare feet, are some of the designs that have come up in recent years and get more popular with each new collection.
Special Editions
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
Every once in a while Havaianas launch special edition designs. Such has been the case with the World Soccer Cup and São Paulo Fashion Week, for example. To celebrate the Centennial of Japanese Immigration in Brazil in 2008, Havaianas scheduled the May launching of sandals featuring a mix of the Brazilian and Japanese flags, bringing them back full circle to their origin as a version of the Japanese zori sandals, made of rice straw.
There's more to that connection: the company that makes Havaianas - São Paulo Alpargatas - was founded in São Paulo in 1907 and produced espadrilles for coffee pickers. The coffee boom was what motivated the Japanese immigration to Brazil, starting in 1908.
A World of Possibilities
Photo courtesy of ©Havaianas
There are more than 40 models of Havaianas and with all the colors available, that adds up to about 350 variations. Check out the Havaianas website for options. While you're around, you may want to visit the Havafanatics page in "Havaianas World", where people share their photos of, and comments about, their flip flops.
A fun fact: all the Havaianas in the world come from a single factory in Campina Grande, a city in the northeastern state of Paraíba. In a 2006 interview to the Paraíba International Business Center, a São Paulo Alpargatas director said the factory generated about 8,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Where to Buy Havaianas in Brazil
Finding Havaianas in Brazil shouldn't be hard - according to the company, they're available at 150,000 points of sale in the country. However, not every store will have all the models, since a lot of Brazilian retail is based on small stores with a limited inventory.
A February 2008 article in the St. Petersburg Times mentions a store in São Paulo - Havaparadise - that specializes in Havaianas. If you're in São Paulo, call 11-3063-2855 for information.
Lojas Americanas, a chain with many stores in Brazil, has a great online selection of Havaianas. Stop by their brick-and-mortar stores to see what's in stock - use their store locator. Or simply look for Havaianas at supermarkets and shoe shops wherever you are.
Where to Buy Havaianas in the US
Large retail chains Dillard's, Macy's and Nordstrom sell Havaianas. Check out the Havaianas page by the About.com Guide to Shoes for some tips before you buy.
Tips for Buying Havaianas
The American size printed on my Havaianas Slim bought in Brazil says "6", which is not my size. If you plan on buying someone a pair of Havaianas in Brazil, or even in the US, for someone who's not going to be present to thy them on, I recommend you measure their feet. Or if you want to surprise them, measure a pair of comfortable shoes.
To compare prices for Havaianas in the US and in Brazil, first find out what the current real to dollar conversion is and divide the Brazilian price you see, for example, on Lojas Americanas by that value to obtain a price in dollars.
If you're buying Havaianas for kids, go for a larger size, even if that involves waiting till the child fits into the shoes.
