Brazil's Flip Flops Find Their Way to the Oscars
Written by Newsroom
Monday, 07 February 2005

Havaianas flip flops will be featured in the Oscar nominee gift basket and at the Red Carpet '05 Oscar Suites. The simple, little flip flops with the humble origin are making their way to the season’s hottest events and onto the feet of the most coveted celebrities and VIPs.

Due to the celebrity cult following for the sandals, S.P. Alpargatas in São Paulo, designer and manufacturer of the Havaianas sandals since 1962, has created even more spectacular shoes for this year’s events.

Collaborating with Swarovski representatives in Brazil, the sandals will feature a special Swarovski star perched atop the sandal strap and presented in a replica film can.

Havaianas sandals are sold in high-end retailers nationwide and around the world.

Featured in this year’s Distinctive Assets, “Everybody Wins at the Oscars 77th Annual Nominee Gift Basket”, each star who is nominated in one of the six major categories will receive the special Havaianas in the replica film can.

The bag is currently estimated at over $35,000 and continues to grow in value. Winners of the coveted golden statue will receive their shoes directly from Style West, the exclusive distributor for the Havaianas brand in the United States.

Style West is responsible for the brand’s sky rocket success over the last two years, making sure that celebrities, designers and VIPs are well equipped each season with the hottest colors.

Havaianas have been chosen as the flip flop of choice for the Red Carpet Suites at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, CA. Red Capet ’05 will be the “Celebrity Prep Headquarters” during the week leading up to the Academy Awards.

Top designers and stylists will take over individual suites, where they will prepare celebrities for Oscar-related events throughout the week. Havaianas will bring a little piece of Brazil to the suites by offering celebrities, stylists, publicists and press the opportunity to design a custom pair of Havaianas.

Guests will be able to mix and match a variety of foot bed colors with a special strap that will feature a genuine Swarovski crystal stud or Brazilian flag emblem. In addition, all those indulging in pedicure services will receive a pair of Havaianas to go with their newly polished toes.

A staple product in Brazil, Havaianas were launched in June 1962 by São Paulo Alpargatas and were inspired by the Japanese Zori sandal. The name Havaianas means ‘Hawaiians’ in Portuguese, is a tribute to the ultimate island holiday destination.

Alpargatas produces 125 million pairs per year. Five pairs are made per second. Over 2.2 billion pairs have been sold since the 1962 – place them end-to-end and they would go around the world 50 times.

Currently, Alpargatas markets Havaianas worldwide via distributors in 50 countries. Americans have demanded the butter-soft comfort of these inexpensive flip flops, making Havaianas available at the most chic retailers nationwide, including Ron Herman, Fred Segal, Jill Roberts in Los Angeles, and Scoop in New York.

Online catalogue for the latest range can be found at http://www.HavaianasAsia.com. Havaianas is available at NewUrbanMale.com and NUMflipflops.com, The Heeren Shop, along Orchard Road.