Summer Is All About Havaianas

A good pair of Havaiana sandals look good in the city, on the beach or at the pool, blends well with the blue of the sea and sky but is also equal to the demands of urban life. Such is the proverb of the famous Brazilian sandal. It is, without doubt, the most democratic sandal known to man because in the words of the writer Jorge Amado (himself the wearer of jeans and Havaianas), they "grace the feet of both the poor and rich alike".

Havaianas have been in fashion for over four decades and have survived the hippie movement, strode through the 70's, 80's and 90's and are in fine form today. In 1994 the sandal was re-designed with the single-coloured Top Havaianas and ever since the fashion columns of newspapers and magazines were unanimous on their revolution as a style icon: they are the obligatory fashion accessory for summer.

In the Havaianas factory in Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, 5 pairs of sandals per second are produced, which add up to 105 million pairs per year. Since their launch 2.2 billion pairs of Havaiana sandals have been produced and sold (if all the size 37 sandals were laid end to end they would go around the world 50 times). Today we know that two out of every three Brazilians get through one pair of Havaianas on average per year.

The quality of the product, the marketing strategy and the advertising campaign, based on the real statements of famous people who wear Havaianas - a tried and tested tradition of São Paulo Alpargatas for many years - have given life to the traditional sandal, although it really needs no great introduction. This summer, wear them with dresses, skirts, jeans, cut-offs, trousers, or with pretty much any outfit you like. Our only recommendation is to not wear them with socks. Available from Selfridges, Office and other good stockists.