Havaianas, the most loved rubber sandal in the world, is named after the Portuguese word for ‘Hawaiians’. In Brazil, Havaianas are worn by just about everyone. The first pair of Havaianas saw the light in 1962. It was based on the traditional Japanese sandal known as the Zori, that has soles which are made of rice straw. The texture of Havaianas’ rubber soles is like that of rice grains, and this is one of the unmistakable characteristics of Havaianas. These sandals were introduced in the US less than a decade ago, and now they are seen gracing the pages of both fashion and sports magazines, and are also worn at red carpet events. These inexpensive flip flops can now be found at chic retailers and surf boutiques in many countries.
