Flip-flop wearers, Havaianas is finally giving you what you’ve been waiting for.The famed Brazilian flip-flop company is introducing it’s first closed-toe shoe on Monday.The “Soul Collection” consists of ballet flats, espadrilles, mid-rise and high-top sneakers, some even with an eco-friendly element to them (they’re made of naturally sustainable jute.) And every one of these shoes has the Havaiana signature soft-as-marshmallow sole made of its proprietary rubber recipe.
“It’s an extension of the Havaianas flip-flop,” Jim Anstey, Havaianas’ director of marketing, told StyleList. “They’ve got Brazilian styling with the very vibrant colors and the color blocking. And the sole of the flip-flop is there. It’s called the ‘Soul Collection’ for a bit of a double entendre. It’s the soul in the sole.”
Anstey continued: “For us, it’s a natural move to go from flip-flops to a closed toe. We wanted to keep a connection to the brand and that’s the sole.” But there’s an even bigger connection, he added. “The name or our parent company is Alpargatas, and alpargata is espadrille in Spanish. The company started in 1907 making espadrilles in Argentina.”
The shoes were previewed for editors and bloggers Wednesday evening at the company’s showroom in SoHo where traditional Brazilian food and drinks were served.
The shoes, which range in price from $38 to $60 will be available starting Monday on Havaianas.com, at Kitson, Henri Bendel and other select retailers.