Havaianas Celebrates 50th Birthday in Singapore with the Inaugural ‘Make Your Own Havaianas’ event

In commemoration of its 50th Anniversary milestone, iconic fashion flip-flop brand Havaianas invited fans to bask in self-expression at its inaugural ‘Make Your Own Havaianas’ (MYOH) event in Singapore.

Held from 13 – 15 July 2012, the special event provided Singaporeans the opportunity to customise a pair of Havaianas flip-flops to really call our own, mixing and matching from a colourful galore of straps, soles and pin embellishments.

The personalised fashion affair kick-started with an exclusive closed-door VIP day on 13 July (last Friday), where over 100 trade partners, media and bloggers enjoyed the first-hand experience of the MYOH event, which has been successfully popularised in cities like London, New York and Manila.

I was honoured to be invited to customise a pair of my own Alvinology Havaianas flip-flop  together with my wife Rachel.

Upon arrival on the VIP Day, we were warmly greeted by Havaianas and ushered into the Takashimaya h store, decked in colourful Brazilian-inspired Bonfim wish ribbons for the occasion. The specially customised ribbons were also handed out for us to don around our wrists to mark the start of the customisation journey, guided along by friendly Havaianas retail staff.

Enthralled by the enticing selection of soles, straps and decorative pins, Rachel and I were spoilt for choice and took a while to settle on similar matching red soles as a couple. We chose different strap colours and pins to maintain individuality.

After making our selections, our very own pair of customised Havaianas flip-flops were assembled and delivered on-the-spot, with the staff carefully checking with us the precise customisation we want at every step.

Following the fanfare on the VIP day, the MYOH event officially opened to the public over the weekend, from 14 – 15 July 2012. Over a short span of two days, Havaianas proved to be a fashion powerhouse as hundreds of consumers queued patiently to fulfil their desire of creating a pair of Havaianas flip-flops that truly expresses their individuality in free-spirited style.

“There could not have been a better way to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary than to introduce a fresh concept like the Make Your Own Havaianas event to Singapore. Havaianas is more than a flip-flop – it expresses fun and happy fashion with a carefree spirit, and we want to inspire our consumers with these positive brand values through a special customisation event. We are exhilarated and thankful for the love and response we have received through this inaugural engagement. This is not just about designing flip-flops, but also an activity to create beautiful memories with our fans as they join us in celebration of Havaianas 50th birthday,” said Rachel Ang, Marketing Manager of Havaianas Singapore.

Havaianas launched their first standalone h store in Singapore in 2009 and has since expanded to five h stores island-wide.

ABOUT HAVAIANAS

Created in 1962, Havaianas (pronounced ah-vai-yah-nas) is today a world-wide phenomenon and one of the most iconic and successful products of Brazil. Celebrated for its strong Brazilian flavour of colour, vibrancy and positivity, its charm lies in its secret rubber recipe, which makes Havaianas flip-flops buttery-soft, flexible and durable. From limited-edition series, unexpected designs, to brand collaborations paying homage to fashion capitals of the world, Havaianas continues to win over new generations of consumers! Havaianas has graced the feet of everyone, such as designers Christian Louboutin and Michael Kors, supermodels Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston, sports icon David Beckham, to royalty such as Queen Silvia of Sweden.

2012 marks a pivotal milestone for Havaianas as it celebrates 50 years of rich brand heritage and iconic history. From its humble beginnings in 1962 as a basic footwear necessity, this best-loved Brazilian flip-flops has flourished into a celebrated fashion and lifestyle phenomenon! All the Havaianas in the world are lovingly made from a single factory in Brazil, a strong testament to the brand’s originality! Today, Havaianas continues to represent the universal identity of fun lifestyle and happy fashion.

h Stores in Singapore: