The NFT craze shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon and Havaianas, the iconic Brazilian flip flop brand, is the latest to jump on board.

Artist Adhemas Batista, who’s worked with Havaianas in the past, has created five unique Non-Fungible Tokens - from a new shape created by the brand - that will be auctioned on May 12 on the NFT auction platform Foundation. Seven percent of the profits will be donated to Favela Galeria, a São Paulo-based gallery focused on bringing art to the local community.

Batista was born and raised in São Paulo’s Zona Leste where Favela Galeria is located and exhibited works there in the early years of his career. He worked with Havaianas back in 2005 and has called the NFT collection Felicidade (the Portuguese word for "Happiness") as a nod to their ongoing partnership. Batista explains: “My intention is to bring a smile to one's face in the middle of this chaotic world. It is not about trying to fight chaos, but looking on the bright side and trying to embrace opportunities.”

Fernanda Romano, CMO at Alpargatas, Havaianas parent company, says on the release: “Our intention was to enter the conversation in an authentic way, and art is part of the history of this brand. For more than twenty years we have collaborated with artists and graphic designers, whether as a canvas (through prints on products) or in our advertising works, which are recognized and celebrated worldwide. But we wanted to tell a story, a good one at that, and that's why we thought about Adhemas.”

In its 60 year history, the shape of Havaianas flip-flops has changed very little, setting the precedent for flip-flops the world over. With the NFTs, Batista and Havaianas have taken advantage of their digital nature to explore new possibilities and each of the NFTs presents a new flip flop design that does not exist in physical form. At least not yet.

Join the auction on May 12 at Foundation.