Hot on the heels of its collaboration with LA design studio Reality to Idea, Havaianas has traveled further afield to Japan to partner with the country’s streetwear heavyweights, A Bathing Ape.
Havaianas has built its legacy as the ultimate flip flop purveyor but also as one of Brazil’s most cherished exports, even serving as the official footwear for the Brazilian team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
But as it approaches its 60th anniversary, the brand has been revisiting its earliest years and in particular its connection to Japan, the country that provided the inspiration for the very first pair of Havaianas.
The story goes that Havaianas founders came across thse Zori sandal on a trip to Tokyo and, inspired by its practicality, decided to recreate its three-pronged design using rubber, a material better suited to the hot and humid Brazilian climate than straw and fabric. The shoe was a huge success and became an essential part of Brazilian life.
On the brink of entering its 60th year, Havaianas has been exploring its historical ties to Japan. Last year, Havaianas partnered with Mastermind to launch the Tradi Zori, a bulkier flip-flop silhouette inspired by the angular sole of the traditional Zori sandal, and the collaboration with BAPE is a continuation of this coming together of the Brazilian and Japanese cultures.
The collection counts two models, the Tradi Zori and the Top, which feature BAPE’s iconic ABC camo printed on the footbed. The Tradi Zori is available in white and steel grey, and the Top in three vibrant summery colors.
Shop the Tradi Zori
Learn more about the drop at havaianas.com.
