We know it as the Hawaii Chappal.
It is the simplest footwear imaginable – a piece of plastic, roughly the outline of your foot, with a crude strap holding the sole to your toes.
Yet, the brand Havaianas has taken the humble flip-flop to new heights.
Selling about 200 million pairs every year, it is a domestic and international phenomenon.
It was in 1962, the Brazilian major – Alpargatas – launched a new product, called Havaianas, made of rubber and enthused by the Japanese wooden sandals, Zori.
Like the Indian 'Chappal' they were made only in one blue-and-white design and worn out of home ,only by the poor.
The company maintains that the first variation happened by accident in 1969, when one batch turned out green and became a surprise hit.
This happenstance became a secret of their success: they took a simple design and started experimenting.
It never looked back. Today, across the country, there are whole shops dedicated to them. Rows and rows, in all colours and styles. There are strappy ones, shiny ones, ones in the colour of your favourite football team, ones with huge platform wedges, bejewelled yet always 'elemental and no –fuss.'
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