Safilo recently launched Havaianas Eyewear Collection, which embodies Brazil’s spontaneous vibrancy at a #BacktotheBeach party this past weekend.
Created by Robert Fraser in 1962, Havaianas is a Brazilian brand of flip-flops inspired by Japanese zōri sandals. Fraser became the first to mass-produce flip-flops out of rubber; with the brand name derived from the feminine form of the Portuguese word for “Hawaiians.” Today, Havaianas are the most popular flip-flops in the world, with 200 million pairs being sold every year; and now the essence of Havaianas has translated into Eyewear; and is projected to become the coolest Eyewear brand amongst trendsetters.
With the intention to diversify their offering, 2018 presents Havaianas’ proud partnership with Safilo, as they launch their first Eyewear Collection worldwide. Launched in August 2016 in Brazil, the birthplace of Havaianas; the Collection is finally ready for global expansion; and this colourful fusion of Brazilian heritage, merged with the spirit of Summer street style; translates perfectly into Havaianas Eyewear.
With two Collections scheduled to launch per year, Spring/Summer in January and Fall/Winter in August; for the first time in South Africa, the Havaianas SS18 Eyewear Collection was officially unveiled to the Media as well as a host of stylish South African Personalities and Trendsetters at a Brazilian Beach Barbecue at Sandton Sun’s San Deck; hosted by the effervescent Taryn Louch, sporting Havaianas Noronha sunnies and a Brazilian inspired colourful kaftan. Just when guests thought that their Summer holiday was a distant memory, the deck was transformed into one of Brazil’s most renowned beaches with a fiesta of flavour, colour, food and a seriously instagrammable floral sunglass installation.
Sipping on Summer with their Bacardi rum jam jars, guests swayed to the sounds of DJ Kimmy K on the decks, and hostess and Safilo Group Brand Ambassador, Taryn Louch, proved that no Brazilian Barbecue is complete without some samba or salsa, because one thing that Brazilians are really good at is moving. Dancing with the Stars host Chris Jaftha took her up on the dance challenge, whisking her around the dance floor, before partnering up with contestant Thembisa Mdoda to practice some moves ahead of Dancing with the Stars, premiering on M-Net on Sunday, the 4th of February.
Guests looked slick and sexy in their kaftans and cut-offs including Leanne Dlamini, Poppy Ntshongwana, Lalla Hirayama, Chris Japhta, Kyle Deutsch, Stacey Holland, Thembisa Mdoda, Craig Jacobs, Ayanda Nhlapo, Shashi Naidoo, Khanya Mkangisa and Paledi Segapo were spotted in the shabby chic beach shack trying on the selection of Havaianas SS18 sunnies.
Defined by creative colour combinations and distinctive design details, such as the Havaianas logo on the left temple and the Brazilian flag on the right temple; product innovation paired with unparalleled product quality, leveraging off Safilo’s mastery when it comes to craftsmanship, will establish the brand within the Eyewear Industry.
The Havaianas SS18 Eyewear Collection offers easy-to-wear styles in a variety of shapes, sizes and colour combinations, and sees 5 shapes, 3 materials and 4 sizes on offer, with the round Floripa shape as a new offering for January 2018, as well as the size offering in extra large, which is a global first. Rocking their reflections were LeAnne Dlamini looking bold, bright and beautiful in her kaftan, and Safilo Group Brand Ambassador Zuraida Jardine looking chic in her monochrome ensemble.
Crafted in five shapes, including Pilot, Cat-eye, Panthos, Square and Floripa, Havaianas is fast becoming a global lifestyle brand. Lifestyle by design, boasting seasonality as well as on-trend offerings; even the packaging is setting trends, with each pair of sunglasses sold in colourful neoprene pouches in a variety of options. Combined with a long-lasting product offering, unique design and a rainbow of exciting colours, the sunglasses promise to have the same success of the original Havaianas flip-flops.
The Havaianas SS18 Eyewear Collection features sunglasses produced in three different materials, including rubber, acetate and polyamide; in sizes ranging from small and medium, to large and extra large. The lenses have UVA/UVB protection and an array of finishings including solid, gradient and mirrored.
The colour combinations have been baptised with the names of famous Brazilian beaches, such as Rio, Paraty, Trancoso, Noronha and Floripa. The sunglasses sport the Havaianas rubber finishing, featuring the famous rice pattern that is also present in the sole of the flip-flops.
Every season presents new colour stories, and for January 2018, Dandy, Pop Mirror, Lolly Pop, Paraty XL, Brasil, Black Mirror, Crystal Mirror and Candy are designed to surprise, and afford wearers the opportunity to express their individuality through creative colour combinations.
There is no style more attractive than the authenticity of an individual; and there was no individual more authentic in taking guests back to the beach than pop doc Kyle Deutsch with his chart-topping track Back to the Beach. He treated guests to a surprise guest performance by Kelly Khumalo, as well as a sneak peek of his latest track Crazy, which hasn’t yet been released.
Guests were the first to get a glimpse at this colourful Collection, as they will only be available in South Africa towards the middle of March at selected sunglass spots, such as EyeCandy in Hyde Park Corner, The Eyemakers, Sunstoppers Gateway in Umhlanga, Interoptika at the Mall of Africa and The Havaianas store at Sun City.
Beach babes and boys in attendance were gifted a pair of coveted sunnies from the Havaianas SS18 Eyewear Collection, as well as a pair of Havaianas flip-flops.
The Havaianas Eyewear Brazilian Beach Barbecue festivities presented many firsts, and from the beach to the bar, similarly to Havaianas flip-flops, the sunglass selection is designed to take guests from day to night, which they certainly did as the sun set across the Sandton skyline.
It’s all about the Brazilian Summer, and if you were made for Summer, then the Havaianas SS18 Eyewear Collection was made for you.
