Some fashion comebacks feel forced. This one feels earned. Havaianas has just relaunched the TRADI — the very flip-flop that started it all back in 1962 — and honestly, it was only a matter of time.
The TRADI was the original. For more than three decades, it was the only style Havaianas made. That signature rice-pattern sole, the minimalist straps, the pared-back construction — it became a staple of Brazilian everyday life before flip-flops were even a global fashion conversation. Now, after years of absence, it’s back.
A Campaign That Captures Brazil
To mark the relaunch, Havaianas commissioned Rio-born photographer Raf Moura to shoot the campaign — and the results are stunning. Rather than the usual studio-polished imagery, Moura captured the rhythm of actual Brazilian life: beaches, city streets, the texture and warmth of a country where Havaianas has always just been part of the furniture.
Alongside the campaign imagery, Havaianas staged a cultural showcase in São Paulo. Designer Pedro Andrade (P. Andrade) presented a runway concept exploring how the original flip-flop translates within today’s fashion landscape — a question worth asking, given that the TRADI’s bones are as clean and relevant now as they were six decades ago.
Brazilian singer João Gomes performed live at the event, with award-winning actress Bruna Marquezine among the guests. It was the kind of launch that felt less like a marketing exercise and more like a genuine celebration.
What You Can Buy
The TRADI is available now on havaianas.com in four colourways: the original traditional blue, pink, black, and a limited-edition brown. If you’re going for the heritage play, the blue is the obvious choice — it’s the one that started everything.
Footwear that carries 60-plus years of cultural weight and still looks this clean doesn’t come along often. The TRADI earned its legacy the slow way — by being exactly what it needed to be, nothing more. That’s still true today.
