* Designers re-create custom Havaianas for charity
* Participating designer include Manolo Blahnik, Charlotte Dellal, Mary Katrantzou and more
* Proceeds will fund charity, Women for Women International
Brazilian footwear brand Havaianas has collaborated with a number of high-end designers to benefit the charity Women for Women International. But these aren’t your average pair of flip-flops.
Each designer was given a blank canvas of the classic flip-flop style and was ask to re-interpret the silhouette with their own style and adornments. The results were anything but ordinary.
Participating designers include Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, Manolo Blahnik, Mary Katrantzou, Nadja Swarovski and Simone Rocha. Designers were given free range to recreate the classic flip-flop sandal to their liking, and they certainly did not skimp on the creativity.
The Dsquared2 x Havaianas pair re-imagined the shoe as a purple, high-heeled thong sandal, complete with bright orange lace-up straps and seashell details, while Simone Rocha offered a more subtle customization, adding her signature delicate pearls to a black pair. Mary Katrantzou — as per usual — played with bold colors, adding a layered platform to her adaptation. Swarovski added glitter embellishments to her series with wording spelling out “sisters,” to promote the idea of female empowerment.
Dsquared2 x Havaianas
Each of the designer’s re-interpretations of the shoe is in line with the charity’s mission and reflects the message that they aim to promote, Women to Women executive director Brita Fernandez Shchmidt told WWD. “We support women in areas of conflict who have gone through traumatic situations, but if we are not positive, we won’t be able to change anything. The designers really got it and went for that spirit of positivity and sisterhood. There are so many different designers, which is great because our aim is not to put women in boxes, to show that they can be anything.” Each pair of the re-invented flip flops will be displayed at Somerset House and auctioned on July 1 to raise funds for the Women for Women International charity.
Mary Katrantzou x Havaianas