Safilo Group of Italy has secured a global license from the Brazilian footwear and apparel company Alpargatas to make Havaianas-branded eyewear through 2021.
The growing popularity of the Havaianas flip flop brand in the United
States and Europe enabled Alpargatas to grow sales over the last year despite deteriorating economic conditions in its native Brazil.
The new Havaianas eyewear collection will be designed, developed, manufactured and distributed by Safilo across the world through an extensive distribution network, starting from the second half of 2016.
“We are thrilled about this new partnership and trust. We have an exciting opportunity – the unique vibrant Brazilian personality of Havaianas with its iconic creative simplicity has inspired us to create innovative cool eyewear with broad appeal for the world”, commented Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo Group, “With Havaianas, we add significant value to our portfolio and strengthen our corporate play in the fast growing big mass-cool consumer segment, as anticipated by our 2020 Strategic Plan.”
Carla Schmitzberger, Global Director for Havaianas, added: “With eyewear we now take the joy of Havaianas further to the total look. It is for us a strategic category with long-term potential. We are delighted to count on Safilo as our strategic eyewear partner who offers unique best in class capabilities, product design leadership, longstanding know-how, focus on quality, innovation and proven high quality distribution. We feel that we share a common vision for this exciting business opportunity, and approach it with shared focus on customer satisfaction.”
Safilo Group creates and distributes premium sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear in over 130 countries around the world. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses proprietary brands Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo and Oxydo and more than two dozen fashion brands, which are distributed largely through department stores and boutiques.
In addition to owning Havaianas, Alpargatas distributes Mizuno and Timberland in Brazil and Argentina alongside its own athletic and team footwear and apparel brands.
