Havaianas turned green by accident — a manufacturing error made Brazil's brand colorful

Havaianas was launched in 1962 by the Brazilian manufacturer Alpargatas S.A. The flip-flops were inspired by Japanese zori sandals, made from rubber, and sold in a single blue-and-white design. They were a cheap, utilitarian product for Brazil's working class — functional, not fashionable.

In 1969, a manufacturing error caused a batch of flip-flops to turn green instead of the standard blue-and-white. The company had not intended to produce colored flip-flops. The green batch was a mistake — a chemical or pigment error during the rubber mixing process that produced an unexpected color.

The green flip-flops gained sudden popularity. Consumers wanted the unusual color. Alpargatas, seeing the demand, began introducing more color variations and designs. The accidental green batch demonstrated that consumers wanted choice, not just the cheapest option.

The green batch of 1969 is credited with starting Havaianas' expansion into multiple colors. Over the following decades, the brand introduced hundreds of colors, patterns, and styles. Havaianas went from a commodity flip-flop to a global fashion brand, selling over 200 million pairs per year in more than 100 countries.