Business · Companies · 20 hrs ago
Havaianas agrees to change sandal collection name after community objection
Artisans and residents of Ilha do Ferro challenged Havaianas over a sandal collection named after their traditional Boa-Noite embroidery.
Ilha do Ferro is a community in Pão de Açúcar municipality in Brazil’s Alagoas state, where the embroidery is passed down through generations and practiced mainly by women.
The community’s cooperative of embroiderers and residents’ association say they were not consulted or included in creating the product.
They also argue that the sandal’s printed design does not represent the local craft, and want the embroidery’s name and the community’s name removed from the product.
Havaianas has agreed to change the collection name and says it is taking steps to do so.
The name had not yet changed on the company’s website or partner sellers when they were checked.
The company is in contact with community representatives to discuss next steps and the possibility of future partnerships.
A cooperative of embroiderers and a residents’ association from Ilha do Ferro objected to Havaianas using the name of their traditional Boa-Noite embroidery for a sandal collection.
They said they were not consulted and that the sandal’s print does not represent their craft.
Havaianas said a trip to Ilha do Ferro inspired the product and that it has accepted the request to change the collection’s name.
The company said it is in contact with community representatives to discuss possible future partnerships.
The sandals were listed for R$94.99, and the name had not yet changed on Havaianas’ sales portal or partner retailers when Folha checked.
- Who
- Havaianas, the Ilha do Ferro Embroiderers’ Cooperative and the Ilha do Ferro Residents’ Community Association.
- What
- The community groups objected to Havaianas using the name of their traditional Boa-Noite embroidery for a sandal collection. Havaianas agreed to change the collection’s name.
- When
- The report was published on November 8, 2026. Havaianas said it had been in contact with community representatives since the previous week.
- Where
- Ilha do Ferro, in Pão de Açúcar municipality, Alagoas, Brazil.
- Why
- The community groups said they had not been consulted and that the sandal’s print did not reflect their embroidery and its identity.
Ilha do Ferro community groups
Havaianas
Use of the craft’s name
Ilha do Ferro community groups
They say the name was used without consultation or authorization and should be removed.
Havaianas
The company says a trip to Ilha do Ferro inspired the sandal and says it accepted the request to change the name.
Connection to the craft
Ilha do Ferro community groups
They say the sandal’s print does not reflect the technique, beauty or identity of their embroidery.
Havaianas
The company says the product resulted from a search for inspiration in different regions of Brazil.
The community learned about the product after a link was shared in a WhatsApp group, according to community leader Dirceu Dias.
Havaianas said it had been in contact with Ilha do Ferro representatives.
Folha reported that Havaianas had accepted the community groups’ request to change the collection’s name, though the name had not yet changed on the sales sites checked.
- Collection name
- Havaianas Top Boa Noite
- Traditional craft
- Boa-Noite embroidery
- Community location
- Ilha do Ferro, Pão de Açúcar municipality, Alagoas
- Sandal price
- R$94.99
- Company owner
- Alpargatas
- Report publication date
- November 8, 2026
What people are saying
What angers us is to see that everything happened without any embroiderer, resident or our association being consulted, included, informed or asked for authorization.
Using the name of our art without truly listening to us is not a fair tribute to our people; it is appropriation of what belongs to us.
Since last week, the brand has been in contact with representatives of Ilha do Ferro to jointly build the next steps and discuss the possibility of a future partnership.