Footwear brand extends into new category with licensee Safilo.

Brazilian apparel company Alpargatas has partnered with Safilo to create a new line of Havaianas-branded eyewear in agreement that extends through 2021.

The new Havaianas eyewear collection will be designed, developed, manufactured and distributed by Safilo worldwide beginning in the second half of 2016.

"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,” says Carla Schmitzberger, global director, Havaianas. “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 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,” says Luisa Delgado, chief executive officer, 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.”