Ipanema
First made famous by the bossa nova rhythms of the 1960s, Ipanema is the most glamourous neighbourhood in Brazil. Situated in the south of Rio de Janeiro those who visit say it is home to the most beautiful people in the world. It’s spirit and soul is drawn from the culture that emanates from the stunning beach sitting adjacent to the Copa Cabana. The stunning tropical sunshine entices the beautiful people to surf and sunbathe through the day and dance in the coolest bars and clubs into the night.
It is from this culture that the inspiration is derived for iPANEMA footwear. The 2010 collection is overflowing with the happy and exotic spirit of Brazilian beaches. This Summer’s styles are a variation of bright colours adorning exotic and bold prints. Crystals, charms and gemstones cling to straps like sea urchins. The beautiful wave-like tiles of the sidewalk that runs parallel to the sand feature throughout the collection. These flip flops and sandals are the focal part of your beach outfit.
Our products represent much more than fashion though. We have a strong environmental and ethical influence that aims to preserve all this natural beauty for generations to come. This year’s collaboration with Gisele Bündchen supports a marine preservation charity - The Tamar Project. It is this strong sense of social responsibility coupled with cutting-edge technologies that create the unique style of iPANEMA.
iPANEMA RJ
Simple yet sophisticated, stylish yet subtle. This is the iPANEMA RJ Flip Flop by Oskar Metsavaht that combines cutting edge design and technology to form the hottest piece of footwear this summer.
The foot bed imitates the white sand, with ‘ipanema’ quite literally written in the sand. The toe strap takes its inspiration from the intricate texture of fish scales. When wearing IPANEMA RJ your footprint leaves behind an impression that mirrors the transition from sea to sand to the famous tiled walkways of Ipanema.
Oskar Metsavaht is the designer behind the popular Brazilian luxury brand Osklen. He prefers to think of himself as an artist who creates fashion collections through a creative process as opposed to a fashion designer per se. He has also produced a film with his brother which goes some way to showing his creative versatility.
Design
Our designs are unique and have many special features. Here we explain some of them you will find on our styles.
Sandal
Keeps you locked in all day with an ankle strap - these are great for all day wear.
Wedge
A higher heel makes is perfect for dressier styles. Great to wear whilst having cocktails by the beach bar!
Plastic
You may or may not know that most flip flops are made of rubber - you may not even care! However, you will once you’ve tried ours that are made from patented super-soft melflex plastic. Melflex is an unbelievably flexible plastic which allows us to be super-creative with our designs. It also means you will be super-comfy! Not only this but it is also hypo-allergenic and 100% recyclable PVC which means our shoes are some of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable around.
Anatomic
Our anatomic soles are designed for both comfort and protection. They are moulded to wrap around every contour of the sole. This means that less pressure is placed on your body when walking which can only be a good thing - you can stay out in the sun all day now!
3D
Our unique technology allows so many brilliant features, 3D is definitely one of our favourites though! How often do you buy a pair of flip flops due to the design on the in-step only to be disappointed that once you put them on it is nowhere to be seen? Well thanks to 3D this will never happen again! Our 3D designs wrap all around the flip flop so even when you put them on you can still see the design on the side, all the way around!
Moulded
We have been making plastic shoes for years so no-one has as many or continues to make as many designs as us. Why? Plastic shoes are made in moulds and that means we can do pretty much anything with them. We get more and more adventurous every year!
Finishes
We go a bit further when we’ve made our shoes. Just as other manufacturers would be putting them in their boxes we like to make them just that little bit more interesting. Whether it is a glittery shine or a matt coating, a crystal or a charm we put the icing on the flip flop!
Gisele Bündchen Collaborations
Supermodel and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Giselle has been working with iPANEMA since 2002. As a model she has graced the covers of virtually every top fashion magazine including being on the cover of Vogue for three consecutive issues in 2000. She has also starred in campaigns for Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Givenchy, Lanvin and Luis Vuitton amongst a whole host of others. Her charity work spans the globe and represents a variety of crucial issues.
It is alongside her work for the UN’s Environment Programme that Gisele’s collaborations draw inspiration. For 2010 the collaboration will be supporting The Tamar Project - a Brazilian marine conservation project helping to protect the five endangered species of turtle that inhabit the Brazilian waters. The collection itself is called “Colourful Sea” referencing the beauty and diversity that is found in our oceans. Mixes of tones, waves and the fluidity of energy and life bring this collection of flip flops and sandals to life.
The Tamar Project
The Tamar Project will have been operating for 30 years in 2010 - a perfect opportunity for iPANEMA and Gisele Bündchen to celebrate this with their collaboration “Colourful Sea”. Internationally recognised as one of the most successful socio-environmental efforts in marine conservation, The Tamar Project is dedicated to the protection and research of the five species of marine turtles found in the waters of the Brazilian coast - around 700 miles in total. Over the past 30 years the project has released nearly 10 million baby turtles into the ocean off the east of Brazil.
The survival of these turtles, all of which are endangered species is crucial not only to themselves but to many other species of fish and crustaceans, corals and reefs. Marine turtles carry key nutrients through the seas spreading them to all of these lifeforms that rely on them for survival. By helping to protect these turtles, the waters of the world will continue to produce the remarkable spectacle of colour and life that the collaboration is celebrating.
The support provided by the iPANEMA/Gisele Bündchen collaboration will help to build new attractions at the visitors centres ran by The Tamar Project. Increased visitor numbers will provide the funds to invest further in research projects and egg protection zones - currently only 1 in 1,000 turtle eggs laid on Brazilian beaches survives to be a healthy adult.
Ethics & The Environment
Our shoes are produced with a strong ethical stand point. Wherever possible we try and do things in a way which promotes the environment. Here are just some of the ways in which we do this:-
- We use only 100% synthetic materials to produce our plastic and flip flops (this means they are suitable for vegans too!).
- 99% of any “waste” from the production process is recycled - meaning there is virtually no waste!
- Our plastic lasts far longer than ordinary rubber flip flops however should you decide it is time for a new pair they can be recycled due to our patented clever PVC.
- Our plastic is far more environmentally friendly than rubber as it is recyclable. Rubber is much more difficult to recycle due to it being produced using crude oil.
- We control all of the production process so we can be confident that everything is done properly.
- Our employees are all adults and are treated properly.
- We have and continue to work with charities and foundations for the preservation of the environment. You can read more about this work here.
About Flip Flops
A flip flop in it’s most basic form is an open piece of footwear with a thong toe-strap that sits between the big and second toe.
The flip flop was born closest to it’s current form in South East Asia during the 1940s. Much debate rages over whether it was a New Zealander, Morris Yock or an Englishman (living in Hong Kong), John Cowie who was first to think of creating a plastic version of the traditional Japanese woven soled zori or jonge sandals.
Nowadays the flip flop takes on much more interesting designs but the theory is still the same - a thong-strap holding the toe connected to a sole. There are many varieties but our favourites must be:-
Rubber remains the most common form of flip flop however our fantastic plastic is most certainly the best!
Around the World...
Here’s what they are known by in different countries...
Jandals (New Zealand)
Chappal (Hawaii)
Qainchi Chappals (India/Pakistan)
Thongs (Australia and Canada)
Slops (South Africa)
Ojotas (Spain)
Chanceletas (Central America)
Chinelos (Brazil)
