Alpargatas, the Brazilian company behind the iconic flip-flop brand Havaianas, bounced back into the black in 2024, posting a net profit of 107.4 million Brazilian reals (€17.7 million), according to a statement released last Monday.
Havaianas’ parent company returns to profit with €17.7 million in earnings for 2024. – Havaianas
This result sharply contrasts the 1.87 billion Brazilian reals (€309 million) loss recorded by the group in 2023, according to financial statements submitted to the São Paulo Stock Exchange. In the fourth quarter of last year, Alpargatas posted a net profit of 2.1 million Brazilian reals (€350,000).
The company’s annual net revenue reached 4.11 billion Brazilian reals (€679.71 million), a 10% increase from 2023. This double-digit growth was largely driven by the strong commercial performance of Havaianas and the “normalization process of sales volume,” according to the financial report. The group recorded 3.1 billion reals in sales within Brazil. In 2024, Alpargatas sold 226.6 million pairs of Havaianas, a 9.5% increase from 2023. Of these, 204.4 million pairs were sold in Brazil, while 22.2 million were sold internationally, though overseas sales declined by 3.1%.
In the fourth quarter, Havaianas sales rose by 4% compared to the same period in 2023. Alpargatas’ EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) also returned to positive territory, reaching 280 million Brazilian reals (€46 million) in 2024. However, in the final three months of the year (October to December), the company’s EBITDA slipped into the red, posting a 1.8 million reals (€300,000) loss, representing a 99.8% decrease in losses compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.
Alpargatas owns Havaianas and Ioasys, an innovation and technology company, and holds a 49% stake in Rothy’s, a North American sustainable footwear brand. According to company data, its products are sold in over 130 countries, and the group operates directly in more than 20 markets.
Major footwear brand Clarks is inviting ‘little dreamers’ to step into the world of Roald Dahl with a new kids’ shoe collection, launching in the UK today (3 March) in stores and online.
In collaboration with The Roald Dahl Story Company, the collection includes some of its most beloved children’s stories – Matilda, The Enormous Crocodile, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.
Including “designs that celebrate imagination, adventure, and fun”, the exclusive range is “crafted for curious minds and confident steps” featuring vibrant canvas shoes and breathable sandals adorned with Quentin Blake’s unmistakable illustrations.
Foxing Air is available in both toddler and kids’ sizes, these canvas trainers feature a colourful peach pattern, centipede details on the heel tape, and rubber trims adorned with illustrations of James’ insect friends. Hidden peach motifs also come with soles stamped with the words ‘Magnifico!’and ‘Splendifico!’
Foxing Mix and Foxing Hi are vibrant purple canvas trainers feature a sweet-wrapper print, candy-striped rubber trim, and a hidden Golden Ticket detail on the tongue. They channel the magic of Willy Wonka’s factory and both styles have ‘ I’ve Got a Golden Ticket’ scripted across the soles.
Foxing Ace features navy canvas trainers showcasing a fearsome crocodile motif that stretches across both shoes, encouraging kids to join them together to reveal the full illustration. Featuring ‘Munch’ and ‘Crunch’ wording on the soles and ‘Snap! Snap!’ printed across the fastening straps.
Foxing Bow, a tribute to the small-but-mighty Matilda, is an off-white canvas sneaker adorned with an all-over letter print and signature red bows. With ‘Brave’ and ‘Mighty’ scripted on the soles.
Men’s high-end online fashion platform Mr Porter has launched its Spring Wardrobe Campaign from today (3 March).
Mr Porter
Showcasing “coveted essentials and must-try trends”, the 43-piece new season edit includes “the elevated nostalgia” of A.Presse workwear-inspired silhouettes, refined tailoring from Gucci, lightweight outerwear from Saint Laurent, understated denim from Tom Ford and shirting from Dries Van Noten “form versatile foundations for the season”.
Finishing touches range from fine jewellery by David Yurman, to accessories by Bottega Veneta and footwear from Mr P.
Buying director Daniel Todd said: “With our Spring Wardrobe campaign, Mr Porter continues to be the go-to destination for menswear, with our coveted brand list and unrivalled edits making the shift to warm weather dressing effortless and enjoyable.”
The launch follows quickly on from Mr Porter’s first campaign of 2025, releasing ‘The New Essentials’, a 44-piece edit collection at the end of January. It too is focused on a curated collection of new-season essentials and “key investment pieces… designed for the ultimate capsule wardrobe that effortlessly blends modern tailoring with elevated staples” from Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Mr P, The Elder Statesman, Saman Amel, Stòffa and Bode with accessories from Tom Ford, Drake’s and Métier.
Online sizing technology provider Makip says it’s “rapidly expanding”, and if confirmation is required, the business has officially entered the UK market, establishing Makip London Limited.
The Japanese company, whose online sizing technology Unisize is a provider to major retailing brands such as Lacoste, Fred Perry and Calvin Klein, calls entering the UK “an important step in accelerating its global expansion and is part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in overseas markets”.
Commenting on the continued expansion in the UK, Shingo Tsukamoto, president of Makip, said: “Establishing our UK subsidiary is just the beginning. Our goal is to ensure that the products we have refined in Japan are equally valued in the UK market.
“Together with our overseas team, we are committed to taking on the challenges faced by UK retailers to deliver performances worthy of the reputation we have built over a decade of working in Japan and becoming the most popular online sizing technology. Looking ahead, I aim to position Makip, and Unisize, as a leading name in UK Fashion Tech within a few years.”
He noted that the issue of “inadequate size information in apparel e-commerce leads to persistently high return rates.
“This has increased the return handling costs for retailers and raised environmental concerns as returned products are often discarded. Unisize addresses these issues as has the user data to prove it.”
Tsukamoto concluded: “By identifying local needs and offering a unique and highly accurate online sizing service we aim to help UK retailers overcome the challenges they face with online sizing and enhance the overall online customer experience.
“The establishment of Makip London Limited is just the beginning, we will continue to grow our market presence, listen to the local needs and experiences of our customers and offer true business value by both increasing sales and reducing returns.”