THIS year’s edition of Obrigado, Havaianas’ gratitude gathering, brought out the inner artists from the print media and blogging community. The flip-flop giant rolled the origine, the brand’s version of the espadrille, and handed each guest a pair to use as canvas.

Origine, just like the espadrilles, makes the ideal summer footwear. It’s cool and easy to wear. Pairs well with pants or shorts, a-shirt or long-sleeved shirt, in cotton or linen. It can project a relaxed and chic look totally unperturbed by the summer heat.

Well, we were given a pair. A pair I have been asking the owner years back when I saw it online. I finally got to own one, in denim, no less. The indigo-hued fabric exudes a very Japanese vibe to it.

Should I dare paint on it?

“The best designed shoes will win the Havaianas slides, the newest footwear in the line-up,” said Feb Lim, MarTish sales manager.

Maybe I should.

The artists in the room picked up their brushes and started painting on their personal canvasses. The results were amazing.

Maybe it was good call to keep my pair the way it is. I didn’t stand a chance against the artistry of the young artists.

Who won? I have yet to find out, but I had to decide, I would let everyone take a pair of the new Havaianas sliders. They all deserve it.

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