Brazilian footwear manufacturer Alpargatas, best known for its Havaianas flip-flops, is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this month. To mark the centenary, a free concert was held at the Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo on April 21.

Entitled ‘100 Years of Brazilian Talent’, the concert featured Orquestra Talento Brasileiro (the Brazilian Talent Orchestra) conducted by João Maurício Galindo and singers included Virgínia Rosa, Rubinho Ribeiro and Céline Imbert. The orchestra's 43 musicians and guests all wore Havaianas sandals.

The company’s flip-flops were launched in 1962 and are now the mainstay of the group, which sells to 80 countries. It also owns brands such as Topper, Mizuno, Rainha, Timberland, Bamba and Conga. The employs more than 14,000 staff and has eight industrial plants in Brazil. It produced 175 million pairs of shoes in 2006.