Brazil’s shoe industry is one of the most dynamic and important in the world. It combines a long history of design with the ability to make shoes on a large scale. Brazil has the biggest economy in Latin America and it is responsible for a lot of the region’s demand and production capacity. This is because it has a strong industrial base, a growing consumer market and government policies that support the use of new technologies.
The Brazilian shoe market was still very competitive in 2025. Even though there were problems all over the world, local brands were able to grow and stay strong. Companies that manufacture in the US have distinguished themselves by producing more goods and generating higher profits. They do this by being creative, designing things that are comfortable and managing their businesses well. Arezzo&Co and Grupo Soma joined forces in 2025 to create Azzas 2154, Brazil’s biggest fashion company. Combining production, distribution and branding in this merger should make the market for high-end shoes stronger.
This carefully chosen list has five well-known shoe companies that sell shoes in Brazil. They were chosen because they had a strong market presence, a large production scale, a strong brand portfolio, the ability to come up with new ideas and a positive impact on the country’s fashion and industrial ecosystem. This overview is helpful for anyone who is interested in the Brazilian shoe industry, whether they are an investor looking for opportunities, a retailer looking for partners, or a consumer who wants to learn more about the country’s shoe history.
How We Selected the Top Footwear Companies in Brazil
We evaluated the companies featured in this list using the following general criteria:
- Production Scale and Market Presence: the number of employees, the size of the factory and the area it serves
- Portfolio of Brands Strength: Different types of consumers recognize and buy owned brands.
- Export Reach: Being in international markets and helping Brazil’s shoe exports grow
- Investing in comfort technologies, eco-friendly practices and new designs is an example of innovation and technology.
- Industry Recognition: Market leadership, awards and strategic developments
List of Top 5 Footwear Companies in Brazil
- Grendene S/A
- Calçados Beira Rio S/A
- Azzas 2154 (Arezzo&Co + Grupo Soma)
- Calçados Pegada
- Alpargatas (Havaianas)
A Closer Look at Each Footwear Company
1. Grendene S/A
Grendene S/A is one of the largest shoe makers in the world and Brazil’s largest shoe exporter. The business began in 1971 in Farroupilha, Rio Grande do Sul and now has about 11,200 workers. It has production units in many parts of Brazil, such as Ceará and Bahia. As of January 2026, Grendene’s market capitalization was 4.83 billion BRL, which shows how big it is in the market.
Key Brands and Products
- Melissa is a well-known brand of women’s shoes that is known for its stylish and elegant designs. It is also known for working with well-known designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Vivienne Westwood.
- Ipanema: Stylish and comfortable flip-flops and sandals for women and kids
- Rider: Sporty styles for both men and women that focus on beach and leisure activities
- Grendene Kids, Zaxy, Cartago and Grendha
Production Scale and Global Presence
Grendene is the biggest company in the world that makes sandals. The company mostly makes shoes and other synthetic footwear out of plastic. The company is Brazil’s biggest shoe exporter and sells its goods to more than 90 countries. Grendene runs its business by using Brazilian creativity, global technology and new ideas all the time. Innovation, efficiency and sustainability are the three main parts of its business model.
Notable Strengths or Differentiators
Grendene’s biggest strength is its product variety and international shipping. The company has many different brands that appeal to different types of customers. For example, Melissa is trendy, Ipanema is laid-back and Rider is sporty. Grendene is dedicated to being environmentally friendly by using 40% recycled rubber in Havaianas (through Alpargatas, a separate company) and keeping B Corp certification for some of its businesses. The company can meet the needs of many different markets and customers around the world because it has offices in strategic locations and is present in many countries.
Contact Information
Website: www.grendene.com.br
2. Calçados Beira Rio S/A
Calçados Beira Rio S/A is one of Brazil’s biggest shoemakers. It was started in 1975 in Igrejinha, Rio Grande do Sul. More than 9,000 people work for the company directly in 11 factories, where they make more than 380,000 pairs of shoes every day. Beira Rio is now the market leader because it focuses on fashion and innovation, runs the business well, puts money into research and builds strong ties with the fashion world.
Key Brands and Products
- Vizzano: A brand of women’s shoes that is a subsidiary of another company
- A wide range of products, from women’s shoes to fast fashion
- The best stores around the world display the products and they ship them to more than 85 countries.
Production Scale and Recent Developments
In Brazil, Beira Rio has 11 factories. They said they would build their first factory outside of Brazil in northern Argentina in February 2026. To meet local demand and keep trade balanced in the area, the factory will be able to make 3 million pairs of shoes a year. The company has big plans and thinks the area will grow, as shown by this expansion.
Notable Strengths or Differentiators
Beira Rio got its start in the fashion world in the early 1980s and it has been a leader in new ideas ever since. The company makes shoes that are stylish, comfortable and beautiful by using new technologies and materials in smart ways. Unlike its competitors, it can change with the times and stay strong in the fashion business. Because the company cares about quality and customer service, it is a top brand in Brazil and other places.
Contact Information
Website: www.beirario.com.br
3. Azzas 2154 (Arezzo&Co + Grupo Soma)
The merger of Arezzo&Co and Grupo Soma in 2025 to form the largest fashion conglomerate in Brazil is the biggest event in Brazilian fashion history. We expect this strategic merger to strengthen the premium footwear market by leveraging synergies in production, distribution and branding.
Key Brands and Products
- Arezzo: High-end shoes and other things for women
- Schutz: High-end women’s shoes sold all over the world
- Anacapri: Comfortable shoes for everyday wear
- Alexandre Birman makes high-end shoes for women.
- Farm, Animale, Fábula and other Grupo Soma clothing brands that also sell shoes
Market Position and Strategic Importance
The merger creates a huge company in Brazil’s high-end market by combining Arezzo&Co’s shoe-making skills with Grupo Soma’s clothing strength and retail distribution. This merger gives Azzas 2154 a strong chance to be the leader in omnichannel strategies, product development and brand building in Latin America’s biggest fashion market.
Notable Strengths or Differentiators
The best thing about Azzas 2154 is that it has many different products at different prices and for different types of customers in the high-end fashion market. The company can use the synergies between its brands to its advantage. For example, Grupo Soma stores sell shoes, Arezzo stores sell clothes and both stores share back-end infrastructure. Euromonitor says that this merger will make the market for high-end shoes much stronger. The company is in a favorable position to keep growing because it can deal with market polarization, which is when customers are interested in both high-end and low-end products.
Contact Information
Website: www.azzas2154.com.br
4. Calçados Pegada
One of the best shoe companies for men in Latin America is Calçados Pegada. It began in Dois Irmãos, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1989. The company has offices in Europe, the US and Canada. It has set up shop in more than 10,000 places and sells its goods to more than 60 countries.
Key Brands and Products
- Pegada: Core brand focused on men’s footwear
- The brand offers a diverse selection of shoes suitable for men, women and children, encompassing boots, sandals, casual shoes and dress shoes.
- Levitech and Amortech are two companies that make proprietary comfort technologies.
Production Scale and Technology Focus
Calçados Pegada has factories in Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul and hires about 1,100 people. The business wants to stay on top of the latest trends in fashion and technology around the world. Levitech and Amortech are two of the company’s comfort technologies that set it apart from other shoe companies. These technologies let customers make shoes that are modern, comfortable and stylish.
Notable Strengths or Differentiators
Calçados Pegada is different from other brands because it is a leader in the men’s shoe market. This is because it always puts comfort, new ideas and high-quality materials first. The company’s technologies meet the growing need for shoes that look good and feel comfortable all day. This trend has sped up because of changes in work and lifestyle. Pegada has been able to bring Brazilian comfort technology to markets all over the world while still making high-quality products in Brazil. It has offices all over the world and does a lot of business with other countries.
Contact Information
Website: www.pegada.com.br
5. Alpargatas (Havaianas)
The famous Havaianas brand makes Alpargatas one of Brazil’s most famous shoe exports. Havaianas is the most popular brand of flip-flops in Brazil. In the early 1960s, the company began making them on the beaches of Brazil. At first, the brand’s insoles were all white and the straps were a different color. Surfers started flipping their Havaianas insoles over to make them their own, which the company’s designers liked. This is why they made them in so many colors.
Key Brands and Products
- Havaianas: Brazil’s iconic flip-flop brand, now available in countless colors and styles
- Alpargatas bought Osklen, a high-end lifestyle brand known for its environmentally friendly practices and beach-to-street style.
- Mizuno: Sports shoes (distribution rights in Brazil)
- Extras and lifestyle add-ons
Sustainability and Innovation
Havaianas uses 40% recycled rubber in their shoes today, which shows how much they care about the environment. Alpargatas has established itself at the intersection of affordable luxury and environmental sustainability. Since its acquisition in 2021, the Osklen brand has garnered numerous accolades for its commitment to advancing “socio-environmental practices in the fashion industry.” For instance, it makes things out of recycled cotton and plastic bottles. Osklen calls its style “New Luxury,” which mixes classic, eye-catching design with environmentally friendly practices.
Notable Strengths or Differentiators
Havaianas is one of the most well-known brands in the world. The name itself has become a symbol of Brazilian beach culture and casual comfort. The brand’s change from basic shoes to fashion accessories (with partnerships with high-end and streetwear brands) shows great brand management. Alpargatas’ portfolio strategy, which combines mass-market Havaianas with high-end Osklen, appeals to people of all income levels while keeping the brands’ identities separate. The company’s journey toward sustainability, which includes using recycled materials and wanting to become a B Corp, is in line with the growing demand for brands that act responsibly.
Contact Information
Website: www.alpargatas.com.br
Honorable Mentions: Other Notable Footwear Companies
The Brazilian footwear ecosystem includes numerous other players worthy of recognition:
- Piccadilly: A domestic manufacturer that stood out in 2025 by increasing production and sales through innovation and design focused on comfort and smart management.
- Usaflex is a brand that sells comfortable women’s shoes directly to people.
- Santa Lolla is a very popular brand of women’s shoes and accessories in the US.
- West Coast: Sports-based casual shoes
- Vulcabras makes casual and sports shoes under the Olympikus brand and other licensed international brands.
- Via Uno: Trendy women’s shoes that are sold all over Brazil
Adidas and Nike are two of the most well-known brands of sportswear and they are also popular in Brazil. They had 19% and 22% of the market share in 2025, respectively. They stayed on top by coming up with new ideas and using different channels. More and more people are shopping at new stores like On and Sol Sports because they have high-tech products and AI-powered customization.
How to Choose the Right Footwear Company in Brazil
- Assess Brand Portfolio Strength: Companies like Grendene and Azzas 2154 offer diversified brand portfolios covering multiple consumer segments, providing stability and cross-selling opportunities.
- Think about the size and capabilities of the production: When making partnerships, think about the production capacity, the use of new technologies and the quality systems. Beira Rio has 11 factories that make 380,000 pairs of shoes every day, which shows that they can work on a large scale.
- Think about Export Experience: Grendene is in more than 90 countries and Pegada is in 60 countries, which shows that they have a strong export system. If you want to work with companies that send goods to other countries, these are excellent ones to look at.
- Look at your promises to be eco-friendly and creative. Companies that use their technologies (like Pegada’s Levitech) and eco-friendly materials (like Alpargatas’ recycled rubber and Osklen’s eco-collections) are more likely to be able to meet the needs of customers in the future. Find out how companies make themselves stand out. Knowing if they are in the mass market (Havaianas), the high-end market (Azzas 2154), or the
- Find out how companies make themselves stand out. Knowing if they are in the mass market (Havaianas), the high-end market (Azzas 2154), the male-focused market (Pegada), or the fashion-forward market (Beira Rio) will help you reach your goals and target market.
- Keep an eye on strategic developments: Beira Rio’s factory in Argentina is getting bigger and Azzas 2154 is merging, which shows their strategic ambition and could lead to new partnership opportunities.
Brazil’s shoe industry is made up of large-scale factories, well-known global brands, new design ideas and a growing reputation for being environmentally friendly. There are five companies profiled: Grendene S/A, Calçados Beira Rio S/A, Azzas 2154, Calçados Pegada and Alpargatas (Havaianas). In this ecosystem that is always changing, each one has its own strengths and market position.
Grendene has the biggest production scale and is the leader in exports, with famous brands like Melissa and Ipanema reaching more than 90 countries. Calçados Beira Rio is a wonderful example of industrial excellence and smart international growth. The company plans to build its first factory outside of Brazil in Argentina. Azzas 2154 is the future of high-end Brazilian fashion. It combines Arezzo’s shoe-making history with Grupo Soma’s clothing strength through a historic merger. Calçados Pegada is the leader in comfort technology and the men’s market, with unique products and a large global reach. Alpargatas is a leader in Brazilian lifestyle branding and sustainability through its Havaianas and Osklen brands, which are known around the world.
The Brazilian shoe market is still changing because of stable economies, a growing focus on comfort and sustainability and strategic mergers that are changing how businesses compete. The market is becoming more divided as consumers choose both high-end and low-end products. Women’s shoes are the most popular. This trend is making all categories more valuable. To get ready for future growth, businesses are investing in eco-friendly materials, AI-powered design and IoT-enabled retail.
Brazil’s shoe industry has world-class manufacturing capabilities, strong brand equity and is becoming more in line with global sustainability standards. This makes it a wonderful place for international buyers, investors and partners. The companies listed here make the best Brazilian shoes. They are creative, high-quality and good at business, which helps them compete successfully in both domestic and international markets.
We encourage readers to explore these companies further, review their brand portfolios and sustainability commitments and assess which partnership best aligns with their strategic objectives.
FAQ
1. What types of footwear do Brazilian companies typically produce?
Brazilian shoe companies make many different types of shoes. They make women’s fashion shoes (Arezzo, Vizzano), sandals and flip-flops (Havaianas, Ipanema), casual and formal shoes for men (Pegada, Rider), shoes for kids (Grendene Kids), sports and athletic shoes (Olympikus, licensed global brands) and shoes that are comfortable (Usaflex, Piccadilly). The industry has products in every price range, from cheap to expensive.
2. How large is Brazil’s footwear industry?
Brazil is one of the countries that makes the most shoes. Grendene, for instance, has more than 11,000 employees and Beira Rio makes 380,000 pairs of shoes every day in 11 factories. Hundreds of thousands of people work for hundreds of companies in the industry. The largest groups are in Bahia, Ceará and Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil is also the country in Latin America that sells the most shoes.
3. Are Brazilian footwear companies focused on sustainability?
Yes, Brazilian shoe companies are now focusing on sustainability as a top priority. Grendene focuses on making things in a way that is beneficial for the environment and works well. Alpargatas uses 40% recycled rubber to make Havaianas. Osklen (Alpargatas) has won many awards for its environmentally and socially responsible business practices, such as using recycled cotton and plastic bottles. Sustainability is influencing the design of products and the selection of materials, according to Euromonitor. Companies are going green in response to changes in regulations and customer preferences.
4. Do Brazilian footwear companies export internationally?
Yes, a number of Brazilian shoe companies do a lot of business overseas. Grendene is Brazil’s largest shoe exporter, with operations in more than 90 countries. More than 85 countries buy shoes from Calçados Beira Rio. Calçados Pegada has offices in Europe, the US and Canada and does business in more than 60 countries. People all over the world know about Brazilian brands like Havaianas and Melissa.
5. What are the major footwear manufacturing clusters in Brazil?
The main places where shoes are made are Rio Grande do Sul (with Farroupilha, Igrejinha, Novo Hamburgo and Dois Irmãos), Ceará (where Grendene has big factories) and Bahia. The Sinos Valley in Rio Grande do Sul has been Brazil’s most important place for making shoes for a long time.
6. How is technology shaping Brazilian footwear?
Artificial intelligence in design, the Internet of Things in retail and proprietary comfort innovations are all changing how shoes are made in Brazil. Calçados Pegada made the Levitech and Amortech comfort technologies. Businesses are using digital tools to plan, make and talk to customers. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are being used together to make and sell formal shoes. AI speeds up the design process and IoT improves the customer experience by making shoes that are smart and connected.
