Why it belongs in ORBIS
Footwear brand founded in 2015 in Honolulu by CEO Alejandro Porras, inspired by reactions to Menorcan avarca sandals; design is now based in Barcelona with production by artisans in Spain and Portugal. Uses a pre-order, on-demand model to limit overproduction.
Alohas was founded in 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii, by Alejandro Porras, who remains the brand's CEO. According to the brand's own account, the idea began after Porras saw how people in Hawaii responded to his avarcas - a simple sandal style from Menorca, Spain - leading him to build a footwear label around reinterpreting Spanish avarca and espadrille designs. The brand's creative and design work is now based in Barcelona, with production carried out by artisan manufacturers in Spain and Portugal. Alohas markets itself chiefly on its on-demand production model: rather than manufacturing full runs in advance, it waits for confirmed customer demand before producing a style.