Freddy Gonzalez: Flip-flopping to success

Freddy Gonzalez is admittedly a laid-back kind of guy. He’d rather surf than be on the turf. So it’s only natural that he discovered the nationwide craze that is Havaianas. It has become the staple in almost everyone’s wardrobes, mine included.

For our makeover, I put Freddy in sexy street clothes, which made Freddy blush a little. Although he was no guido, we also primped him with delicious, all-natural products from VitaMan from Essenses. As he posed for power lensman Frank Hoefsmit, he sheepishly said, "This is why Anne does all the promotions."

Here’s Freddy’s take on modern tropical fashion.

How do you feel about the dressed-down culture of the Philippines?

It is nice to see people dressing down more and more these days, but I believe that you can only dress down when it is appropriate to do so.

How do you describe your own style?

I am a pretty laid-back and simple guy, so it really comes out in my choice of clothing as well. My everyday fashion has always been heavily influenced by skate and surf culture — since I was six years old.

Flip-flops at a fancy dinner resto: yes or no?

I would have to say that it depends upon the rules of the restaurant and what kind of dinner you will be attending. If it is a formal event, I would say no. But if it is a semi-formal or casual event and the restaurant allows flip-flops, then I would say yes.

Fave flip-flop from Havaianas?

I have a lot of Havaianas but I always tend to wear the Top style in dark brown. It goes with anything.

What is your uniform?

A T-shirt, usually by Lost, jeans or shorts, and Havaianas.

What’s your fave look on a woman?

There are so many great looks on a woman, but one look that stands out for me is a crisp white polo and jeans.

Fashion don’ts?

Never wear white athletic tube socks when you are dressed up — big pet peeve of mine.

What makes Havaianas special and hot after all these years?

What makes Havaianas really special is the quality of the product. We have been around since 2002 and people keep coming back for more, not because of all the styles we come out with and because it is a very fashionable product but because of the quality and functionality of the product. Being fashionable helps, but at the end of the day, the consumer will get tired of you if you don’t have a good quality product.

Most unusual way you have seen people wear them?

I saw some guy using his to help him paddle while surfing.

Most unusual request?

None so far. My wife usually handles the unusual requests.

What charities are you involved in?

I am involved with SurfAid International and I am trying to raise the awareness of the charity here, because SurfAid helps coastal areas around the world — particularly Indonesia — that are ravaged by disease and natural calamities, and I would like them to do more work here.

My wife and I are also starting to look for charities that prioritize the environment and education that we can support.

What is you dream pair of Havaianas?

I have it already in a limited-edition khaki pair that came out a few years back that they only sold in Australia.

How did you come up with such a genius idea?

I was just looking for something to do on my own and not go the typical route, which is to be tied to a person’s family business. I wanted to make my own mark in the world. The idea came about because I always wear flip-flops everywhere I go, and the Philippines is a tropical country. Flip-flops are perfect for our tropical lifestyle.

What’s next for you guys?

We are currently distributing and retailing two other brands called David & Goliath and T-Box. I also have a surf company called Aloha Boardsports that is the exclusive distributor of top surf brands like Lost, Channel Islands Surfboards, Dakine, Sector 9, and many more.

Is it hard to work with your wife?

I like working with her a lot, but of course sometimes things can get a bit stressful. But we handle it really well.