Origins

The origins of Kenner are closely connected to Peter Simon, a Brazilian businessman and surfer. According to a study published through SciELO, the original concept emerged from Simon’s interest in creating footwear suited to a young, surf-oriented lifestyle. The design emphasized a soft footbed, rubber sole, and nylon straps, prioritizing comfort while maintaining a distinctive appearance.[2] The first Kenner sandals reached the Brazilian market in 1988, initially sold through Redley and Cantão, two fashion brands associated with Simon. Early marketing and distribution were closely tied to the surfwear identity of Redley.[2] The sandals quickly gained traction among surfers and subsequently became fashionable among young consumers in Rio de Janeiro, evolving from a niche surf product into a broader youth-fashion phenomenon.[2]

Development of the brand

Kenner eventually developed an identity independent of being solely a surf sandal. Its large, recognizable sole, substantial proportions, soft footbed, and distinctive strap designs became key elements of the brand’s visual language. The company behind Kenner is now part of Grupo S2, a Brazilian fashion group whose history also includes Cantão and Redley. Grupo S2 identifies Kenner as one of the brands created within its portfolio and dates its creation to 1988.

Kenner’s identity is built around the idea of doing things differently. Rather than positioning its products simply as inexpensive beach flip-flops, the brand treats its sandals as fashion and cultural objects. Kenner emphasizes three major characteristics:[1]

• Comfort — ergonomic fit and soft, lightweight footbeds
• Distinctive design — unusual, bold silhouettes intended to stand out
• Durability — emphasis on materials and construction intended for long-term use

The company describes Kenner as a brand connected to street life, contemporary music, artists, creatives, and athletes, representing an evolution from its original surf association into a broader urban-cultural identity.[1]

Although Kenner is most strongly associated with sandals, its product range has developed considerably. Its principal category remains sandals, including models built around its characteristic thick sole and prominent strap construction. The Brazilian store currently features numerous models and collections, including products such as the NK6 and Makho.[3] The brand’s product philosophy can be summarized as a large silhouette combined with soft comfort, durable construction, and recognizable branding. This approach has helped distinguish Kenner from conventional flat flip-flops and contributed to its fashion-oriented image.

Rakka technology

A recent technological focus for Kenner is its proprietary Rakka Sole Technology. The international brand site presents Rakka as part of Kenner’s emphasis on combining technological development with comfort and durability.[1] This is significant to Kenner’s positioning because the brand attempts to make its sole technology part of its identity rather than treating the sandal simply as a commodity product.

Kenner’s importance in Brazil extends beyond footwear. The brand grew out of Rio de Janeiro’s surf culture, but its cultural reach subsequently expanded into youth fashion and street culture. Its substantial sandals became recognizable as part of a particular Brazilian urban aesthetic. Kenner now explicitly associates itself with Brazilian street culture, surf and beach culture, urban fashion, music, art and creative communities, sports and athletes, and youth culture. The company describes itself as having a massive passionate fan base and emphasizes cultural diversity in its campaigns and projects.[1]

Kenner occupies the space between beach footwear and fashion footwear. While a traditional flip-flop is generally treated as a basic functional product, Kenner has made the shape of the sole, proportions, branding, materials, and styling central to the product’s identity. This gives Kenner a position analogous to other brands that turned a functional item into a recognizable fashion object. Its strategic evolution can be understood as moving from surfwear to Brazilian youth fashion, and finally to streetwear and lifestyle. This trajectory is a primary reason Kenner became a recognizable cultural brand rather than remaining simply a sandal manufacturer.

Kenner states that its products are produced in-house and that it invests in technological and ecological solutions and materials. The international brand highlights its use of selected raw materials, comfort technologies, and durability as central parts of its product proposition.[1] The Brazilian company’s official website identifies the operating company as Brockton Indústria e Comércio de Vestuário e Facções Ltda., with an address in Piraí, Rio de Janeiro.[3]

Kenner belongs to Grupo S2, a Brazilian fashion and lifestyle group. The group’s history dates back to 1967, when Peter and Leila Simon established Cantão. The group later created Redley in 1985 and Kenner in 1988. According to Grupo S2, the three brands eventually became part of a consolidated portfolio under S2 Participações, now known as Grupo S2. This shared history explains why Kenner developed alongside Brazilian surfwear and casual fashion rather than emerging as an isolated footwear company.

Although Kenner’s strongest cultural roots remain in Brazil, the brand increasingly presents itself as an international lifestyle label. Its international website explicitly describes its mission as taking its Brazilian street-culture identity “from Brazil to the world.”[1] The brand’s global positioning focuses on its distinctive aesthetic, Brazilian origins, comfort technologies, and relationship with contemporary culture.[1] Kenner serves as an example of a Brazilian brand attempting to export not merely a product, but a cultural aesthetic associated with Brazil.

This brand should not be confused with Kenner Products, the former American toy company. Kenner Products was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1946 by Albert, Philip, and Joseph Steiner and became famous for toys such as the Easy-Bake Oven, Play-Doh products, and Star Wars action figures.[4] It was eventually acquired by Hasbro, which absorbed the Kenner product lines.[4] The Brazilian Kenner footwear brand, by contrast, was founded in 1988 and is associated with Grupo S2.

Kenner demonstrates how a relatively simple product category like sandals can become a cultural symbol. Its trajectory began in 1988 when it was founded in Brazil, initially associating with surfers and the beach lifestyle. It was subsequently adopted by a wider young audience in Rio de Janeiro, leading to recognition as a style product. The brand then expanded into music, art, athletics, and urban fashion before beginning to present Brazilian street culture to international audiences.[1]

1. About Kenner
2. Brasil – Sandálias Kenner Sandálias Kenner
3. Sandália Kenner: Mais que Chinelo | Loja Oficial
4. Kenner Products