Sanuk is the Thai word for "pursuit of happiness." It is also the name of a company whose footwear embodies the laid-back lifestyle. The company's name, style, logo, and even their directors are testament to the Sanuk approach to business and life.
Their gumby-like logo is called "Happy U." "U," as Sanuk says, "is somebody you might know. He wasn't always happy, but having escaped from the clutches of mainstream life, he is free to be the irreverent symbol of Sanuk."
The company is run by a roster of surfer who's-who's and outdoor enthusiasts. One of them is Shane Dorian, one of the most well known and respected surfers in the world. Another is Donovan Frankenreiter, who lives and breathes 70's surf culture, and who loves playing music on the side. And then there's Timmy Turner, who has made a name for himself as a modern-day surf explorer.
Like the people who run it, Sanuk sandals are very different from the run-of-the-mill black sandals one usually finds in stores. Sanuk offers a wide array of footwear to choose from, from jellies, indoor-outdoor carpet flip flops, Tarzan prints, Guatemala blanket thongs, super cushy, super commercial sandals, and very cool variations of indigenous folk art themes on leather sandals.
No wonder Sanuk was Brad Pitt's footwear of choice during a recent filming. The dashing actor was photographed speeding down the streets of Vietnam on a scooter, the lovely Angelina Jolie holding on behind him, his feet clad in black Sanuk Cruisers.
Though Sanuk is still a young brand, it has gained one of the more sought after market positions in specialty surf retailing authenticity. The Sanük sandal collection is designed for the global surf and water community. The simplicity of its architecture and its unusual sense of color and style have made Sanük the surfer insider's choice around the world.
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