The word "Taygra" hails from the Guarani language of native indigenous people, and it carries meanings such as "Divine Seed," "Man's Pollution," or even "Son of God." It is also the Portuguese phonetic equivalent of the charismatic hero from the animated series "Thundercats," a character who is part-tiger and part-human, fighting against evil to save the planet.
TAYGRA was born in 1989 in the state of Minas Gerais, starting as a small artisanal venture in the backyard. Its early success can be attributed to its artisanal and original ballet flats, which were not only lightweight but also exceptionally soft. Initially popular among athletes (in sports like football, martial arts, and dance), it later won over a broader audience, including tourists who saw TAYGRA's minimalist footwear as the perfect lightweight souvenir and ideal gift.
In 2006, TAYGRA's profile expanded internationally through a partnership with a French company. With this growth came a commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, all while preserving its human touch and artisanal craftsmanship. Additional footwear models were introduced to cater to a diverse customer base.
Today, the brand manufactures a variety of footwear models and has diversified into a line of luggage and clothing, always upholding its core values: comfort, originality, artisanal and vegan production, 100% Brazilian identity, and ecological responsibility. These products are crafted using materials sourced from industrial recycling or sustainable alternatives, including organic cotton, Amazonian vegetable leather, recycled truck canvas, and repurposed inner tubes.
Furthermore, to offset its industrial impact on the environment, TAYGRA launched a distinctive ecological and social initiative in 2009: CURUPIRA. Its primary aim is to regenerate the Amazon rainforest in areas previously degraded by pasture and undergrowth, transforming them into native tree plantations. For every product sold, a symbolic "active eco-participation" contribution is made to sustain this program, generating income and raising awareness among small rural producers until the project reaches its final stage. Through this cooperative Amazon reforestation project, TAYGRA underscores the notion that planting trees can yield greater profits than the destructive cycle of deforestation followed by cattle ranching or soybean cultivation.
