The vintage Hawaiian shirt is perhaps one of the most distinctive pieces of clothing you can wear. Their signature floral print, loud colors and loose fit are a classic casual Friday look. While some people may regard them as tacky, vintage Hawaiian shirts are actually a beautiful symbol of Hawaii’s history, artistry, and diversity.
What really sets the Hawaiian shirt apart from other shirts is the colorful Hawaiian motifs featured on them. Their printed cloth shows everything from floral prints to distinctly Hawaiian scenery, and often repeats this in an alternating pattern. Much like famous clothing brands such as Reebok, Adidas or Nike, collectors will pay top dollar for authentic and unique vintage Hawaiian shirts. Often picked up by tourists visiting Hawaii, these shirts can often be found in even very remote locations, and thanks to their patterning and fit, are great for either wearing or for display.
Also known as the Aloha shirt, the Hawaiian shirt is actually the product of contributions from native Hawaiians, early westerners and immigrants, and because of this, they are incredibly varied and eminently collectible. The earliest Hawaiian shirts featured buttons made out of various naturally-occurring materials such as sea shells, wood, or coconut shell. Later, plastic buttons were introduced, and these also varied in color, pattern and texture. It’s these details that give Hawaiian shirts their unique look and separate vintage from modern shirts.
What’s interesting is that most of the designs made before 1930 are almost exclusively Asian. The reason for this is that the fabric was almost always imported from Asia until the Hawaiian shirt became popular, after which the classic “islands” design was adopted. With their colorful design and fun, carefree cut, Hawaiian shirts quickly gained popularity with locals and tourists alike, and embody the word “vacation” better than almost any other single piece of clothing.
True vintage Hawaiian shirts usually carry a higher price tag when compared to their modern counterparts, but that doesn’t mean that modern styles are any less stylish or fun. Finding the genuine article is certainly harder than going to your local department store and picking up the loudest shirt you can find. Your best bet is to look online on places like eBay for private individuals who are offering vintage Hawaiian shirts for sale. If your town has a Hawaiian goods dealer, that could also be an option as they would most likely import the Aloha shirts directly from the islands.
If you can find an authentic Hawaiian shirt and are willing to plunk down some cash, you will have a timeless piece that will certainly spark some conversations at your next pool or beach party. Of course, if you don’t have the inclination to purchase a genuine vintage Hawaiian shirt, a more modern retro Hawaiian shirt is also nice, and it won’t sting so much when you invariably stain it will some errant spillage from your Pina Colada. Again, eBay is a good place to begin your search.
From other fashion blogs:
Vintage Kamehameha Hawaiian Shirt
Early 60s Hawaiian shirt. Very Elvis; must have had swim trunks to match.
The History Behind Hawaiian Print Shirts
Because these prints have been quite popular for nearly 70 years, there are also quite a few vintage Hawaiian shirts out there. These are quickly snapped up by collectors and Hawaiian shirt aficionados.
How To Wear A Hawaiian Shirt With Confidence
Hawaiian shirts are unique and that made them very popular all over the world. Vintage Hawaiian shirts are comfortable, more than the rayon ones. Some Hawaiian shirt lovers would really dig in all places just to get one.
Keoni’s Vintage Hawaiian Shirt
John Meig’s was a famous Hawaiian shirt designer who was known for his abstract prints. This is a Keoni’s Menswear label and is a little more abstract than your traditional Hawaiian shirt.