Hawaiian t shirts also called aloha shirts became a symbol of Hawaii to visitors from the mainland. They were a happy medium between formality and casual wear.

Originally, Chun’s shirts were made of silk but later became popular when synthetic fibers like rayon became available. Shirts made from blends of cotton and rayon are soft, comfortable and wrinkle-resistant.

Origin

The origin of Hawaiian shirts is a bit fuzzy. But the shirt became famous when the city of Honolulu passed a law in 1947 allowing public servants to wear tropical prints during the summer, as a way to beat the heat. This simple act spawned an entire movement of businesses and civil service departments following suit.

Another claim to fame for the aloha shirt was made when the song “Hawaii Five O” by musician Jimmy Buffett became a hit. The song’s image of a shirt with coconut palm trees, pineapples, hula girls and outrigger canoes inspired tourists to seek out the shirts.

There are a few people who say they invented the aloha shirt, but there’s no one definitive source. Chun trademarked the term in 1936, but a Honolulu businessman named Musashiya Shoten was selling shirts using Japanese kimono fabric at the same time. Musashiya also printed shirts with traditional Hawaiian motifs. He even rented space in Waikiki’s Ala Moana Shopping Center to advertise his shirts.

Styles

Authentic Hawaiian shirts are typically made from cotton or rayon, and are known for their vibrant patterns and tropical themes. They represent Hawaii’s natural beauty & the Aloha spirit of kindness, harmony & hospitality.

They were originally tailored in local tailor shops or at plantation towns and Waikiki. Later, they were available at dry goods stores that offered pre-printed cloth from China & Japan. In addition to printed silk, rayon (the first synthetic fabric) became popular in the mid-1940s.

Today, Hawaiian shirts are worn by tourists and locals alike. They can be worn casually for a day at the beach or to dress up for a luau. Many businesses even hold a casual Friday policy so employees can wear Hawaiian shirts and dresses with pride!

Scenic Hawaiian shirts, such as this one by Fair Harbor, have prints that show off the scenery. This shirt would look great cruising along the Amalfi Coast or at a Luau in Maui.

Fabrics

Hawaiian shirts are typically made from lightweight fabrics that offer breathability and comfort. They can be crafted in cotton, rayon, silk or blends of these materials. Cotton-nylon and polyester-nylon blends are popular for making Hawaiian shirts because they can be durable, wrinkle resistant and soft.

Viscose is another commonly used fabric for Hawaiian shirts. It’s a semi-synthetic fabric that is made from natural sources like wood pulp, cotton linters or bamboo cellulose. It’s similar to silk but not quite as delicate and drapes beautifully over the body.

Some people prefer to wear a Hawaiian shirt that’s made of silk because it feels luxurious and elegant. It also drapes well and can be dyed in a wide range of colors. Viscose dries quickly, which is a plus for hot and humid climates.

Prints

Hawaiian shirts come in an array of colors and patterns, but they all share a relaxed, vacation vibe. From bold floral designs to tropical motifs, there’s something for every style.

In the 1930s, Watumull’s East India Store commissioned Elsie Das to create fifteen floral designs that became the progenitors of modern Hawaiian shirts. The Hawaiian print shirt became even more popular after WWII, when service members returned from the Pacific and brought the clothing back to the mainland.

Today, many Hawaiian shirts are made from lightweight cotton or cotton-polyester blends that feel comfortable in warm weather and can be wrinkle resistant. Some are also made from rayon viscose, a natural fiber that’s soft and breathable. These shirts can be dry cleaned, which keeps them from shrinking and helps keep the colors vibrant. They’re often decorated with plastic buttons, although coconut, metal, wood, and shell buttons are also used. In the past, some Hawaiian shirts were printed on both sides of the fabric and had no buttons.