September 17, 2009 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
A glimpse of paradise through the beautiful designs of countless vintage Hawaiian shirts.
Item #4: Vintage Andrade Rayon Hand Drawing Hawaiian Shirt
Availability: Explore eBay for Vintage Andrade Hawaiian Shirts
Decade: 1940s
Label: Andrade, Honolulu
Fact: For as long as there has been life on the Hawaiian islands spearfishing has been evolving in to the sport it is today. Modern spearfisherman usually wear wetsuits because they reach cold depths – sometimes beyond 100 feet and without a breathing apparatus. Oxygen is preserved by using weights and over-sized fins which allow them to exert as little energy as possible during their descent.
Approximate value: $1000
July 29, 2009 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
A glimpse of paradise through the beautiful designs of countless vintage Hawaiian shirts.
Item #3: Vintage Kuu-Ipo Hula Girl Hawaiian Shirt
Availability: Explore eBay for Vintage Hula Girl Hawaiian Shirts
Decade: 1970s
Label: Kuu-Ipo, Hawaii
Fact: Hula was originated in the in the Hawaiian Islands by Polynesians. The dance is meant to accentuate the “mele” which is accompanying song or chant. There are numerous forms of hula, “ancient hula” being the purest as it is performed without Western-influence.
Approximate value: $500
July 3, 2009 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
A glimpse of paradise through the beautiful designs of countless vintage Hawaiian shirts.
Item #2: Vintage McGregor Rayon Cabana Hawaiian Shirt
Availability: Explore eBay for Vintage McGregor Shirts
Decade: 1940s
Label: McGregor, USA
Fact: The coconut was first brought to the Hawaiian islands from the South Pacific homelands of early Polynesian travellers. Florida and Hawaii are the only states in America that coconut palms can be grown without irrigation.
Approximate value:Â $500-$800
Photos coutesy of: owtbyd
View the previous Hawaiian Haven entry: vintage Duke Kahanamoku shirt.
June 9, 2009 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
A glimpse of paradise through the beautiful designs of countless vintage Hawaiian shirts.
Item #1: Vintage Duke Kahanamoku Marlins Hawaiian Shirt
Availability: Explore eBay for Duke Kahanamoku Shirts
Decade: 1950s
Label: Duke Kahanamoku, Cisco
Fact: Shortly after the advent of the motor boat a marine biologist by the name of Charles Frederick Holder founded big-game fishing in 1898. Kona in Hawaii benefited from the pioneering days of the sport because of fish that were close to shore and accessible by boats from that era.
Approximate value:Â $200-$500
January 6, 2009 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
Say Aloha to Alfred Shaheen who passed away on December 22nd, 2008. His desire for fashion wasn’t faux pas since it was stitched in to his DNA. In the late 1930s his parents settled in Oahu, Hawaii and operated a garment manufacturing business while Alfred attended school studying math, physics, and aeronautical engineering. When WWII began Alfred enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew 85 missions during his tenure. Once the war ended he returned to Hawaii where his parents enlisted him in the family business.
Alfred decided to expand the family business to include Hawaiian shirts and other Hawaiian inspired women’s fashions. He took it upon himself to engineer his own machinery to create the fabric and designs in-house rather than importing them. He scoured local junkyards for parts and was able to MacGyver his first machine. Eventually he spearheaded construction of an 8 million dollar factory/showroom which housed 400 employees.
Contrary to other reports, Shaheen didn’t invent the Hawaiian shirt, they existed well before he did. Better yet, think of him as the Henry Ford of Hawaiian fashions. He revolutionized the mass production of it, introduced new manufacturing methods and techniques that changed the garment industry forever.
He’s not the only vintage clothing icon we lost in ’08. We’re pretty sure him and recently diseased vintage western shirt pioneer Papa Jack are up there somewhere shooting the breeze over a fruity cocktail.
If you’re thinking of snapping up a vintage hawaiian shirt, pay homage to a legend and make it a vintage Shaheen. Click here to view the one’s currently up for grabs on eBay.
