History of the Hawaiian Shirt
Written by Hannah Roberts
Many of us love colorful Hawaiian shirts! Exploring the history of Hawaiian shirts, also known as the Aloha shirt, we see that it can be traced to the 19th century and to the early western missionaries. Those missionaries thought that covering the recent Christianized natives would be more appropriate than allowing them to go topless. In the 1930s, Hawaiian shirts started to be produced commercially. One of the pioneers of the Hawaiian shirt was a Waikiki, Honolulu, Chinese merchant named Ellery Chun. Mr. Chun was the owner of the well-known King-Smith Clothiers and Dry Goods store. He was born in Honolulu in 1909 and died in 2000 at the age of 91.
Ethel Chun Lum, Ellery’s sister, helped shape the history of the Hawaiian shirt. Ethel made brightly colored, short-sleeved shirts from leftover pieces of kimono fabric. In 1936, Mr. Chun trademarked the term “Aloha Shirt” for his products. He placed a sign on his window shop that read, “Aloha Shirt,” which ignited the success of his business. His continued modifications and promotions led to the shirts’ popularity, which continues to this day. The shirts were enormously popular and sold mainly to the local residents, surfers, tourists and boys who loved the beach. Hawaiian shirts were improved by the use of rayon fabric, which made the shirts the ultimate souvenir for tourists.
The shirts became more popular throughout the United States in the 1940s and 1950s. Even celebrities wore them! In fact, Elvis Presley had a collection of Hawaiian shirts that he used in his performances.
Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, wore Aloha shirts. He was featured in a 1951 issue of Life magazine wearing one. Frank Sinatra and Montgomery Clift also wore Hawaiian shirts during the motion picture From Here to Eternity.
These vibrantly colored shirts serve as the symbol of the Hawaiian Islands, and their appeal has spread throughout the world. It is currently the premier textile export from Hawaii.
For more information, visit www.FindHawaiianShirts.info
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