Mens Hawaiian Shirts

History of the Hawaiian shirt

The Hawaiian shirt, made for the first time just before the turn of the 20th Century, has become a classic symbol of the relaxed lifestyle that so many of us associate with Hawaii and an overall simpler and calmer way of life. Hawaiian shirts, originally called the Aloha shirt, were conceived in the 1930s by native Hawaiians who used the remains of kimono fabric to tailor the very first "button-down" styled Hawaiian print shirt ever introduced to the Islands or to native Hawaiians.
While the patterns and styles of the fabrics were colorful, imaginative and exotic, the button-down design was a part of a religious Anglo suppression of the Hawaiian natives — religious leaders from Europe and the Americas felt that the typical native dress was “savage” and so they had them create Western styled silk and Cotton Hawaiian shirts and clothing with the materials on hand. Hence, the Hawaiian shirt was born.
While the origins of these colorful and fun-to-wear garments have something of a dark side due to the oppression of those who originally created them, the progression through the years has made Hawaiian aloha shirts an emblem of all that is good in life — relaxation, taking in the joy and beauty around you and most of all, these cotton, silk or rayon Hawaiian shirts literally show what is best about where the originated from. Hawaiian shirt designs feature Hula dancers, palm trees, scenes of ocean tides, coconuts, numerous flowers that are indigenous to the islands of Hawaii and much more.

Hawaiian Shirts Today

Almost anyone who has ever worked in an office environment knows about “Hawaiian shirt Day.” This is a day, usually a Friday, where the staff of a company is offered the chance to come to work in a Hawaiian shirt and relaxed pants such as jeans or khakis with flip-flops or Hawaiian sandals.
The main purpose of Hawaiian Shirt Dayin most offices is to send a message to the employees that a day has been set aside to have a little fun, to relax a little bit, and to realize that they are appreciated for all of the hard work they do each and every day in the office.
There are all sorts of other Hawaiian shirt party celebrations, such as Hawaiian themed Barbeques and pool parties, get-togethers with friends and families, work picnics and all sorts of other gatherings. Cotton Hawaiian Shirts and clothing, in less than 100 years, gone from being a simple garment worn by natives of the Islands during a Western transformation to one of the most highly recognizable garments in the world. When you see someone wearing a Hawaiian Aloha shirt, you won’t have to ask them what kind of shirt it is — the famous patterns, bright colors and overall celebratory feel of Hawaiian shirts and Hawaiian sun dresses make them wildly popular and even more importantly, tons of fun to wear!