This is my opening blog for Aloha shirts.
During the rise of the Hawaiian shirt, manufacturers from all over the world copied the widely popular themes.
Shirts from the Caribbean, Africa, California, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere started making inroads into what was once a market primarily dominated by Hawaiian makers.
The term is widely believed to have been first coined by a Honolulu based shirtmaker, Koichiro Miyamoto (aka Musa-Shiya). Known for his poetic advertisements, he placed an advertisement in the Honolulu Advertiser June 28, 1935:
"Honolulu's noted shirt maker and Kimono shop. 'Aloha' shirts - well tailered, beautiful designs and radiant colors. Ready-made or made to order... 95 cents and up"
The 95 cent shirt from Musa Shiyas shop today sells for thousands. If you can find one.
Other sources place the appearance of the product into the late 1920s, but the term 'aloha shirt' was coined at a time when the word 'aloha' was being attached to a great many saleable goods.
The term was copywritten in 1936.
Today, it is understood that a Hawaiian shirt, to be a true hawaiian shirt, should be from Hawaii... but is often not. An aloha shirt must be made in Hawaii.
I enjoy messing with people's heads! I read that Aloha Shirts are often are printed on the inside so when you look at it, the outside colors are muted. I think it's called a "reverse print" and people think the shirt's worn inside out.
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