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In comparison to the two previously mentioned heritage brands, Tommy Bahama is a relative newcomer. The brand creates new patterns each season, but its heritage print collection draws from iconic patterns from its 84-year history utilizing modern day fabrics.Īnother heritage brand, Tori Richards was founded during the 1950s and lives by its tagline of “Resort is a State of Mind.” This lifestyle brand is made in Hawai’i. KahalaĬlaiming to be “the original aloha shirt since 1936, Kahala is also the oldest operating apparel company in Hawai’i. While they have gone up and down in popularity over the decades, they have always remained in style even if only for vacation attire.Īnd while fashion brands like Prada and Gucci have created their own aloha shirts in recent years, here are some of my longtime favorite brands, along with one newly acquired option. I personally have one that features Santa Claus in beach attire hanging out at a tiki bar with a hula girl. There are so many patterns to choose from. Even on the gloomiest of days, it hard to not have your spirits lifted when wearing colorful couture.
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Let’s face it, we can always use a little more color in our lives. Kahala Who couldn’t use a little more color in their wardrobe They pair well with shorts, khakis, and even jeans. In some geographic settings, they can even be worn year-round. And while they can be tucked in, why would you want to? While they are most often associated with tropical vacations, the truth is that they can be worn anywhere. These shirts are designed to be worn untucked. Historical and cultural icons have worn themĮlvis Presley and Tom Selleck wore the shirts for big and small screen appearances while President Harry Truman had a personal collection of them. Over the ensuing decades, Hawaiian Aloha shirt fabrics began to feature more island-inspired prints including hula girls, palm trees, and tropical motifs.Īs if you really need one, here are my top reasons to wear these expressive shirts regardless of your proximity to The Aloha State. Early shirts were likely made with leftover fabric from Japanese kimonos and featured traditional Asia-inspired prints. And while the actual origin of these shirts remain almost as legendary as the islands themselves, most agree that the current iteration of the aloha shirt emerged in the 1920s or ‘30s. However, in recent years, they are currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. And while I had a few tropical shirts throughout high school and college, it wasn’t until my mid-late 20s that I began to embrace and maintain a selection of these shirts in my wardrobe.Īs with many fashion trends, aloha shirts have ebbed and flowed since their inception.
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