Think Positive Aloha

Think Vintage Hawaiian # 1752 recoloured 3 ways

Middle-aged men who feel compelled to adopt leisure wear in warmer climates (particularly cruises) have given Hawaiian bad rap in the past, but if anyone can make these prints cool again it’s Stella McCartney. As the label continues to get bolder with print we love her take on this old favourite for her 2012 Resort collection.

Stella McCartney Resort 2012

Hawaiian shirts were initially made by locals at the insistence of Christian missionaries during the nineteenth century who wanted to put a stop to local nakedness. The designs were adapted from local textile artworks printed on tapa cloth, woven from the bark of the ‘wauke’ plant. The prints have never had any religious or spiritual significance but were merely artistic representations of their beautiful landscape, with waves, hibiscus flowers, frangipanis and aloha girls commonly featured.

Hawaiian shirts grew in popularity during World War II with armies of soldiers passing through Pearl Harbour, only to explode during the 1950s when Hawaii became the holiday destination of choice with the advent of faster, affordable air travel. John Galliano drew on this era of sailor boys and their pin-up ladies for Christian Dior’s ‘South Pacific’-style Spring 2011 collection with bright palm-frond prints in orange, purple and lime, paired with nautical jackets, white parkas and aviators.

Christian Dior Spring 2011

Hawaiian prints remained the uniform of beach goers throughout the 60s and 70s, finding a particular following within Californian surf-skate culture. While it may be hard not to render them naff Americana their kitschy tropical motifs and casual appeal are always guaranteed to draw a smile.

VJ Day, Honolulu Hawaii, August 14, 1945 from Richard Sullivan on Vimeo.

(Beautifully restored footage of the day the Japanese surrendered ending WWII. Shot on Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki)