How can you tell if a Hawaiian shirt is vintage?

Asked by: Abby Brown

Buttons: The earliest and best vintage Hawaiian shirts have buttons made of carved wood, coconut shell, seashell, or metal. Later, plastic buttons came into use. The earliest plastic ones are a simple cat’s eye style, some with intricate and distinctive patterns.

Are vintage Hawaiian shirts worth anything?

Almost any vintage Aloha shirt in good condition may pique the interest of collectors, with many specimens selling for between $50 to $500, but the most valuable shirts are the rayon specimens produced between 1945 and 1955. And some of those have fetched from $10,000 to $15,000 at auction.

What makes an authentic Hawaiian shirt?

The Aloha shirt (also referred to as the Hawaiian shirt) is a style of dress shirt that can often be worn for casual or smart/casual events. These shirts are printed with floral patterns, usually feature short sleeves, and have a collar. Traditionally, they have been worn by men but women can also wear them.

Are Hawaiian shirts Considered 80s?

HAWAIIAN SHIRT
Also known as the Aloha shirt, the Hawaiian print was one of the many bold prints popular in the 80s. A stylish way to show a carefree attitude.

What era are Hawaiian shirts from?

Though its precise origins are lost to history, the aloha shirt first appeared in Hawaii in the 1920s or ’30s, probably when local Japanese women adapted kimono fabric for use in men’s shirting.

What are vintage Hawaiian shirts made of?

Quick Guide: How to ID Vintage Hawaiian Shirts

Do Hawaiian shirts have to have flowers?

Contemporary aloha shirts may have prints that do not feature any traditional Hawaiian quilt or floral designs but instead may incorporate drinks, palm trees, surf boards or other island tropical elements in a similar form as the traditional aloha shirt.

Are Hawaiian shirts 90s?

Hint: you’ll probably find it in dad’s closet. Remember dad’s Hawaiian print shirt that you begged him to throw away? Well, it turns out it might come in handy and find a place in your wardrobe.

Were Hawaiian shirts popular in the 90s?

Mid 1990s fashion
Animal prints and bright colors were popular carryovers from the early 1990s. Men’s clothing also featured bold prints, the most common being Hawaiian and paisley patterns, sports jerseys, graphic t-shirts, leather jackets, and velvet blazers.

Is it OK to wear Hawaiian shirts in Hawaii?

The short answer is: absolutely. Many Hawaiians and locals wear aloha shirts (aka “Hawaiian” shirts) practically every day including at work, parties, dinner, or just a casual BBQ. They’re everywhere. In fact, a nice button-up collared aloha shirt is considered formal wear in a lot of places on the islands.

Were Hawaiian shirts popular in the 50s?

No matter how they started, they blossomed in the 50s as air travel boomed to Hawaii and the shirts became a standard souvenir for tourists returning to the mainland. Nothing beats a good celebrity endorsement to get a product moving.

Who is famous for Hawaiian shirts?

The undisputed king of Hawaiian shirts is and always has been Tommy Bahama. They’re still making some of the best vacation pieces around, such as this Piña Paradise shirt. It’s 100% silk to match any five-star resort in laid-back luxury, and the tropical foliage print is classic through and through.

Are Hawaiian shirts authentic?

Today, the shirts represent an exchange of cultures exported around the globe and commercialized to the masses. You’ll likely encounter floral and all-over print shirts in the style of traditional Hawaiian shirts, but that doesn’t mean it’s authentic or a story told through its imagery.

Why are Hawaiian shirts inside out?

Hawaiian shirt fabric typically has the design printed on one side. The colors on the printed side look just like the designer intended when creating the graphics on computer. But the colors on the underside of the fabric look faded. Making an Aloha shirt “inside out” immediately gives any shirt a more subdued look.