Collect vintage 70s Hawaiian shirts for your weekend wear.
Hawaiian vintage shirts from the 1970s were influenced by the resort and leisure lifestyle and inspired colorful print details designed in a repeat pattern distinguishing these shirts from other styles. Hawaiian motifs such as florals or specific scenes are positioned in an alternating repeat formation on the printed fabric. Does this Spark an idea?
Tori Richard Hawaiian Shirts
Designers like Tori Richard, influenced by the resort and leisure lifestyle, started creating Hawaiian-inspired original patterns in 1956. The shirts were also manufactured in Hawaii. Motifs such as hibiscus flowers, palm trees and breadfruit leaf shapes as well as Asian, tropical and village motifs were used to create the bold prints of these sought after '70s patterns. As the collection and its popularity grew, these designer shirts implemented fabrics made from 100% polyester with a slight sheen on the fabric surface.
Alternate Patterns and Prints
Design houses like Pomare Ltd., which was founded by James S. Romig in 1963, developed the "aloha shirt" pattern as well as the "Hilo Hattie" brand in the '70s. Patterns included orchid flowers as well as prints inspired by the Hawaiian tiki culture. The collection also included shirts made from nylon fabric. Other brands like Kai Nani also appeared in the '70s. Hula dancers, fishing boats, surfing and Polynesian scenes were part of the '70s retro print influences. Television shows such as "Hawaii Five-O" which was filmed in Hawaii from 1968 to 1980 propelled the Hawaiian shirt's popularity into American culture.
Hawaiian Shirt Silhouette
A fold-over collar, a single front chest pocket and a straight hem are construction details which comprise part of the '70s Hawaiian shirt silhouette. Most shirts were made in a short sleeve body with a full button front placket opening. The fold-over collar often also included a wide lapel, which created a slight v-shape opening at the front neckline leading into the top button closure. The straight hem also often included side-slit openings. The structured silhouette prompted the repeat prints to appear in an alternating pattern at the front and back view of the shirt.
Hawaiian Shirt Colors
Mixing dark and medium toned colors with splashes of bright color hues is the signature trait of the '70s Hawaiian shirt patterns. For example, royal blue backgrounds with bright yellow-gold motifs, white backgrounds with turquoise colored scenes as well as navy backgrounds with prints designed in shades of green, peach and white were popular. The background colors as well as the motifs display touches of natural color tones in a variety of hues using airbrushing techniques as well as hand-painted influences.
Tags: backgrounds with, also included, fold-over collar, Hawaiian Shirt, Hawaiian shirt, influenced resort