The Hawaiian Shirt

Despite its name, the Hawaiian shirt was in fact invented by a Chinese merchant, Ellery Chun from kimono fabric for tourists in Wakiki. They were an immediate hit with the local surfers and tourist. 

It began as a dress shirt, known as the Aloha shirt. After the war they were brought back by soldiers and became fashionable, casual wear through out the western world.


The best known designer was Alfred Shaheen, whose shirt was famously worn by Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii in 1961.