Hawaiian Shirts - Aloha Shirts

[DeeDub]

Hawaiian Shirts at Hawaiian Costco

The Costco in Kona carries the Cooke Street label, Hawaiian-made, 100% cotton. I picked up several there and have enjoyed them as much as the more expensive ones I already had.

I did a Google search on Cooke Street before replying to this thread. They appear to be available mail order from various sources.

 

[Dinerman]

I found (but passed over) an original '50s? one yesterday. It had a breast pocket, as well as two patch front pockets. It was rayon. Missing a couple buttons, but no mothbites.
Was having front pockets common?

 

[scotrace]

Vintage

My grandparents in the 1960's, on a Florida vacation. Note the shirt.

 

[Nick Charles]

Just won this Hale copy

 

[scotrace]

Hawaiian Shirt $700+ What Makes it Valuable?

What made this shirt go so high?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Everyone knows that,...

..1940s Rayon is simply the best. lol
It's not bad as far as this genre of shirts goes,...heck, I might even wear something like that if I had the right tie to go with it.
But not at 700 bucks!
Put it down to ebay buyer hysteria maybe? Collector's frenzy?
Who knows, next month the same shirt could very well sell for 7 bucks. [huh]

 

[dhermann1]

Was it, like, worn by Admiral Nimitz on his day off? Sheesh!

 

[Ecuador Jim]

..1940s Rayon is simply the best. lol
It's not bad as far as this genre of shirts goes,...heck, I might even wear something like that if I had the right tie to go with it.
But not at 700 bucks!
Put it down to ebay buyer hysteria maybe? Collector's frenzy?
Who knows, next month the same shirt could very well sell for 7 bucks. [huh]

Those who collect Hawaiian vintage are really into the patterns, the fabric, the button material, etc. The shirts never had much longevity, so there aren't many from the WWII era.

I couldn't spend that much on an Aloha shirt, but I suppose some folks would spend a fortune on petrified poop! All a matter of preference.

 

[Art Fawcett]

what Ecuador Jim said, plus the fanaticism that goes along with the Aloha shirt collector. Believe it or not Scott, this shirt would have sold for 3 times that a few years ago when the Japanese buyers were hot on them. Two things to look at aside from pattern & button materials are the label ( King Kamehameha ?( sp ) and notice there is no pattern change when looking at the pocket. Having the pocket cut exactly to the flow of the pattern makes alot of difference.

 

[carouselvic]

This would look nice with a high-end Brent Black panama!!!

 

[carouselvic]

The down side to wearing this shirt and a Brent Black hat is that you would have to hire a Blackwater guard to accompany you everywhere you went!!

 

[Art Fawcett]

This would look nice with a high-end Brent Black panama!!!

ouch...

 

[carouselvic]

Sucker

ouch...

Wasn't it P.T. Barnum that said "there is a sucker born every minute".

 

[cheaterome]

In reference to The Golden age of Hawaiians.

What makes these shirts so damn expensive is that people with money like them.
They are somewhat rare and nobody is making them anymore with good designs. Every-time I see a supposed new design that harkens back to the golden age I wanna puke ....they are really bad .

Toyo industries is the only company that comes close With their sun surf line.
The fabric is still about 10% off though with its cross abrasive crispy-ness.

Their Kabe crepe shirts cannot be distinguished after a couple of washings.

Don't even get me started on the crap street rodders who follow Boyd Coddingtons fashion advice and examples wear.....those modern hawaiians.....BLEEECHHH.

That and to be honest ,each one of the good ones is like a hand silkscreened piece of art. To me that shirt was a bit overpriced but not really expensive. (and not even that cool). The fabric.... The design, it all comes into effect, but mostly the age. Vintage is vintage and it is a limited market.
I personally know of dealers who treat their regular buyers of these shirts as the Holy Grail meal ticket ..they make that much money from these shirts.
Think about this for a minute. 10-12 shirts a month at 1200-1500 a shirt regularly for 10 years, not too bad huh.

Seriously .... in good colors and large sizes they are REGULARLY trading hands for double that amount.

Duke Kahanamouko (sp)
Back panels from Art Vogue
Catalina's
Kamehameha

Check out some of those from the rarer brands. .Or get Dale Hope's book The Hawaiian Shirt..and be prepared to Drool and Covet...even if it is a sin!

Rome---Cheaters

 

[dr greg]

what you want

As a collector of Hawaiian and Pacific Island shirts of the 40's thru to the 70's I would pay that kind of money if I could afford it, that one has a rare design, bamboo being a popular motif. It's not unusual to see mint condition Hale Hawaii's and Dukes going for over a grand, and Jack Nicholson or Nic Cage will fork out 10 times that for the right one I'm told, I've never seen a Eugene Savage design go for under $700 as long as Ebay has existed...it's all about supply and demand when something just ain't made anymore. I have had some dealings with Camille Shaheen, a very nice lady who tries to keep her father's legacy alive, and spends a lot of money fighting repro firms who rip off the family's designs. If you want a new shirt that has timeless class, go here
http://www.alfredshaheen.com/

 

[Smithy]

I certainly wouldn't shell out $700 for an Hawaiian shirt but I suppose it's horses for courses.

I have a vintage one tucked away somewhere, might have to dig it out and put it up for auction!

 

[Jovan]

Come on guys, didn't you notice the rocket launchers? They certainly don't make them like they used to.

 

[herringbonekid]

... and notice there is no pattern change when looking at the pocket. Having the pocket cut exactly to the flow of the pattern makes alot of difference.

look again Art,
the pocket is not matched at all.

 

[dr greg]

palmed off

And I should have looked closer, it's not bamboo!

 

[Art Fawcett]

you're right Kid, I should have studied it more. At first glance it looked right. Although I wear and own many, I've never been able to justify spending that much on one. Being in the biz so long, they just came to me over time. Come to think of it, I haven't worn them since moving here. Now where did I put that bin?