This piece features a simple, single-color depiction of iconic Hawaiian symbols such as hula girls, Diamond Head, Aloha Tower, and pineapples, capturing the essence of paradise in Hawaii. It conveys the emotions of Japanese immigrants living in Hawaii, longing for their homeland.
From the design execution, print, and details of the shirt, it is evident that this piece was one of the earliest productions. The design ideas and details were conceived in Hawaii, but the final sketches, mold creation, and dyeing were entrusted to Japanese craftsmen. The designs were drawn based on photos and magazines sent from Hawaii for production.
This work was created by Musashiya Shoten, a shop run by Koichiro Miyamoto, who inherited the tailoring business in Hawaii.
The shop advertised not only in contemporary tourist guides but also in major local newspapers like the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Over time, tourists from mainland America and Hollywood actors began ordering shirts and robes tailored by "Miyamoto."
The unique impact of amusing, grammatically incorrect English and the illustration of smiling Japanese people wearing geta (traditional Japanese footwear) became a hit, making Miyamoto’s brand indispensable in tracing the roots of the Aloha shirt.
SUN SURF SPECIAL EDITION
Aloha shirt - the garment that symbolizes the paradise called Hawaii. However, its origin has much to do with the Japanese immigrants to the islands, and thus the shirt designs range from tropical patterns to that of oriental. In the mid-20th century, when Hawaii became a popular tourism cite, Aloha shirts were in great demand as a souvenir. With this background did the designs become even more diverse, some of which still appear to this day as incredibly rare vintage. “Sun Surf Special Edition” has a high regard for these textile designers of the time, and it is dedicated to creating complete replicas of such exquisite vintage, by precisely mirroring such features as the multicolor and impressive patterns or the various use of fine details, many of which have tended to be lost over time.
