It's a celebration of island culture. With its informal style and multicultural origins, the Hawaiian shirt is stylish for some people, a cliché for others.
The shirt is inspired by Hawaii's multiethnic heritage: Japanese kimono fabric, the Barong shirts of the Philippines, the traditions of Tahiti, the Palaka shirts of plantation workers, the colorful silks of China... Musa-Shiya Shoten, a tailor in Honolulu, first sold Hawaiian shirts in the 1920s, but Ellery Chun of King-Smith Clothiers registered the "aloha shirt" name in 1936. The shirt evolved into a mix of fabrics (cotton, linen, silk, and viscose) with Pacific motifs: palm trees, pineapples, flowers, hula dancers, surfboards, and sea.
In 1946, Honolulu allowed Hawaiian shirts to be worn in the office - perfect for the local weather. Hollywood loved the relaxed look: actors, singers, even presidents enjoyed the aloha look. By the 1960s, Hawaii was part of the U.S. - Elvis wore a Hawaiian shirt on the cover of his Blue Hawaii LP - and the trend went and stayed global. Everyone, it seems, needs a touch of tropical paradise.