The Western Aloha Shirt

I think our pictures here are some layout of a selection of our shirts with the first section, closeups of shirt elements in the second section, and closeups of the fabric in the third section.

Western Shirt + Aloha Prints = The Western Aloha Shirt

Our shirts combine the performance and style of western shirts with prints inspired by the spirit of Aloha. Western Aloha Shirts are designed to be lightweight, durable, versatile, functional, and comfortable. We use a special fabric blend that gets softer and more broken in as it is worn, until the shirt becomes the most comfortable and easy going shirt your closet.

Just follow the wear instructions: "Snap and Relax."

Western Shirt Construction

Our shirts are inspired by classic western shirts.  Printed shirts are cut and sewn in El Paso, Texas by third-generation western shirt makers.  With origins in traditional work wear, western shirts developed their own distinct style suitable for town or ranch. Although we mix things up a bit to create our own style, our Western Aloha Shirts have some or all of the following features:

  • Snaps
  • Tailored cut 
  • Shoulder yokes 
  • Pockets with flaps and bartacks
  • No collar button or snap.  We've also moved down the uppermost snap just a bit for added relaxation. We call this our "Cruise Snap."
  • Long sleeves 
  • A sturdy collar, placket, and cuffs

Aloha Print Tradition 

The Aloha shirt first came into existence sometime in the 1920s in Honolulu, although the identity of its first designer is obscured by the mists of time. One thing that seems clear enough is that some of the first Aloha shirts were made out of colorful, printed cloth imported from Japan and China that typically was used for women's kimonos. Tailors of Japanese heritage who had set up shop in Honolulu discovered a new market for this colorful kimono fabric among Hawaiian locals and tourists alike, who found that the bright, playful textile designs matched the Aloha lifestyle.  By the 1950s the design of Hawaiian prints had grown into a distinctly Hawaiian art form.

Working within this tradition, Western Aloha's prints often feature motifs inspired by our home on the Big Island if Hawaii. We don’t buy seasonal, off-the-shelf prints inspired by current trends. Instead, we work with incredibly talented graphic and textile artists to create original prints that are uniquely Western Aloha. Like the Big Island, our textile designs marry elements of different cultures and styles from around the world with the spirit of Aloha found only in Hawaii.

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Western Shirt History

Many of our shirts are inspired by classic western shirts. With origins in traditional work shirts, by the 1930s western shirts had developed their own distinct style suitable for town or ranch.  Rockmount Ranch Wear of Denver, Colorado made the first commercially available western shirts with snaps in the 1940s.  Rockmount’s founder, Jack Weil, was a man of western substance and style.  He lived in Denver until the age of 107.  In addition to being the first person to put snaps on western shirts, he also is credited with inventing the bolo tie. 

Believe it or not, western and Aloha shirts have been linked since the early days of each style.  In the 1940s, Rockmount already was making western shirts with prints that would have made great Aloha shirts, except the motifs were from scenes of the western frontier.  While we mix things up a bit to create our own take on the style, our western shirts have some or all of the following traditional features:

Snaps

Cowboy Reason: Because cowboys didn't like to sew buttons.  Also, snaps are a “breakaway” safety feature in case a cowboy’s shirt snags on a fence, saddle horn, or some other ornery object.

Our Take: Snaps add style points and make shirt removal a breeze. And ours are the toughest industrial-grade snaps on the market. 

Tailored Cut

Cowboy Reason: To prevent snags on brush or barbed wire.  

Our Take: A tailored cut gives our shirts a more modern look.

Shoulder Yokes

Cowboy Reason: For extra durability and protection.  Before they had western shirts, cowboys sometimes wore scarves across their shoulders as added protection from the elements.

Our Take: We use yokes to improve fit and add contrast and variety to our print designs.

Pockets with Flaps and Bartacks

Cowboy Reason: To keep goods secure while out wrangling the herd.  Some shirts alternatively use “smile” pockets with a design similar to the front pockets on pants.

Our Take: Our pocket flaps are western, but not 1970s-on-stage-at-the-Opry western. Our pockets are durable and reinforced with bartacks.  We will make a smile pocket when the time is right.

Long Sleeves

Cowboy Reason: For protection from the elements, particularly the sun. Some rodeos still won't admit you without long sleeves.

Our Take: Many classic Aloha shirts also have long sleeves. And if you roll your sleeves up (easy to do with our fabric), you now have short sleeves. Two shirts in one!

A sturdy collar, placket, and cuffs

Cowboy Reason: A cowboy can be rough around the edges, but not a cowboy's shirt.

Our Take: We spent a lot of time designing collar, cuffs, and placket to be both sturdy and comfortable.