Miss Bamboo is the exclusive UK online provider of Sun Surf 1940s and 50s Hawaiian Shirts.
The Hawaiian aloha shirts from the 1930’s,1940s and 50’s have become part of Pacific and the Islands folklore. They were made from the 1920’s but became popular with US Service Personnel during WW11 when they visited the islands for rest and recreation. After the war, the Hawaiian shirt continued to gain popularity as a result of service personnel taking them home and wearing them in an attempt to recreate that magical island feel. What girl does not like to run her hand along genuine 40’s rayon!! It was in ‘From Here to Eternity’, the award winning film about pre-war army life in Hawaii that really popularised the shirt across the USA and Europe. Major clothing manufacturers began producing Hawaiian-styled shirts in cotton and polyester taking them away from the luxurious feel of their original rayon.
Miss Bamboo loves these original rayon shirts, and knows only one manufacturer who has lovingly created exact replicas. Sun Surf vintage clothing based in Japan have a large collection of these original shirts which has taken them years to accumulate. Every shirt is an exact copy of an original design from the collection held by the company. These are vintage designs from the 1930’s - 1950’s reproduced true to the original. The fabrics are custom made to precisely replicate the high quality 1940’s rayon, this is not modern rayon. The ornate patterns are recreated using the original 1940’s silk screening methodology. Buttons are crafted to match whatever type was originally used on each design, whether real wood, coconut shell, bakelite or plastic. Original manufacturer labels have even been reproduced. The quality and finish is exceptional even down to the exact matching of the chest pocket pattern, with the fabric below, can you see the pocket ? These shirts are difficult to source outside of Japan and the USA. The designs are produced only once per year in Japan, then that design is never duplicated again, making them highly collectible.
Miss Bamboo has made her journey to Japan and having charmed the Emperor, is now in the privileged position of being able to retail these in the UK and Europe as the exclusive on line provider. These shirts are simply stunning and you will not be disappointed.
