Olympian swimmer Duke Kahanamoku and New York garment company, Cisco, collaborated and created a Duke Kahanamoku sportswear collection in 1950. This collection was distributed to better stores across the country.
This long-sleeved aloha shirt was the answer to any dressy or formal occasion in Hawai‘i. Out of the jet black fabric jumps out stylized golden maple leaves. These kōyō (literally means “red leaves”) are to the Japanese autumn what sakura (cherry blossoms) are to spring. The viewing of autumn leaves, called momiji-gari, is hugely popular in Japan and lures thousands of visitors to spots in the mountains or at city parks. This shirt honors this fleeting seasonal change, something not seen in the Islands.
