Hawaiian shirts became very popular with American Military men returning from the Pacific in the 1940's having been engaged in war and global conflict. Aloha shirts were liberating and free and expressed a feeling of relaxing paradise, welcomed by those lucky to be returning home to their families. Mainland manufacturers picked up on the trend that was coming from a Territory in the Pacific known as the Hawaiian Islands.
Small tailors and start up manufacturers were making printed shirts with cultural Hawaiian icons, like hula girls, surf riders, flowers, Diamond Head, canoes, fish and all aspects of life in the islands. These shirts returned stateside by the thousands and influenced larger more established manufacturers to make printed shirts for their summer collections.
Companies like Coopers chose their inspiration from elements that reflected more of an abstract art feel or were inspired by worlds from far away.
