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Alfred Shaheen - The Master Print Maker

Alfred Shaheen was one of the premier makers of Hawaiian wear from the time he opened his first shop in 1952 until his retirement in 1988.

Shaheen built a Hawaii-based empire that earned him millions and put his unique aloha shirts and dresses on the backs of people all over the world. He brought mass production of textile printing and clothing manufacturing to the Islands and employed hundreds of workers.

Shaheen was born in New Jersey in 1922. He graduated from Whittier College with an engineering degree and spent the World War II years as a fighter pilot in Europe.

After the war, Shaheen moved to Honolulu, where his family had relocated in 1938 after opening a custom dress-making business.

Shaheen decided to open his own aloha shirt manufacturing company in 1948 — Shaheen's of Honolulu. At first he had four sewing machines and four seamstresses who had been taught by his mother. At the time, Hawaiian shirt manufacturers would import fabrics which they cut and sewed into their own designs.

In 1952, Shaheen opened his own fabric printing factory - Surf 'n Sand Hand Prints. All screening was done by hand with workers being instructed to force more ink onto the fabric which created deep rich colors.

Soon Alfred Shaheen's Hawaiian shirts and women's dresses were sold in mainland stores and in Europe. He later opened a chain of stores in Hawaii where celebrities and tourists shopped bringing his shirts and dresses back from their travels.

In 2001, the state of Hawaii recognized Shaheen for his contributions to the state with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, the Honolulu Advertiser named him one of the 150 most influential people, events and institutions to effect social, economic, political and cultural change in Hawaii from 1856 onward.

Alfred Shaheen in the Early Years

Elvis Presley wore shirts by Alfred Shaheen in the movie Blue Hawaii and on the album cover of the same name

Today, Alfred Shaheen's daughter Camille Shaheen-Tunberg owns the rights to his designs, some of which she licenses to designer Reyn Spooner who has created reinterpretations of original textile designs from the 1950s and 1960s.

Ms. Shaheen-Tunberg has collected many of her father's original garments and owns the rights to the Alfred Shaheen website.

Today, Alfred Shaheen's vintage sundresses, sarongs, playsuits, and men's shirts are highly sought after and are prized possessions in many collections of vintage Hawaiian wear.

We currently have the following 70s era Shaheen's available at CATSEYE VINTAGE on Etsy:

Vintage 70s Alfred Shaheen Maxi Dress With Matching Jacket from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

Vintage 70s Alfred Shaheen Royal Blue Screen Printed Hawaiian Dress from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

(Some information courtesy of Investors Business Daily, The Hawaiian Shirt Monarch,
article dated 03/05/2009 and The Honolulu Advertiser, Alfred Shaheen - Giant of Garment Industry dated 12/25/2008.)

It's Eye Candy Friday!!

At the end of a busy week it's always a treat to pick out our favorite vintage treats!



Vintage 1960s Wide Brim High Crown
Black Straw Mr John Jr Hat




SALE Vintage 50s Turquoise Blue
Full Skirt Silk Cocktail / Party
Dress, XL, Unique Detailing




SALE -- SALE -- Vintage 40s 50s Designer
Couture REMBRANDT Pink Silk Peau de
Soie Full Skirted Cocktail Party Prom
Wedding Dress Trimmed with Lace --
194 Sweep -- Bust 36 -- Size S - M




Unique vintage 50s Peach Chiffon
Peignoir Babydoll Nightgown Set M



Vintage 1960s Mad Men Black and Gold
Matching Coat and Dress Ensemble
B42 W40 H44




SALE - SALE -- Vintage 70s 80s Designer
Couture ALBERT CAPRARO Silk Chiffon
Full Skirted LILAC PURPLE Cocktail Party
Prom Wedding Dress -- 116 Inch Sweep --
Bust 32 -- Size XXS



CLEARANCE, Vintage 50's
Designer's Mad Men Tweed
Pencil Skirt Suit, NOS,
Mint, Sm



Lovely Vintage 1960s Emerald Green Satin
Evening Swing Coat by Molly Modes




VLV Cowgirl Goth Fringe Chiffon Vintage
70s Crop TOP M



Vintage 1970s Koret of California Metallic
Bronze Gold Copper Jacket Skirt Top
B36 W26 H34

Spring & Summer Costume Pattern Sale

Out of the Ashes Collectibles

RENAISSANCE FAIRE & THEATRICAL PRODUCTION SUMMER SALE

10% Off All Costume Patterns or Buy a Costume and any other pattern or patterns and get 10% off them as well.  Use COSTUME at checkout to get your discount.

Simplicity 5457 Glamorous Victorian Costume 2003

 

 

Simplicity 5188 Vintage Closet Nightgown & Robe 2004

 

 

 

 

Butterick 3011 San Francisco Saloon Dress 2001

 

Butterick 3012 Out to the Theater 1880's Dress 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McCall's 3597 Southern Belle Dress 2002

 

 

 

 

 

Simplicity 2777 Renaissance Faire Costume 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simplicity 3613 / 4028 Goth Cirque du Soleil Costume 2006

 

 

 

 

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Dappled

You know, today it dappled. I opened the shades – and the couch, the rug, even my napping dog – Dappled. A glance out the window and I was greeted by tender chartreuse leaves reflecting the early morning sunlight off their newborn foliage. A lullaby of a breeze softly tickled newly formed blossoms, scattering a fountain of white petals on to the carpet of green grass.

Makes one believe in magic.

And We Come Baring Vintage

THE FAMILY VINTAGE

Pleated Navy Flutter Shorts + Sheer Cutout Blouse with Bird & Floral Motif

Black Bandage Backless Tank Dress

Floral Plunge Tuxedo Dress

Plaid Ruffle Collar Dress

White Gunne Sax Hippie Wedding Dress

Giant Daisy & Ruffle Dress

Black 2 Piece Embroidered Eyelet Suit. Jacket & Skirt.

Conversation with Juli Lynne Charlot

In March I was very lucky to get to speak with Juli Lynne Charlot, designer of fabulous 1950s decorated circle skirts and maker of the original poodle skirt. That's her with Groucho Marx. Read about it on my blog, The Vintage Traveler.

What to Wear for the Cocktail Hour...and Dinner

The best of dressing in vintage...
You can mix and match...
It doesn't need to match by year....
Pick a theme....and a color scheme........

Some things that can go together....
and, sure, in my etsy shop now....clicky



a lovely sparkly 50s - 60s black sequin lbd....Take a great vintage basic.....perfect for any fancy occasion after 5 pm....


Be girly with .....romantic 80s black suede tie pumps....


Or go tough with an 80s cropped black leather jacket....



And.....oooo laaa laaa...80s stiletto heels studded black leather pumps....
Now there is a combo you don't see coming and going.....
Sequins, black leather and metal studs....all in Black!



Or go pretty again....with this dress paired with a Black leather jacket and the tough studded stilettos........a sassy 60s black crepe lbd...with lots of pretty lace !




and underneath......and a 50s bullet bra circle stitch strapless bra.....


Just think outside the Closet .....

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Am I Blue?

One of my all-time favorite artists is the incomparable Billie Holiday. I've been listening to her for years, so as I was posting this blog - the words to Am I Blue? kept popping into my head.

Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in my eyes telling you
Am I blue, you'd be too
If each plan with your man done fell through...

Oh Mad Men how we love you. But how we hate the key word spamming that you inspire. Have these people even watched the show? I don't see how these are remotely Mad-Men-Like

'VTG 60s MAD MEN Pleated Polka Dot Shirt Dress' - sure, I can totally see Joan Bombshelling-It-Up in this dress. Or even Betty wearing it all Chic-like and classy. 1960s? ok.

Maybe this one is predicting the future clothing of Mad Men, a few years later in the 1960s, because 'psychedelic' and 'Mad Men' don't quite go together.

'60s Mod Mad Men Sheath Dress Psychedelic Retro Baby'
Sheath? maybe it's the totally wrong picture. Maybe the seller doesn't know what a sheath is.

Vintage related blogs that you should be reading -

Bobby Pin Blog - "thoughts and research about beauty trends of the past and how to recreate them." This is the gal who put together the fabulous book - Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques

Glamour Daze - an archive of Vintage Fashion and Beauty

The Diary of a Vintage Girl - The life and times of an English pin-up (and Swirl Dresses enthusiast)

Vixen Vintage - Musings of a Vintage Girl in a Modern World.