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There are loud aloha shirts, and there are aloha shirts you can wear to a meeting. The Reyn Spooner Lahaina Sailor is firmly in the second camp. It has a soft, slightly faded look, a button down collar and a print that rewards a closer look. Reyn Spooner says the print debuted in 1968, and more than half a century later it is still the shirt many people picture when they think of the brand.
What the print shows
At a distance, the Lahaina Sailor reads like a neat, all over pattern. Up close it is a small catalog of Hawaii. According to the Lahaina Sailor product page, the design brings together several state symbols:
- Hibiscus: the state flower
- Nene goose: the state bird
- Kukui, or candlenut: the state tree
- The Hawaii state flag
Reyn Spooner also says the pattern was inspired by the bandanas worn by sailors visiting the islands, which explains its tight, repeating layout. That bandana logic is a big reason the shirt feels calmer than a typical tropical print. It works more like a small scale pattern on a dress shirt than a wall of palm trees.
The reverse print and Spooner Kloth
The look of a Reyn Spooner shirt comes from two decisions. The first is the reverse print. Reyn Spooner credits Reyn McCullough with pioneering the reverse print in 1963, and its company history tells the story: he felt traditional aloha shirts were too bold, then someone showed him an inside out shirt sewn by a local bartender and surfer. The fabric is printed and then used with the back side facing out, so the colors look muted and lived in from the first wear.
The second is the cloth. The Lahaina Sailor is made from Spooner Kloth, which Reyn Spooner describes as a blend of cotton and spun poly that is durable, breathable and wrinkle free. The product page lists the blend as 55% cotton and 45% polyester. In practice that means a shirt that can be packed, worn on a flight and still look neat when you land.
Construction details
Reyn McCullough paired the inside out idea with the tailoring of an oxford cloth shirt, and you can still see that in the details listed for the Lahaina Sailor:
- Collar: button down, like a classic oxford shirt
- Pocket: left chest pocket, print matched so the pattern runs across it
- Back: box pleat for movement
- Hem: side vents on the Classic fit
- Fabric: reverse print Spooner Kloth, 55% cotton and 45% polyester
- Colors: offered in shades including Denim, Navy and White
- Sizes: XXS to 4XL
Button front, pullover or tailored
The archive classic version comes in three styles. The Button Front is the familiar full placket shirt. The Pullover is a popover with a four button placket, a cut that feels a little more casual. The Tailored version is trimmer through the body with a rounded tail, which suits slimmer builds or anyone who wants to tuck it in.
If you are new to the brand, the Button Front in the Classic fit is the safest starting point. It is relaxed without being boxy and works both untucked with shorts and under a light jacket.
Why it matters
Reyn Spooner's story runs through the history of the aloha shirt itself. In 1949 Reyn bought the Catalina Island shop where he worked and renamed it Reyn's Men's Wear. He moved to Honolulu after a first trip to Hawaii in 1957, and opened at the Ala Moana Center in 1959. He partnered with seamstress Ruth Spooner, and the Reyn Spooner name was born in 1961. The brand says Reyn was a leading member of the Hawaiian Fashion Guild, which in 1962 began promoting aloha shirts as workplace attire, a push that led to Aloha Friday starting officially in Hawaii in 1966. For the full background on fabrics and prints, read our guide to the aloha shirt.
Who it suits and what to wear it with
The Lahaina Sailor suits anyone who likes the idea of an aloha shirt but finds most prints too loud. Because of its oxford DNA, it pairs as easily with chinos and loafers as it does with shorts. It also sits well with workwear: try it with a pair of Stan Ray painter pants or a classic pair of Levi's 501 jeans, and layer a chore coat over it when the evenings cool down.
Where to buy
For more shirts, denim and style classics, browse our sneakers and style hub.
