SUN SURF - KEONI OF HAWAII - WAIKIKI SAND - by JOHN MEIGS - SS39741

KEONI OF HAWAII
"WAIKIKI SAND"
by JOHN MEIGS

• Meigs' innovative artwork caught the eye of Hawaiian Aloha shirt manufacturers, and design commissions began pouring in immediately. During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and visited Tahiti—a place associated with his idol, the painter Paul Gauguin—where he became captivated by Polynesian culture. In 1947, after being discharged from the military, he returned to Hawaii and began preparing to make a living as a textile designer while working in public relations. Rumors of Meigs’ return to the world of design spread like wildfire, and orders poured in one after another—not only from Hawaiian manufacturers but also from major fabric wholesalers on the U.S. mainland, such as Corn Hallmarks and Tambro Fabrics. He was also active as a painter, holding a solo exhibition at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, one of Hawaii’s historic art museums. By the 1950s, he had become a central figure among Hawaii’s textile designers and is still remembered today as a master who helped shape the history of the Aloha shirt. Even in today’s vintage market, Meigs’s works are highly regarded and often trade for high prices. The “WAIKIKI SAND” design, which has been reproduced this time, depicts activities on Waikiki Beach with a comical touch. It has been confirmed that more than eight brands produced this design at the time; it was extremely popular, and many color variations were created.
• 【JOHN MEIGS】
  John Meigs was born in Chicago, Illinois, in the U.S. mainland. He studied sculpture and figure drawing at the Art Institute of Chicago and majored in journalism at Redlands University and UCLA. After working as a reporter, he moved to Hawaii in 1938 and, while working in the art department of the Honolulu Advertiser, began designing textiles around 1940.
• Fabric: Rayon Fujiette (100% Rayon)
• Print: Discharge Print
• Design Pattern: Allover Pattern
• Button: Coconut
• Made in Japan
• Model Wearing Size: M (Height 170cm / Weight 52kg)

※Please avoid washing it with water and tumble dryer as it may cause shrinkage, loss of shape, seam breakage, and damage to buttons. Regarding a care, please ask to a reliable laundry store.

• ※Please refer to the diagrams as a reference point for our in-house guide on measurements. Please see "HOW TO MEASURE" below.
• ※Each product has individual differences one by one in size. Thus, these measurements may not be accurate. Please measure some clothing you have, and find out which size fits you based on this size chart.

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