POLO Ralph Lauren X The Hoffman Collection

Jul 8

Surfer Isaiah Moniz / Image Courtesy of Joe Termini — *Surfer* *Isaiah Moniz* */ Image Courtesy of Joe Termini*

Fashion has seen its fair share in trends and faux pas, with very few far in between that eventually become wardrobe staples and/or essentials. But who would’ve thought the Hawaiian-print shirt was one of them? Usually associated with tourists or dads at a barbeque (which was never considered a compliment), this item has become one of fashion’s most popular and beloved necessity to some of today’s top trendsetters and influencers. And that’s all due to legendary surfer Walter Hoffman.

After Hoffman served at Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, he joined the US Navy surf and swim teams. He then later began selling tropical-print fabrics on the mainland in Hawaii for his family's textile business (now Hoffman International Fabrics) which eventually became one of the largest fabric and textile suppliers to the surfwear industry. Coining and popularizing the term the “aloha” shirt, Hoffman most certainly made his presence known in the fashion industry and with this limited-edition capsule in partnership with the iconic Polo Ralph Lauren brand proves just why this indeed is a staple.

Polo Ralph Lauren launched The Hoffman Collection which explores the iconic prints from Hoffman’s aloha shirts and created men’s apparel and accessories that were direct inspirations from his personal archive. Matching camp shirts, shorts, and canvas sneakers were exclusively developed in three original floral patterns from the Hoffman archives: South Pacific Floral, Coconut Grove Floral, and The Big Kahuna. Unique and colorful, each item in the collection is listed with the quantity produced to highlight its highly limited production.