Kamehameha

The Kamehameha Garment Company was set up by Herbert Briner (said to be the founder of Hawaiian ready-to-wear) in 1936 and was run from a garment production facility that had previously produced uniforms. After Herb Briner’s death in 1966, the company was owned by his wife Millie Briner and his sons. In the 1970s Richard Goodwin was the designer of the company’s lines.

The company was sold to Crown Corporation, though Millie Briner stayed with the company as president until the mid-1970s. In 1990 the company was acquired by Brad Walker.

The name comes from King Kamehameha I who was responsible for uniting Hawaii’s islands. The company is particularly famous for its Aloha shirts, as well as its tropical flower-patterned cotton clothing (featuring sarongs, full skirted dresses, sun and swimsuits) for women.

Written by artisannes

from a 1940s shirt

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1950s cheongsam dress

Courtesy of TBonitaStyle

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of artisannes

from a late 1950s shirt

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1960s pake muu

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s shift

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s shift

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1970s bathing suit (hang tag)

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

from a 1970s caftan dress

Courtesy of EBTH

from a 1990s shirt

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo