Alfred Shaheen

Who was Alfred Shaheen?

Alfred Shaheen was a textile industrialist who is credited with popularizing the Hawaiian shirt.

Shaheen was born in New Jersey on January 31, 1922 to a family of Lebanese immigrants. His family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1938. He opened his garment business in 1948. In 1952, his business began silkscreening Polynesian and Asian designs onto silk, cotton, and rayon for creating Hawaiian shirts and other garments. Shaheen retired and shut down his business in 1988. He died of complications from diabetes in Torrance, California on December 22, 2008.

Shaheen's archives, artwork, and all specialty dye formulas were purchased by the Von Ham Young Company in Honolulu.

Elvis Presley wears an Alfred Shaheen shirt on the album cover for his album Blue Hawaii.