2YDS Metallic Silver FISH Under the Sea Life 50's Alfred Shaheen Inspired Hawaiian Skirt Vintage Fabric

Alfred Shaheen was a textile industrialist who is credited with popularizing the aloha shirt. "He was a true visionary", said Linda Arthur, a professor and curator for the Washington State University Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles. He started in a place (Hawaii) where there was no industry to speak of and created one from the ground up, creating a truly vertically integrated business. In 1945, when Shaheen returned to Hawaii from the war, he joined his parents in their custom garment business. In 1948, Shaheen founded his own garment company. In the late 1940s, a dock strike and the Korean War severely curtailed importation of goods to Hawaii, so Shaheen made his own equipment from parts he found in Honolulu's junkyards to dye and finish fabrics under the brand name Surf 'n Sand Hand Prints. Shaheen distributed his clothing all over the world. He believed in celebrating cultural diversity, and his artists adapted designs from authentic sources such as rare books and ancient artifacts. Shaheen and his staff visited Tahiti, Samoa, Hong Kong and Tokyo to study the designs of the Eastern Pacific Rim. Shaheen adapted these designs to textiles and produced the Pua Lani Pareau, Antique Tapa, and Joss Sticks handprints. Shaheen established "East Meets West" boutiques in the mid-1960s in major department stores across the country.

This offering is for about 4 inches more than 2YDS x 41 inches wide of a unused unwashed remnant of a unsigned Alfred Shaheen or Shaheen inspired original fabric in a unheard of rare and collectible voluptuous HAWAIIAN under the sea life...with a busy scenic bastion. of beauty...a colorway simple and yet profound...dark chocolate...cocoa chocolate...with literal silver metallic fishes that you may see that appear white...they are not white and are a true silver...underwater seaweed...sea shells and fishies do their thing swimming...they just keep swimming like the little mermaid. A mid to late 1940's yardage...the imagery is simply BEYOND!!! A myriad of chocolates and cocoas come together in a level of sophistication unparalleled. A garment weight that could be versatile for light upholstery. Flawless old stock. I sold a fabric last month that was a true Shaheen...it is in the last photo and is totally the perfect complimentary companion for it. :)

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