Last TWO Left!

This is one of the most unique Hawaiian shirts Sun Surf has offered in years.  The design emulates the traditional tattoo patterns once in use by native tribes, but incorporated in a Hawaiian shirt as originally produced by Watumull's in 1940.  

Outfitted with a single pocket, genuine coconut-shell buttons that precisely match those found on the original shirt, and a label that typifies the original designs of the era, this particular shirt is perfect for anyone seeking a totally unique look from the “golden years” of Hawaiian shirts in a killer border style.

Vintage Hawaiian shirts were typically made of high-quality rayon acetate, the formula for which was lost in a Dupont factory fire back in the 1950’s. This Sun Surf design is printed on high-quality rayon acetate that perfectly duplicates the hand and weight of the long-lost rayon of the “good old days.” Unquestionably, Sun Surf rayon is the most authentic in the vintage Hawaiian shirt industry today. Just as with the original fabric it copies, this material is extremely breathable and airy, and it takes the original screen printing inks as splendidly as did the vintage originals.

To help preserve the color and fabric, dry cleaning is the only laundering method endorsed by the manufacturer.

Last ONE Left!

Originally produced in Hawaii in 1950 under the Waikiki Sports label, it is outfitted with a single invisible pocket, genuine urea buttons that precisely match those found on the original shirt, and a label that typifies the original designs of the era.  This shirt features propeller-driven United Airlines airliners and the tourists they deposited in Hawaii, making it the perfect selection for anyone seeking a classic look from the “golden years” of Hawaiian shirts or in need of tourist print in a rare color.  

Vintage Hawaiian shirts were typically made of high-quality rayon acetate, the formula for which was lost in a Dupont factory fire back in the 1950’s. This Sun Surf design is printed on high-quality rayon acetate that perfectly duplicates the hand and weight of the long-lost rayon of the “good old days.” Unquestionably, Sun Surf rayon is the most authentic in the vintage Hawaiian shirt industry today. Just as with the original fabric it copies, this material is extremely breathable and airy, and it takes the original screen printing inks as splendidly as did the vintage originals.

To help preserve the color and fabric, dry cleaning is the only laundering method endorsed by the manufacturer.

Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from Japan

The tee shirt is surely the most ubiquitous item of clothing that exists in our society today.  It fills the wardrobes of billions and is available in all shapes, sizes and colors, and its had just about every logo, slogan and advertisement put upon it known to man, but its lineage is one of humble utility, being nothing more than a basic, white undergarment that functioned as underwear.

Sailors and Marines of the U. S. military in WWII were issued with these white tee shirts, officially known as a Quarter-Sleeve Undershirt, or known in military slang in conjunction with under drawers - "Skivvies."  These service personnel were often seen stripped down to just this basic garment when working in hot environments or relaxing on a ship's decks; though such casual use of the undershirt didn’t begin in WWII, it was never before seen so worn in such great numbers as it was in WWII.  In the decades that followed the war, especially the ‘50s, this casual style was solidified by the youth who unconsciously made it fashionable, which was further inspired by Hollywood; silver-screen icons such as Brando and Dean and a host of other heart-throb stars could be seen attired in a classic white tee shirt.  Like flying jackets and jeans, the white tee shirt has secured its place in the classic-clothing wardrobe forever.

Over the years, the tee shirt has gradually evolved from its original ancestor in terms of cut, construction and quality, but it is only the original, white, military tee shirt of the late 1930s – 1940s that we identify with as markedly distinctive and more flattering than those typically encountered these many decades later.

This U. S. Navy WWII Tee Shirt we offer was copied from a new-old-stock vintage example, stitch-for-stitch.  Even the nomenclature stamp in the neck with U. S. Navy contract number is reproduced exactly from the vintage example.  Crafted from a fine- quality “slub yarn” cotton, they are constructed as per the original in terms of cut, seam style and color shade.  The neck opening, for example, is the correct style, which is slightly bigger than most modern-day tee shirts and has no ribbing; rather, the neck is opening is simply taped in the same fabric as the shirt.  The sleeves are of the true shorter, quarter-sleeve length of that era, which is much more flattering than so-called short sleeves we see today that hang down to your elbow.  The shoulders are correctly proportionate to most body types relevant to chest measures and don’t droop over onto your arms as typically seen in tee shirts of the current era.  And the torso is slim but also not gripping, and is long enough to be comfortably tucked in and not come out, yet also not long enough to be considered a dress as is the case with too many tee shirts on the market today.  Although we refer to the shade of this shirt as "white,” actually it is an off-white color as per the original; we have matched everything exactly.

The original tee shirts were made on loop-wheel, “body-size” looms which yield a shirt with no side seams, thus weaving a perfect tube.  To do this requires special looms that are only used by specialist manufacturers these days; subsequently, the looms are hard to source and expensive to produce garments on because you need one loom for each size you want made - but it's the proper way to make a vintage-style tee shirt, and it's the only way they were made for the U. S. military in the 1930's- ‘40's.

The expertise for making such a garment is largely only found in one place in the world these days - Japan.  The Japanese have become renowned as world experts in vintage-style garment manufacture and home of body-size construction, being able to produce super-accurate, vintage-quality fabrics.  Needless to say, we were only interested in producing the very best that could be achieved, so our U. S. Navy Tee Shirts are made in Japan.

For those who appreciate the fine details and quality of a vintage garment and, therefore, the absolute authenticity of a high-end reproduction, the Eastman U. S. Navy Tee Shirt is sure to delight.  This is the definitive, classic, white tee shirt of all time.

Available in sizes 36 - 44.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from Japan

This is the classic undershirt of the USMC throughout the later phases of WWII. These Tee Shirts along with the corresponding under drawers were commonly known in the slang of sailors and marines as “Skivvies.”

The USMC entered WWII with off-white “Skivvies” identical to those worn by the U. S. Navy, but after lessons learned in combat amidst the green jungle landscape of Pacific battlefields, it became clear that anything white made the wearer a good target for enemy fire, so a directive was issued to contract for green “Skivvies” beginning in 1943. The shade of green was unique to the USMC, being something like bottle green, and due to various production and supply priorities and problems, these new “Marine Green” Tee Shirts and drawers didn’t see large-scale issue until the spring of 1944.

This “Marine Green” Tee Shirt copy has been meticulously researched, developed and manufactured in Japan by the best in the business. They’re produced with a special thread called ‘Raffy’, which is a combination of American Supima cotton, Egyptian cotton and Turfan cotton, which replicates the look and feel of vintage fabric; because these cottons all have different length staples, the thread has a distinctive texture that is similar to vintage fabric. This specialized thread is then woven on rare, vintage, circular knitting machines, so the body is a complete tube with no side seam and known as ‘body-size’ - just like the vintage “Skivvies.”

Finally, the dying and sewing construction are impeccably matched to original examples, rendering a recreation that is second-to-none.

Available in sizes 36 - 44.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from Japan

Since 2007, we have been bringing these wonderful, bygone tees to the USA, which standout as one of our favorite everyday items.  It was in June of 2022, that the production team for the FX TV show, The Bear, contacted us to purchase several packs of this Whitesville tee shirt in white for Jeremy Allen White's character, and they have subsequently gone on to purchase even more as the show enjoys continued success.  Now you can make this tee shirt of minor celebrity an everyday favorite and shop from the actual supplier to the show.  Just as was the case with our introduction of the Buzz Rickson William Gibson black MA-1 Jacket in 2003, the rest, as the saying goes, is history ...

The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands.  Whitesville tee shirts take us back to when tee shirts were not moo moo dresses outfitted with short sleeves that flirt with our elbows; rather, these are vintage-style tee shirts of the 1950's - 1970's that are trim fitting, short in the body length, and with quarter-length sleeves.  The trim design with quarter sleeves lends itself well to reducing excess fabric and bulk when worn as an undershirt or just as a tee shirt, and the short body length affords a flattering look when worn untucked, typically stopping near the trouser pockets, though tucking in remains anyone's option.

The original tee shirts were made on “body-size” looms which yield a shirt with no side seams, thus weaving a perfect tube.  To do this requires special looms that are only used by specialist manufacturers these days; subsequently, the looms are hard to source and expensive to produce garments on because you need one loom for each size you want made - but it's the proper way to make a vintage-style tee shirt, and it's the only way they were made in the 1950's - ‘70's.

The expertise for making such a garment is largely only found in one place in the world these days - Japan.  The Japanese have become renowned as world experts in vintage-style garment manufacture and home of body-size construction, being able to produce super-accurate, vintage-quality fabrics.  

These Whitesville vintage-style tee shirts are produced from fine-weave, long-staple, 7-ounce cotton with a high stitch count, have a reinforced rib-knit neck tape, and come in vintage-style packaging with two tee shirts per pack, thus the price you see on this page is for two tee shirts, not one.

We cannot endorse these tee shirts any more highly; they are a staff favorite, and we're sure you'll want to make them a wardrobe staple!

Available in sizes Sm - XXL.  Shrinkage should be expected.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from Japan

Since 2007, we have been bringing these wonderful, bygone tees to the USA, which standout as one of our favorite everyday items.  It was in June of 2022, that the production team for the FX TV show, The Bear, contacted us to purchase several packs of this Whitesville tee shirt in white for Jeremy Allen White's character, and they have subsequently gone on to purchase even more as the show enjoys continued success.  Now you can make this tee shirt of minor celebrity an everyday favorite and shop from the actual supplier to the show.  Just as was the case with our introduction of the Buzz Rickson William Gibson black MA-1 Jacket in 2003, the rest, as the saying goes, is history ...

The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands.  Whitesville tee shirts take us back to when tee shirts were not moo moo dresses outfitted with short sleeves that flirt with our elbows; rather, these are vintage-style tee shirts of the 1950's - 1970's that are trim fitting, short in the body length, and with quarter-length sleeves.  The trim design with quarter sleeves lends itself well to reducing excess fabric and bulk when worn as an undershirt or just as a tee shirt, and the short body length affords a flattering look when worn untucked, typically stopping near the trouser pockets, though tucking in remains anyone's option.

The original tee shirts were made on “body-size” looms which yield a shirt with no side seams, thus weaving a perfect tube.  To do this requires special looms that are only used by specialist manufacturers these days; subsequently, the looms are hard to source and expensive to produce garments on because you need one loom for each size you want made - but it's the proper way to make a vintage-style tee shirt, and it's the only way they were made in the 1950's - ‘70's.

The expertise for making such a garment is largely only found in one place in the world these days - Japan.  The Japanese have become renowned as world experts in vintage-style garment manufacture and home of body-size construction, being able to produce super-accurate, vintage-quality fabrics.  

These Whitesville vintage-style tee shirts are produced from fine-weave, long-staple, 7-ounce cotton with a high stitch count, have a reinforced rib-knit neck tape, and come in vintage-style packaging with two tee shirts per pack, thus the price you see on this page is for two tee shirts, not one.

We cannot endorse these tee shirts any more highly; they are a staff favorite, and we're sure you'll want to make them a wardrobe staple!

Available in sizes Sm - XXL.  Shrinkage should be expected.  Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.

Imported from Japan