Great Western American Rags

2010-09-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry www.justrags.com is down because a hacker in the other hemisphere installed malware and for everyones protection we took it down. Now we are looking for a new webmaster and new design as our, then, webperson did not know how to fix the mess. and it was a mess.

We hope you will be patient and come back to visit when we get reorganized. Lots of 'new to us' inventory, great prints, colors, themes, labels and sizes from the past. If you are in the Denver area and want to go our wart to purchase from warehouse/garage, call for an appointment. 303-477-8442 (we will not return calls, so keep trying to catch us)!

update on Hilo Hattie and shirts with themes!

2009-10-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

So, we see that Hilo Hattie has been sold to Donald Kang for $3 million. Mr. Kang is planning a museum for Hawaiian shirts. We spoke to the staff back in 2006 about a history of HH. No one had that! For the collector and vintage lovers of Aloha, history and labels are important. GO Mr. Kang!

then we found someone did a sales breakdown by theme for Hawaiian shirts and found (at one store) the top 5 selling themes are: #5 - automotive theme, #4 - geometric patterns (tapa), #3 - novelty prints (drinks, festivals, holidays, etc), #2 - floral prints and coming in at #1 - follage prints.

You can find all and any of these popular themes at www.justrags.com and we even have animal and music theme prints that are retro, vintage and collectables. Take a look!

Aloha for today.

traveling

2009-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just back to Denver from Albuquerque and Native American Journalists Association conference. Saw a few aloha shirts there. I had my turquoise and black monstra leaf print shirt! It is fabulous, if I do say so. Media folks should be more couragous and wear bright happy colors.

Dragonboat Races were terrific too. We visited with so many interesting and colorful people there. One man had the shirt, same print and age, as the Elvis shirt on the Blue Hawaii cover. It does look different in person. Another woman told us about having dinner with Elvis in Hawaii as a teenager. We love to hear the stories you have about your Hawaiian shirt or dress. That is the real color of America.

What's your best story?

Looking for a great buy? www.justrags.com

Denver's Dragon Boat Festival

2009-07-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

Join us at 2009 Denver Dragon Boat Festival, July 25-26 at Sloan's Lake Park in old north Denver, Colorado. Great Western American Rags will be in the exhibit tent with examples of vintage and unique Hawaiian shirts and dresses. It's Hawaii's 50th anniversary as a state and the Boat Fest is celebrating with the Islands this summer.

We've been watching the news alerts with Hawaiian shirts in the stories and referances are all over the map. From celebrations of lives welll lived in full color to writers who scorn the image of bold colors and patterns. We don't care, we love them!

Check out the new items on our websites: www.justrags.com and the links there.

Next week we're heading to Calif. and all stops along I-40 to search out new treasures for inventory. Wave as we go by, please? It's a long drive from Denver to Calif. but we can usually do in in under 20 hours.

Susanne

First Family Celebrates Hawaii Style

2009-06-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

There was a big luau at the White House this week. This celebration is an honoring Hawaiian way. Like a potlatch or giveaway in American Indian cultures. It's too bad the mainland media can't get the spelling of muumuu correct, as there were a few at the party. Only a few men wore aloha shirts (they could have found a bargin at www.justrags.com).

The President and First Lady held a news conference before the party. They encouraged America to volunteer. It's a fact that most of our issues could be fixed if more folks had a dedication to volunteer somewhere - anywhere to make their little corner of the world a better place. We are all about volunteering to make our community better, healthier and more informed - see www.alterNativeVoices.org Go out of your house and find somewhere to offer your time, skills, experience or resources. Network who and what you know. Light a candle in the dark. You will really feel better! And the world will be better for it.

Hawaiian Shirts in the news

2009-06-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

We get news alerts everyday from everywhere with stories about or include the mention of Hawaiian shirts. Today there is a stand-out in Texas. See the story at www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/1428891.html

Some nice stories and photos of folks in their shirts. Now if we can just have a story about Hawaiian dresses with photos! that would be beautiful. The progression of design and creativity since the occupation of up tight missionaries is amazing. Shirt history is only about 80 years now.

We'll keep watching the news, you keep making the news! Aloha to all.

June and Hawaii

2009-06-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

If you are marking your calendar, here's a couple of dates to note.

June 11 is King Kaehameha Day in Hawaii. Honoring the great leader who brought unity and strength to the many independent islands and groups. His spirit still reigns.

We read that iconic retailer and garment production house, Hilo Hattie, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October '08 and has been trying to work it out. Court hearing is scheduled for June 22 that will decide if liquidation is ordered.

This is a sad story. When we were there in '06 the free open air trolly ride through the city to the main store was so fun and the store itself was filled with shoppers and bright beautiful clothing, children's things, perfumes, foods, decorator items. Just waiting for the trolly with all the other nice people and chatting was a highlight.

We'll have the Hilo Hattie history one day soon. We did visit with the resident historian while there and have some very interesting stories. Although no one, that we know of, has documented the different label designs and dates. If you have, let us know. We know there are several that change over the years. We can guess the dates by the patterns and materials, but that's as close as we can get to actual dates on the label designs.

Aloha! Susanne

we are new today!

2009-06-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

We are collectors of Hawaiian (Aloha) shirts, dresses and garments, as well as western themed shirts, vests and vintage goods.

We began collecting in the early '70's (last century) and when the collection took up a walk-in closet and a full size garage, it was time to share our treasures with the world of people who appreciate and collect/wear these fun fashions.

Personally collected one-by-one by myself, Susanne Aikman, each piece inspected, varified and cared for over the years. None on my items are new, as in purchased from a wholesaler. They are all recycled - good for the world and for us!

Visit: www.justrags.com and http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Vintage-Rags-and-Riches

Let's talk about history, facts, myths and issues around these themes. Our interest is a passion and not a job. Have fun!