As revered symbols of
freedom and Aloha, all Hawaiian shirts must be treated with the utmost respect, especially when it becomes time to part ways with the magnificent shirt you have been wearing for the last 5 to 10 years.
According to a renowned and almost ancient Hawaiian shirt god "The shirt, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a
well-fitting garment for public display, should be destroyed in a dignified way,
preferably by first donning the garment and attending one last luau before deciding its ultimate fate."
Follow
the steps in this guide below to dispose of a worn or damaged Hawaiian shirt and you will be performing the task with the
respect that it deserves.
1.
Donate
the shirt to a qualified organization such as a second hand thrift store.
Companies such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill are always happy to take the colorful
shirts off your hands. Donating is a great way to subject another individual to
your taste in clothing and at a discount they will appreciate. Be a good donator,
wash the shirt one last time and inspect the shirt for any loose buttons, fix
if needed. When delivering the shirt, or shirts, don’t wad them up and put them
in the bottom of a bag with a bunch of other items. Place each shirt on a table
and fold them nicely before placing them in a bag. Don’t disrespect your soon
to be donated shirts by throwing them in a pile on the ground, fold a shirt in
the same manner as a professional laundry service would.
2.
Repurpose
the shirt. As strange as it may sound there are a lot of uses for a worn out Hawaiian
shirt. Cut it up into a strip and use it as a decorative band around the crown
of a hat. You could also have the better parts of the shirt repurposed. Any seamstress
can easily transform parts of your old shirt into a bow tie or even a outfit
for your favorite pet, such as a dog or parrot. Contact a local quilter and cut
a deal to have them repurposed into a beautiful Hawaiian quilt.
3.
Respectfully
burn the shirts. Often some shirts are so badly worn that burning is one of the
few options left. If your wardrobe has reached this point we would say that it’s
a good time to dig a pit and cook up a piglet for a luau, line the bottom of
the pit with rocks and then add your old Hawaiian shirts followed by your wood
and you will have a great lining for your pit.
4.
Take
a final moment to pay respect to the shirts. Often these Hawaiian shirts have
been your only friend and they were always there to lift your spirits, rain or
shine. Focus your thoughts on the symbolism and always think of the good times
and if need be discuss with family members what the shirts meant to you.
5.
Treat
yourself to new Hawaiian shirts. Your will have a void in your sole and no
quote rings as true as “out with the old, and in with the new”. We recommend grabbing
your credit card and going online to Wave Shoppe Hawaiian shirts and using it
to purchase replacement Hawaiian shirts as quickly as you can. The last thing
you want to spend your life doing is mourning the loss of some old worn out
shirt, a new one will magically create new memories in no time.
