Koa Flowers and Root Whispers - Pull Over Aloha Shirt by David Shepard
THE STORY BEHIND THE HAND-DRAWN DESIGN
This is an aloha shirt with Koa Flowers print. Koa, in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, means to be brave, bold, fearless. Koa (Acacia koa) is a large native forest tree in Hawai‘i, living hundreds of years. Koa trees are prized for their strong, beautiful, and valuable woods that are used to make everything from canoes for transport to ukuleles for music.
What sets koa apart comes from their relationship to ‘āina. Their roots form a symbiotic relationship with soil microbes that allow koa to access an otherwise inaccessible essential plant nutrient: nitrogen. They take nitrogen from the air where it is plentiful, and put it into the soil, where it is scarce. Their special roots give them a big advantage and make the soil better wherever they grow. Koa roots share these nutrients across their forest root network, benefiting the entire forest.
Yet, what makes this print special are the flowers it depicts. Every so often, the koa forest flowers. When it does, it is a special occasion to celebrate.
PRODUCT SPECS
- Made in Hawai‘i
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Made with DTY (Drawn Textured Yarn) soft and stretching knitting fabric.
- Fabric is soft, light, naturally breathable, and durable
- Real coconut buttons
- Print-matched left chest pocket
- Button-down shirt plus button on the back of the collar
- Limited quantity print
- Designed, cut, and sewn in Hawai‘i on imported fabric
- Fabric prints are hand-drawn
