Last week I finished making a fitting and making a muslin for my DuBarry shirtdress, and promptly felt uninspired. I haven’t cut any fabric yet, but have had a sarong dress sketch on my notebook for the past few days. I started drafting a sarong dress from my basic bodice block over the weekend, inspired by Alfred Shaheen.

Alfred Shaheen was known for his Hawaiian print shirts and sarong dresses. He started his own company in 1948, silk screening textile designs and fabrics inspired by Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Asia. He set up Surf ‘n Sand Hand Prints, his first print plant, and began scouring Honolulu’s junkyards for parts to use in building his equipment. His philosophy was to celebrate ethnic diversity and remain true to authentic cultural art forms.

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Full skirt halter dress in traditional Hawaiian print pattern, by Surf ‘n Sand.

Inside shot of one of Shaheen’s factories.

Strapless, full skirt with traditional Hawaiian print.

I love the interesting yellow and brown print on this sarong wrap dress.

This teal dress is similar in style to the one above.

Good use of border print and small scale print.

Great use of Asian inspired print.

I don’t own this Simplicity pattern, but it’s very similar to something Shaheen would have done.