Meet David Bailey, owner of the world’s largest Hawaiian shirt collection. At over 15,000 strong, it’s fair to say the guy’s pretty up on the subject. Opening Ceremony recently caught up with the collector – who also owns Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts, a vintage emporium in Honolulu – to chat about the staggering amount of tropical prints he’s encountered over the years. Turns out he got his start in the late ’70s after a hang gliding accident in Santa Barbara. Falling over 1,000 feet spelled the end of his gliding career and prompted him to take a job in a small jewellery store, where, (presumably to break the monotony), he began buying Hawaiian shirts in bulk. Once he had about 1,000 he opened his boutique. There’s an interview with David over here which goes into detail on the history of the iconic garment. In the meantime, check out a few highlights from his vast collection in the gallery above.
