A lei is a common symbol of love, friendship, celebration, honor, or greeting. Look "surfer cool" in this newly discovered and never before seen print by the late Dietrich Varez that depicts eleven different Lei:  including ferns, Kukui leaves, and Lehua flowers, among others.  Brand new with tag, this is a Spooner KlothTM (55% cotton, 45% polyester) Hawaiian shirt made by Reyn Spooner in a blue Hawaiian leis reverse print in size Large.  The print is called "Lei'd Back" and the color is #0253 Deep Dive Blue.  This is a classic vintage print on a shirt that features all the details Reyn Spooner wearers appreciate, side vents, matching prints, logo buttons, and quality materials.

This print was designed by Dietrich Varez in 2008.  His inspiration came from the book Ka Lei:  The Leis of Hawai'i by Marie A. McDonald in which she explores the many types of Hawaiian Lei.  Dietrich Varez was an iconoclastic printmaker-painter whose work is among the most widely recognized of any artist in Hawaii.  A long-time resident of the Big Island, he is known primarily for scenes of Hawaiian mythology and of traditional Hawaiian life and stylized designs from nature.  Varez has published more than 225 wood and linoleum block prints.  The subject matter in most of Varez's work is inspired by traditional Hawaiian legends and Polynesian designs, integrating mythological figures in scenes with flora and fauna typical of the diverse Hawaiian environment.  His most recent graphic work included more modern stories, notably that of Father Damien, known for his work in the leper colony on Molokai, and also the renowned battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), berthed at Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Naval base on Oahu.

Reyn Spooner's signature reverse print construction (or what the locals call the inside-out shirt) dates back to the early 60’s with an enterprising surfer/bartender named Pat Dorian who was selling his own line of aloha wear while he served drinks.  He would pull out a box of shirts to show whenever a customer complimented on what he was wearing.  In time, he convinced Tom Andersen, the assistant manager at Reyn’s to carry his creations by offering Reyn a customized shirt.  Since Andersen wasn’t keen on the bright patterns, they discussed muting the print by turning it inside out.  Dorian made good on that idea, and presented Reyn and Andersen with samples that both of them loved.  Reyn then added his own magic by scouring the globe to find textile artisans who can ink through the fabric with just the right finesse to achieve his ideal of the perfect sun-kissed look.  The result allowed Reyn Spooner to effectively market Aloha shirts to Hawaii businessmen and tourists alike.  The loud and poorly constructed Hawaiian shirts made out of muumuu fabric were reimagined and a classic style was born.