Crazy Shirts
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel, clothing |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | Frederick Carleton "Rick" Ralston |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Hawaii , United States |
Area served | Hawaii, California, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, United States (nationwide) |
Key people | Mark Hollander (President and CEO) |
| Products | T-shirts, sweatshirts, other clothing items |
Number of employees | Over 400 |
| Parent | Only The Best Inc. |
| Website | www |
Crazy Shirts is a U.S.-based apparel company specializing in T-shirts and other clothing items, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. The brand operates 35 retail outlets across Hawaii, California, Florida, Nevada, and Colorado. Its production facility on the island of Oʻahu stands as the largest printing operation in Hawaiʻi, employing over 400 staff members.
History
Frederick Carleton “Rick” Ralston is credited with revolutionizing the T-shirt from an undergarment to a mainstream fashion item. Sharon Nelton of BNET referred to Ralston as “the T-shirt king of America and the father of the modern T-shirt.” During the summer of 1960, shortly after finishing high school in Montebello, California, Ralston spray-painted a design onto a T-shirt. He then traveled to Santa Catalina Island with a friend nicknamed “Crazy Arab,” where they decorated beach towels with spray-painted artwork.
Ralston had been using a worn T-shirt as his canvas for towel designs, which he described as resembling "an ugly monster shape." On one occasion, while wearing the shirt on the street, a tourist offered to purchase it for their daughter. This encounter inspired Ralston to pursue the T-shirt business seriously.
In 1960, Ralston and his associates set up a sidewalk stand on Santa Catalina Island. Customers brought their own plain T-shirts from a nearby sporting goods store, which Ralston and “Crazy Arab” customized with images of monsters, surfers, or hot rods for $2.80 each, occasionally earning up to $100 daily.
After spending another summer on Santa Catalina Island and completing two years of automotive design studies at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, Ralston moved his seasonal business to Waikīkī’s sidewalks in Oahu in 1962. The tourism boom during summer provided him with steady income.
By 1964, Ralston had launched a small shop within the Waikīkī bazaar at the International Market Place. Named Ricky’s Crazy Shirts, it is believed to be the first retail space dedicated solely to T-shirts and sweatshirts. Due to growing demand from tourists, Ralston transitioned from spray-painting to screen-printing techniques to increase production efficiency. Later that year, he renamed the store from Ricky’s Crazy Shirts to simply Crazy Shirts. In 1970, a second location opened at Honolulu’s Ala Moana shopping mall. At that time, annual sales reached approximately $500,000.
Throughout the 1990s, Crazy Shirts expanded aggressively to more than 70 locations nationwide. However, in September 2001, the company closed four stores and filed for bankruptcy protection. Subsequently, in November 2001, Only The Best Inc., connected with the owners of Waikiki Trader Corp., acquired Crazy Shirts.
Crazy Shirts today
In October 2001, Mark Hollander assumed the roles of president and CEO of Crazy Shirts Hawaii, succeeding Rick Ralston. Hollander was a member of the investor group that acquired the company.
Following this leadership transition, Crazy Shirts broadened its reach into previously unexplored markets nationwide, including locations like South Carolina and Santa Barbara. Additionally, the company relocated its manufacturing operations from California back to Hawaii. This strategic move generated over 50 new employment opportunities within Hawaii and consolidated all production functions—such as artwork creation and catalog development—under one roof.
During the 1970s, Crazy Shirts offered approximately 150 different designs. Since then, advancements in production methods have occurred, resulting in a current catalog featuring over 550 unique designs.
Hollander presently manages the company’s retail outlets across the United States as well as oversees the production facility and administrative headquarters situated in Halawa Valley on Oahu, Hawaii.
Active Store Locations:
- Hawaii
- Oahu
- Kauai
- Maui
- Hawaii Island
- California
- San Francisco
- Sausalito
- San Diego
- Laguna Beach
- Huntington Beach
- Palm Springs
- Colorado
- Vail
- Florida
- Sarasota
- Key West
- Nevada
- Las Vegas
Specialty dyes
Crazy Shirts is distinguished for utilizing specialty dyes that incorporate natural and unconventional elements such as wine, beer, bubble gum, chili, chocolate, and Kona coffee into their clothing. The current range of specialty dye options includes:
- Beer
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Blue Hawaii
- Cherry
- Chile
- Chocolate
- Coconut
- Crater Dyed®
- Green Apple
- Hemp
- Key Lime
- Kona Coffee
- Lavender
- Paradise Red
- Pine
- Pineapple
- Root Beer
- Wine
Design lines
The “Crazy Classics” collection revives some of Crazy Shirts’ most beloved designs each season. These limited-edition releases are produced based on customer demand.
Kliban Cat Designs – Crazy Shirts previously held exclusive rights to apparel featuring cartoons by B. ‘Hap’ Kliban. The iconic “Kliban Cat” first appeared on a Crazy Shirt in 1977. Popular images included Hula Cat adorned with a grass skirt and lei, Aloha Cat wearing an aloha shirt with open arms, Sumo Cat dressed in a mawashi wrestling belt, and Artist Cat seated at an easel covered in paint. This collaboration concluded in 2024.
Obama Surfs – In November 2008, Crazy Shirts paid tribute to Hawaii-born President-elect Barack Obama by launching the “Obama Surfs” white crew neck T-shirt. The front features the phrase “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, President Obama 2009,” alongside a bodysurfer riding a wave with the Hawaiian Islands depicted, while the back displays “Obama Surfs” over a curling wave.
Wyland Partnership – In December 2008, Crazy Shirts teamed up with marine life artist Wyland to produce an exclusive apparel line inspired by his artwork. Signature designs include “Big Whale,” portraying a mother whale and calf on a blue T-shirt alongside a humpback whale tail rendered in brush ink, and “Get Involved” dolphins printed with the motto: “Re-Think, Re-Cycle, Re-Use.” A portion of sales supports Wyland Foundation’s clean water initiatives.
Community leadership
Crazy Shirts actively contributes to numerous community and non-profit initiatives throughout Hawaii. Their ongoing support has encompassed the following efforts:
- Hawaiian Humane Society – The company has consistently participated in programs such as Adopt-a-Cat and Adopt-a-Dog, among other Hawaiian Humane Society activities. Each year, Crazy Shirts donates an exclusive shirt design and product, with a share of the revenue benefiting the organization.[1]
- Polynesian Voyaging Society – Collaborating with the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hokulea crew, Crazy Shirts developed the official crew shirt featuring specialized UV protection.[2]
- AccesSurf Hawaii – In cooperation with Crocs, Crazy Shirts created a limited-edition footwear model named the “Island Lifeguard,” which is exclusively available at select Crazy Shirts stores and their online platform. Complementing the shoe, they also designed an “Island Lifeguard” T-shirt. Proceeds from these items support AccesSurf Hawaii, a local non-profit dedicated to enabling water sports access for individuals with physical or mental challenges through adaptive equipment, as well as the Hawaii Junior Lifeguard programs.[3]
- Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) – In May 2007, Crazy Shirts introduced the “Save our Planet” collection aimed at fostering dialogue, increasing environmental awareness, and motivating people to adopt sustainable practices. A portion of sales from this global warming-themed line is donated to the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), a University of Hawaii research center dedicated to developing alternative energy solutions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the United States.[4]
Notes and references
- ↑ Erika Engle. “Crazy Shirts turns 40,” http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/05/09/business/engle.html Star-Bulletin, May 9, 2004, Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- ↑ Nick Black "Nick Black Art - Biography". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ↑ Gene Park. “Disabled get access to water sports,” http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/06/03/news/story05.html, Star-Bulletin, June 3, 2007, Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- ↑ Star-Bulletin staff and wire services. “Da Kine,” http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/05/10/features/dakine.html Star-Bulletin, May 10, 2007, Retrieved May 1, 2009.