The Mu'uMu'useum: Mu'uMu'u Madness

The History of the Mu'uMu'u

A Brief History of the Mu'uMu'u.

Victorian Missionaries arrived in Hawaii to convert the natives, and immediately forced them to cover up. The women were put into Victorian garb, high neck, ankle length, puffed sleeve, dresses. Eventually, the Hawaiian women at least got the chance to deign and create textiles that were more to their liking. The Mu'u Mu'u was born, as well as the Aloha shirt. For every vintage Aloha shirt you see there was probably a complimentary matching dress. The textiles were unique, beautiful, and made on the islands. The designs were created exclusively in Hawaii, and nothing like them existed elsewhere. The strong tailoring tradition that existed in Hong Kong, due to the British tastes, also effected the style of the Hawaiian tailors. Many fashion houses produced high end Alohawear from the turn of the century until the late 60's. To name a few, Kamehameha, Andrade, Shaheen, Liberty House, Alice and Walter Clarke. The popularity of the Matson cruise lines and prestigious Hawaiian vacations, imagine Elvis in "Blue Hawaii" with Ann Margaret, created a demand for extrordinarily well styled, high fashion gowns. These were very fitted and feminine. The most grand Mu'u's were used in the Hawaiian parades and Hula competitions, like the 'Merry Monarch'. A woman could look unbelievably attractive in one of these pieces. By the 60's imitations could be found all over the world, even in the Sears catalog.
From that point forward, Alohawear quality drastically declined. For many economic reasons, production went to Asia, became mass produced, and the Mu'u Mu'u in the true sense was lost. I felt strongly that this unique American art form had to be saved, documented and archived. I have a collection of over 150 vintage Mu'uMu'u's. My friends now wear them. I strive to disabuse the notion of the Mu'u Mu'u being ugly, and Alohawear being low fashion. Of course, in Hawaii we all know this. Which is why I have found all of my pieces on the Mainland. I am always collecting more, and am happy that a resurgence is growing, because these pieces merit preservation and appreciation. Of course, if you don't like them, more for me,
Aloha, Cassandra

Mu'u Vigilante