‘Casual Friday’ is a term you’ve most definitely heard countless times over the course of your employment years. It’s by all means the one title that gets you tickled with excitement. It’s actually one of the few things that makes working less boring and burdening.

And so, what is Casual Friday? Well, picture a day where the conventional dress-codes of a working day are subdued to jeans, casual t-shirts and most of all, the freedom of self-expression. Now stop picturing it, because that’s exactly the case! And it doesn’t get any more glorious, as it is the one day where you cast aside your neckties, suits and pencil skirts in favor of slogan t-shirts and whatnot!

Believe it or not, this tradition finds its roots in a sweet Hawaiian escape. Step aside, working-heroes of the world. It all started with a Hawaiian garment company, simply wanting to increase its shirts sale. Little did they know that by doing so, they changed “Friday attire” forever! So back in 1964, citizens of Waikiki, Hawaii, substantially attempted to revolutionize the business attire during the summer heat. Amidst the unbearable summer months, they decided to break through social norms and introduce the ‘Aloha shirt”, a shirt that was soon to make history! As such, the same shirt would bolster the Hawaiian economy, while also permitting its residents to peacefully bear with the hot climate. And soon, the Aloha shirt became ‘Aloha Friday”, a day where Hawaiians could go fashionably nuts! But it wasn’t until the 90’s that ‘Casual Friday’ gained popularity in the rest of the world, as the economic recession made it a must for workers to “dress down” and to spend less money on business attires.

And this is how a Hawaiian tale sealed the deal with a simple patterned shirt, opening the gates to casual T-shirts any man or woman can wear (yes, even you!).

Cindy Menassa