1980s Papeete Tahiti Border Print Shirt – Cream & Black Polynesian Motif (L)

A rare slice of Tahitian resortwear history, this silky polyester shirt from Papeete radiates vintage island charm with bold Polynesian motifs and a classic layout. The creamy base fabric has a soft, fluid drape and a subtle sheen, serving as the perfect canvas for crisp black artwork that includes floral lei garlands, tiki masks, and an elaborate border scene featuring surfers, dancers, and stylized tribal elements.

The standout design choice here is the vertical lei-style chest print, which forms a V framing the placket—mirrored by bold border art across the hem and sleeves. A matching Tahiti island vignette sits on the patch pocket (print not aligned), tying the theme together. The centered layout, camp collar with integrated collar stays, and horizontal buttonhole at the hem give this piece strong structural balance.

Finished with pearlescent plastic buttons and clean single-needle construction, this shirt is a seldom-seen export of French Polynesian textile design. Its silhouette and construction mark it as a product of the 1980s, a time when destinations like Tahiti marketed their own branded resort apparel to discerning travelers.

In excellent pre-owned condition with no visible stains or tears—an archive-worthy example of tropical minimalism and cultural printwork.

Don’t miss your chance to own this scarce vintage Tahitian souvenir shirt—an exceptional survivor from a region rarely represented in vintage aloha catalogs.

- Chest (pit to pit): 23.5"

- Bottom width: 23"

- Length (collar seam to bottom hem): 29.5"

- Shoulder width: 20.5"