Ocean Institute, Hoffman California Fabrics collaborate on custom aloha shirt
By CLARA BEARD
Ocean Institute’s tall ship, research vessel and marine life will soon have a new, unique canvas in the form of an aloha shirt.
The Dana Point nonprofit recently partnered with Hoffman California Fabrics on an original shirt design celebrating the institute, its ocean education programs and upcoming 50th anniversary.
The shirts, now available in the Ocean Institute Gift Shop, feature a special pattern by Hoffman artist Hue Nguyen. The design includes the historic tall ship Spirit of Dana Point, the R/V Sea Explorer, local animals and landmarks around the institute.
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Courtesy of Ocean Institute
The new custom aloha shirt features Ocean Institute vessels, marine life and campus landmarks
To create the shirt, Hoffman team members visited Ocean Institute to take photos of the subjects that would appear in the print. Nguyen turned the images into a pattern meant to serve as a visual tour of the campus, where the nonprofit offers marine science and maritime history programs for students, teachers, families and visitors.
“This collaboration captures the spirit of Ocean Institute in a way that feels joyful, distinctive and deeply connected to Dana Point,” Riley Russell, the institute’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “Every detail in the pattern represents an important part of the experience we share with our students and guests, from encountering marine life to stepping aboard a historic tall ship.”
Ocean Institute was founded in 1977 and will mark its 50th anniversary next year. The new shirt is the first item to use the Hoffman design, though the institute said it may be incorporated into other merchandise in the future.
The collaboration also connects two organizations with long histories in Southern California’s coastal culture.
Hoffman California Fabrics grew out of a family textile business and became closely tied to surf style through brothers Walter and Philip “Flippy” Hoffman, pioneering big-wave surfers whose fabrics were used by brands including Quiksilver and Billabong. The brothers were inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame’s Surf Culture category in 2006.
Their legacy is especially evident in Dana Point, where statues honoring Walter and Flippy Hoffman stand at Watermen’s Plaza near the entrance to the harbor. A statue of Walter’s daughter, world champion surfer Joyce Hoffman, is also part of the plaza.
“The team here at Hoffman California Fabrics appreciates the opportunity to celebrate the history, legacy and mutual love for the ocean and amazing sea life with Ocean Institute,” Tammy Melott of Hoffman California Fabrics said in a statement. “We congratulate Ocean Institute on its upcoming 50th anniversary and the important work of educating and inspiring children and adults to learn about and love the ocean and marine life.”
Proceeds from the shirts and other Gift Shop purchases support Ocean Institute’s nonprofit work, including educational programming, animal care and vessel operations.
The Ocean Institute Gift Shop is at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive. More information is available at www.oceaninstitute.org.
