Reyn Spooner is an American fashion design company founded in 1956 by Reyn McCullough and Ruth Spooner.[1] The company, founded on Catalina Island, was originally named Reyns Men's wear.
History
Founder Reynolds McCullough[2] was raised in the 1930s on Catalina Island, California.[3] In the 1940s, after World War II, McCullough returned from Army paratrooper service and took a job with a chain of southern California men's stores. He then bought his employer's shop in Avalon.[3] He started developing six stores on Catalina, among them Reyn's Men's Wear and the Catalina Department store.[3]
McCullough met Don Graham of the Dillingham Corporation, the developers of the Ala Moana Shopping Center[3] in 1957 in Hawaii.[4] After returning to Catalina, a space in the new shopping center became available and was offered to him. In November 1959, McCullough moved to Honolulu and opened a Hawaii retail store within the Ala Moana Shopping Center.[3]
In 1962, McCullough teamed up with Ruth Spooner to create Reyn Spooner in Honolulu.[5]
Spooner Kloth was created in 1964, when Tom Anderson (Reyn's Ala Moana store Assistant Manager) brought McCullough one of Pat Dorian's original "reverse" print shirts.[3]
Reyn Spooner started selling clothing internationally in 1974, when the company started shipping Aloha apparel to Japan, Australia, and Canada.[6]
In 1984, Reyn Spooner collaborated with Vans, in which Reyn Spooner prints were used for Vans footwear. In 1996, Reyn Spooner teamed up with "lifestyle-artist" Eddy Y. to create shirts featuring original Eddy Y. artwork.[5] In 2009, Reyn Spooner collaborated with Urban Outfitters to create a collection of slim-fit shirts. Shortly after, Reyn teamed up with Stüssy to develop an exclusive print for the clothing brand. In 2010, Reyn Spooner debuted its Modern Collection.[7] In 2011, Reyn Spooner collaborated with Opening Ceremony.[8]
Reyn Spooner is now owned by Aloha Brands, representing a group of investors led by Charlie Baxter and Dave Abrams.[7]
Products
The Classic collection uses Reyn Spooner's traditional Spooner Kloth, which was first introduced in 1964 and became known as the oxford cloth of the islands.[9] This cloth combines combed cotton with properties of spun polyester.[5] The Classic Collection offers prints from Dietrich Varez, Eddy Y, and Naoki.[9]
Reyn Spooner has the most recent addition being the Modern Collection. This collection was created to appeal to a younger audience.[10]
In recent years, Reyn Spooner has also collaborated with fashion brands such as Urban Outfitters, Stüssy, Transpac and Opening Ceremony.[10] As of 2015, Reyn Spooner operates seven retail stores in Hawaii and sells apparel in specialty and department stores throughout the United States, abroad, and online.[11] Reyn Spooner has been worn by celebrities like George Clooney in the movie The Descendants[12] and Chi McBride in Hawaii Five-0.[13]