FAQ

Where are you located?  What are your hours of operation?

Weʻre based out of Honolulu, but unfortunately don't have a physical store or HQ.  That might change one day, but as a self-funded, independent brand, we chose to maintain a small footprint in order to keep our costs as manageable as possible.

 

What's the origin of the company's name United Islands?

Thatʻs a long story, but the short-ish answer is we liked the multiple layers of meaning behind “United Islands.”  First, there’s the idea of each Hawaiian Island having it’s own vibe but also being part of a united whole.  Second, there's the literal uniting of the islands by King Kamehameha I, which was a seismic event in Hawaiian history.  Last, we've long been a fan of Japanese brands & retailers (Beams, Takashimaya, Isetan, to name a few) and one of Japan's most respected is United Arrows, so the name was a subtle nod to these great companies.

 

I don't get it.  How does your company stay in business if all the profits from Hawaiian RH Shirts are donated to non-profits?

You're right - giving away all profits is not exactly a tenable business model!  So what's the deal here?  Well, we're committed to always donating the profits from the Hawaiian RH Shirt towards local causes.  However, with other (future) items we create, the plan is to make our profit off of those items.

 

What percentage of my purchase of a Hawaiian RH Shirt goes towards non-profit donation?

For each batch of shirts, the amount (or percentage) donated will be different.  This is driven by two main factors.  First is the (substantial) upfront development costs that were incurred to bring the Hawaiian RH Shirt to life in the first place - fabric testing, embroidery design, pattern development, sample making, to name a few.  All of these costs need to be recouped before we, as a small business, are able to make any donations.  Of course, the idea would be that once these initial costs are recouped, it allows us to donate a greater percentage of the shirts' purchase price in the long-term.  The other factor to remember is economies of scale.  Like any company, our percentage profit on a shirt depends (in part) on how many we make.  For example, a run of 1,000 shirts is more profitable (per shirt) than a run of 100.  Again, our goal would be (slowly & sustainably) grow our production size such that a greater percentage of each shirt sold can go towards charitable giving.  The bottom line: we want to donate as much profit from these shirts as possible within the limits & constraints of a small business!

 

Why do you only release product periodically rather than carry inventory in stock?

It's true - we only make limited-run items so once it's gone, it's gone.  We like the specialness of limited releases. Also, it's a financial challenge for small companies like ours to tie up the type of capital necessary to have inventory on-hand.

 

Why do you make such limited quantities?

We believe in the Japanese concept of mottainai - that wasting things is not good. Larger brands typically flood the market with product, knowing that a significant percentage may go unsold and potentially end up in landfills.

By limiting our production volume, we're able to virtually eliminate waste by all but ensuring every item we ever make actually gets in the hands of members of our community. 

 

Why do you only release one product at a time?

First and foremost, it is because we are a very small team!  We obsess over the details with each product, so we concentrate on one thing at a time to ensure we deliver you the very best with each release.

 

Am I able to make an exchange on a product I bought?

Due to our limited volumes, exchanges are not always possible.  However, if we happen to have your item in the size you’re looking for, we will certainly make it happen.  Just make sure to get the garment back to us in fresh, unworn condition within 20 days of receiving it and we will send our a replacement garment.  You can read the details on exchanges here.

 

How do returns work?

If you receive your shirt and you decide not to keep it, no worries.  Check out information on returns here.

 

Where are your shirts made?

Our shirts are designed and made right here in Hawaii.  Although not always possible, as a general rule, we try to use local production & sourcing whenever we can. 

 

Do you make womenswear too?

Not at the moment.  For the time being, we decided to keep it simple and stick with what we know: menswear.  However, for any interested wahine out there, we purposefully made the Hawaiian RH Shirts (especially the Classic style) loose fitting in the hopes that women might enjoy them too. 

 

What's the deal with your numbered sizes? How do I know what size I am?

Weʻre using a number system for our garments because people come in all shapes and sizes. We felt using #'s on our labels (rather than traditional S, M, L, XL) was a small way to remove stigma around sizing.  Also, by the way: traditional sizing is crazy unreliable anyway (our founder has clothes in his closet anywhere from M to XL!) so it's not like the other method was terribly good to begin with!

 

Do your Hawaiian RH Shirts shrink?

Yes.  Our shirts are 100% cotton seersucker, which has a tendency to shrink.  That said, we put a lot of effort into making sure you have 100% confidence in your sizing decision.  Definitely check out our Sizing Guide on the product page plus our How We Measure page in order to get the perfect fit.

 

How do I care for my Hawaiian RH Shirt?

With their high heat, machine dryers is actually really rough on natural fabrics.  We recommend machine washing cold and line drying…or machine drying on Low if you absolutely must.

 

How do I know when your next release is scheduled?

We don’t have a set release schedule, so your best bet is to sign up for our Newsletter or follow us here. 

 

How long will it take to receive my order?

Once your order is placed, our goal is to have the shipment out within 48 hours.  We use US Postal Service for pretty much all of our shipping and, in our experience, it is quite timely.  However, by virtue of Hawaiʻi's remote location, packages sent off-island can take a bit longer so just keep that in mind.  You can go here to see rough estimates for shipping times.

 

Why did you include a postcard with my order?

We're old school.  We think a handwritten note is something to be treasured these days.  If you're interested, you can read more about our postcard project here.