Milwaukee may have been a long way from the South Pacific, but in 1956, Tradewinds Restaurant was ready to shorten the trip.
At 829 North Third Street, palm trees framed the room, tropical drinks flowed, and a bamboo-lettered sign promised diners an evening somewhere far warmer than Wisconsin. The restaurant began as Milwaukee’s short-lived Beachcomber, then became Tradewinds after a trademark challenge forced a swift change of name. The sign changed. The coconuts, cocktails, and tropical fantasy stayed firmly on duty.
This revived design comes from the restaurant’s original advertising artwork, complete with its elegant hula hostess, bamboo typography, and magnificent promise: “Home of Tropical Drinks.” Printed with a weathered, vintage-ink character, it feels less like a modern souvenir and more like something rescued from a forgotten matchbook drawer.
Wear it for tropical drinks, supper-club archaeology, or any evening requiring a little Milwaukee moonlight and considerably more rum. 🌴
Printed on a soft Comfort Colors tee with a relaxed, lived-in feel that suits the artwork from the first wearing.
• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 6.1 oz/yd² (206.8 g/m²)
• Garment-dyed
• Relaxed fit
• 7/8″ double-needle topstitched collar
• Twill-taped neck and shoulders for extra durability
• Double-needle armhole, sleeve, and bottom hems
• Blank product sourced from Honduras
Size guide
| |
WIDTH (inches) |
LENGTH (inches) |
SLEEVE CENTER BACK (inches) |
| S |
18 ¼ |
26 ⅝ |
16 ¼ |
| M |
20 ¼ |
28 |
17 ¾ |
| L |
22 |
29 ⅜ |
19 |
| XL |
24 |
30 ¾ |
20 ½ |
| 2XL |
26 |
31 ⅝ |
21 ¾ |
| 3XL |
27 ¾ |
32 ½ |
23 ¼ |
| 4XL |
29 ¾ |
33 ½ |
24 ⅝ |
| |
WIDTH (cm) |
LENGTH (cm) |
SLEEVE CENTER BACK (cm) |
| S |
46.4 |
67.6 |
41.3 |
| M |
51.4 |
71.1 |
45 |
| L |
55.9 |
74.6 |
48.3 |
| XL |
61 |
78.1 |
52 |
| 2XL |
66 |
80.3 |
55.3 |
| 3XL |
70.5 |
82.6 |
59 |
| 4XL |
75.6 |
85 |
62.6 |
