Samuel L. Jackson, last year's honoree at the Hawaii International Film Festival, will soon have the opportunity to sport a silk HIFF aloha shirt.

The embroidered image on the back: a colorful hula girl wearing a lei, a hibiscus behind her ear, and a skirt made of film strips.

That's clearly a sartorial step up. When Jackson was here for the festival last year, all he got was a T-shirt.

Chuck Boller, executive director of the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, plans to bring along one of the brand-new, Tori Richard-designed HIFF aloha shirts as a gift for the iconic actor when Boller visits Los Angeles next month.

The black silk twill shirt marks a first for HIFF. During its 26-year history, the festival has offered logo T-shirts but never an aloha shirt. The new move is more in keeping with the luxury image of sponsor Louis Vuitton.

The shirt is another project Tori Richard has created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary this year.

"We're in the art business, so it makes sense for our charitable donations to go toward the arts. Tori Richard and HIFF is a natural pairing," said Josh Feldman, Tori Richard CEO.

Since the festival does not have an official logo, Tori Richard artist Dexter Doi began with a clean slate. Remembering his favorite HIFF trailer, Doi borrowed an image of the hula girl in a celluloid skirt and adapted her to a design that could be embroidered.

Not to leave the front of the shirt too plain, Doi also created a gold embroidered graphic to run down the placket of the French-seamed shirt.

Another special touch: Under the label is a drawing of a little film camera with "2006" under it.

Will there be more aloha shirts for HIFF? Boller certainly hopes so. He said he will feel proud to present the shirts to festival judges, celebrities and directors, as well as delegates who do business all over the world for HIFF.

The HIFF aloha shirt is available for $125 by writing andrea @hiff.org; by phoning 528-3456, ext.11; or by writing to HIFF, 1001 Bishop St., ASB Tower, Suite 745, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Only 250 shirts were created, and they will not be reproduced.

Reach Paula Rath at prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.