History of the T Shirt
Posted on November 04 2020
It has been around since 1904 when it was announced by Cooper Underwear Company as a new product, bachelors’ undershirt, stretchy enough to be pulled over the head, without all the buttons and bottom that the current long johns had. It was noticed by the U.S. Navy at this time, and was issued to every sailor to wear under their uniforms. They soon also became popular as a bottom layer of clothing for workers in various industries, including agriculture, as they were easily fitted, easily cleaned, and inexpensive. The name T-shirt was first used by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1920 (Oxford English Dictionary), and presumably named because of the shirt’s shape. The comfort of the cotton pullover became extremely popular. T shirts could be purchased in U.S. department stores by the 1930s and worn by teenage boys in the 1940s; and still largely recognized as an undershirt. It was in the 1950s when it became the “t shirt”, worn in movies featuring James Dean and others, and first became a statement and a symbol of rebellion, and finally achieving status as fashionable, stand-alone, outerwear garments.
The first printed T Shirts were in limited use by 1942 when an Air Corps Gunnery School T-shirt appeared on the cover of Life magazine. It was in the 1960’s that printed T Shirts flourished as a form of personal expression. Screen printed T Shirts became a standard form of marketing for major American consumer products, such as Coca-Cola and Mickey Mouse. It also became commonly used to commemorate an event, promote a musician or band, and make a political or personal statement. In the 1980’s, and especially 90’s, T Shirts with prominent designer-name logos became popular, especially with teenagers and young adults. These garments allowed consumers to flaunt their taste for designer brands in an inexpensive way.
Historically American, the T Shirt has become a worldwide, universal fashion staple. While the classic T Shirt shape is a standard, they are not limited in style. Quite the opposite... including sleeveless tanks, short sleeves, long sleeves, fitted, oversized, cropped...the variety is endless. We wear them in all shapes and sizes. We dress them up or down depending on the activity, occasion and mood. We can wear them to make a statement, or no statement at all. The T Shirt defies fashion by always being in fashion, constantly evolving, and never going out style.
Sources:
-Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt
-Quora https://www.quora.com/Why-are-they-called-T-shirts
-The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/magazine/who-made-that-t-shirt.html?_r=0
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