Often the Definitive History of the T-Shirt

Today the modern crypto t shirts offers spawned a vast textile and fashion industry, worth more than
two-billion dollars to the world's retail trade. The not likely birth of the t-shirt was a rather
unspectacular event, nevertheless this humble piece of attire was set to change the designs and fashions
of cultures for generations to come. Ultimately the T-Shirt would be used as a political tool with regard
to protest and in certain times and places in history, a symbol of trend and change.
At the very beginning the t-shirt was a bit more than a piece of underwear, an extremely utilitarian one
at that. Back in the 19th century the union suit, (also colloquially called long johns), was in its hey day,
worn throughout America and northern parts of Europe. Popular throughout course and generation, this
modest knitted one-piece covered the entire body, from the neck to the wrists and ankles. The exact
designs pièce de résistance featured a drop argument in the back for ease of use in the old outhouse.
Because cotton became more and more widely available, underwear manufacturers seized as soon as to
create an alternative to this mainstay and rather cumbersome style. Knitted material is difficult to cut
and sew seams and thus with cotton a radical shift towards mass-made fashion could begin.

In Europe times were changing, since the Americans continued to sweat and itch, a simple "T-shaped"
template was cut twice from a piece of cotton towel and the two pieces faced and stitched together
within a lowly European workhouse. It was half a pair of long johns, but it soon took on a life of its own.
Since the Industrial Revolution reached its inevitable conclusion, Henry To. Ford created the world's first
production line, the suggestions of functionalism, efficiency, and utilitarian style entered the main
mainstream consciousness of societies across the world, and Europe particularly. Many began to
question the Puritanism of the past, Even victorian buttoned-down ideas of modesty were starting to
give way in order to scantier and scantier swimsuits, ankle-bearing skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. As
World War One loomed upon the horizon, the t-shirt was about to be conscripted for the army.

Historical researchers define the first recorded incident with the introduction of the T-shirt to the United
States occurred during Globe War One when US soldiers remarked upon the sunshine cotton
undershirts European soldiers were issued as regular uniform. American soldiers were fuming, their
government had been still issuing woolen uniforms, this wasn't fashion, it had been practically a tactical
military disadvantage. How could a sniper keep still and aim his rifle with beans of sweat pouring in his
eyes, and an itch that just wouldn't go away? The US army may not possess reacted as quickly as their
troops would have liked, however the highly practical and light t-shirt would soon make its way
returning to the mainstream American consumer.

Due to their highly recognizable form, and want for a better name, the word "T-shirt" had been coined,
and as the word found its place in the social lexicon, people across the world began to adopt the new
and more comfy alternative to the union shirt. A handful of American experts claim that the name was
coined in 1932 when Howard Smith commissioned "Jockey" to design a new sweat absorbing shirt for
your USC Trojans football team. However the US army competitions the origins of the word come from
army training t-shirts, being the military it was not long before practicality made certain the
abbreviation. There is one alternative theory, little recognized and rather graphic in its interpretation.
Essentially the idea that shortened-length arms were described as akin to the shape of an amputees
upper body, a common sight in the bloodier battles of the past, although this speculation cannot be
verified, the idea has a gory engagement ring of truth about it. During World War II the actual T-shirt
was finally issued as standard underwear for many ranks in both the U. S. Army and the Deep blue.
Although the T-shirt was intended as underwear, soldiers executing strenuous battle games or
construction work, and especially all those based in warmer climes would often wear an discovered T-
shirt. On July the 13th, 1942, the include story for Life magazine features a photo of a soldier putting on
a T-shirt with the text "Air Corps Gunnery School".

In the first few years after World War Two, the particular European fashion for wearing T-shirts as an
outer garment, influenced mainly by new US army uniforms, spread on the civilian population of
America. In 1948 the New You are able to Times reported a new and unique marketing tool for that
year's campaign for New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. It had been the first recorded "slogan T-
Shirt", the message read "Dew It for Dewey", closely repeated by the more well-known "I Like Ike" T-
shirts in Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential campaign.

In the early 1950s enterprising companies located in Miami, Florida, began to decorate tee shirts with
Floridian holiday resort names and even cartoon characters. The first recorded graphic jacket catalogue
was created by Tropix Togs, by its software program and founder, Miami entrepreneur Sam Kantor.
They were the first licensee for Walt Disney characters that included Disney characters with reallly big
ears and Davy Crockett. Later other companies expanded into the t-shirt printing business that included
Sherry Manufacturing Company additionally based in Miami.

Sherry began business in 1948, the particular owner and founder, Quinton Sandler, was quick to capture
onto the new T-shirt trend, and quickly expanded typically the screen print scarf company into the
largest screen print out licensed apparel producer in the United States. Soon more and more celebrities
seemed to be on national TV sporting this new risqué apparel such as John Wayne, and Marlon Brando.
In 1955 Adam Dean gave the T-Shirt street credibility in the traditional movie "Rebel Without A Cause".
The T-Shirt was quick evolving into a contemporary symbol of rebellious youth. The original furore and
public outcry soon died down and even within time even the American Bible Belt could notice its
practicality of design.

In the 60's people started to tie dye and screenprint the basic cotton T-Shirt which makes it an even
bigger commercial success. Advances in printing together with dying allowed more variety and the Tank
Top, Muscle mass Shirt, Scoop Neck, V-Neck, and many other variations of the Jacket came in to fashion.
During this period of cultural experimentation and upheaval, many independent T-shirt printers made
copies involving "Guerrillero Heroico, or Heroic Guerilla", the famous portrait connected with Ernesto
"Che" Guevara taken by Alberto "Korda" Diaz. Since which it is said to be the most reproduced image
within the history of photography, mainly thanks to the rise of your T-shirt.

The 1960's also saw the creation belonging to the "Ringer T-shirt" which became a staple fashion for
youngsters and rock-n-rollers. The decade also saw the introduction of tie-dyeing and screen-printing on
the basic T-shirt. In 1959, "Plastisol", a more durable and stretchable ink, was developed, allowing much
more variety in t-shirt designs. As linen technologies improved, new T-shirt styles were soon released,
including the the tank top, the A-shirt (infamously generally known as the "wife beater"), the muscle
shirt, scoop necks, and of course V-necks.

More and more iconic T-shirts were designed as well as created throughout the Psychedelic era,
including more and more home-made studies. A tidal wave of tie-died t-shirts began to check out the
burgeoning music festival scenes in Western European countries and America. By the late 60's it was
practically the required dress code amongst the West Coast hippie tradition. Band T-shirts became
another extremely popular form of T shirt, inexpensively printed and sold at live gigs and concerts of the
day, often the tradition continues to the present, band T shirts are as well-known as ever, however the
price of them has risen dramatically.

Within 1975 Vivienne Westwood makes her mark at 430 King's Road, London at the "Sex" boutique with
her fresh Punk-style t-shirts, including her infamous "God Save The very Queen" design. Punk introduced
an explosion of self-employed fashion designers and in particular t-shirt designers. To this day numerous
modern designs pay tribute to the "grunge-look" of this rebellious and anarchic period of Western
culture.

The influx with corporate funding of the 1980's changed the whole face of the Jersey market. Slogan T-
shirts were gaining popularity again, "Choose Life" was produced to promote the debut album of George
Micheal's band "Wham", whilst "Frankie Says" helped press a string of highly controversial singles to the
the top of the UK charts for Liverpool based band "Frankie Would go to Hollywood". Bands, football
teams, political parties, advertising companies, business convention organizers, in fact anyone after a
piece of inexpensive promotion began to commission and sell vast numbers of T-shirts. 1 noble
exception of the time was the now iconic "Feed the exact World" T-shirt, created to raise funds and
awareness of the main and groundbreaking Band Aid charity event.

During the 80's and 90's T-Shirt production and printing technologies greatly improved, including early
forms of D. T. G (Direct to Garment Transfer) printing, increased the volume and accessibility. Whilst in
financial circles, the world's stock markets required notice as the American T-Shirt was classed as a
product item in the apparel industry.

Branded corporate labels quickly made their massive mark on the industry. A whole brand-new
generation of T-shirt designs swamped the market, promoting conformity and allegiance to a brand
name, such as Nike, rather than a manifestation of individuality. This rather uninspiring tradition still
continues to at the present time, the now iconic "Vintage 82" T-shirt from "Next" for example. Within a
few years of its first printing, this particular design was allowed to flood the market, until cheap
duplicates and black market knock-offs have saturated the world. There are lots of similar designs which
have a similar limited cultural shelf-life.
Now an inspiring movement towards re-politicizing the T-shirt has allowed pressure groups and charities
to push their message to some wider audience. Over one million people marched into Greater london
wearing a vast array of anti war, anti Bush and also anti Blair T shirts at the anti Iraq rally. An additional
example, reminiscent of the earlier Band Aid event, saw The main Make Poverty History campaign of
2005 receive worldwide media coverage. Soon after Vivienne Westwood re-emerges in the Tshirt world
with her new slogan T-shirt "I am not really a terrorist, please don't arrest me". Catherine Hamnett,
another renowned British fashion designer is well known for her protest T-shirts, including the girl work
to highlight Third World debt and the Aids epidemic within Africa. Then again, Catherine has recently
been quoted as stating political slogan shirts allow the consumer to "feel they may have participated in
democratic action", when in fact all they also have done is a little clothes shopping. This maybe true,
however they nevertheless bring enormous media attention to any just cause.

Through the years the styles, images, and contribution to free community that T-shirts have provided
are taken as given, the T-shirt is now an essential accompaniment for any fashionable closet, no matter
what part of the world. Still yet more technical improvements in the industry have allowed for more
choices in style and cut. Oversize T-shirts that extend down to the knees, are popular with hiphop and
skater fashions. Seasons change, however from time to time women market embraces more tight-fitting
"cropped" T-shirt styles, reduce short enough to reveal the midriff. The rise within the "hoodie" or
hooded long sleeved T-shirt cannot be overlooked, it is also fast becoming an essential addition to any
street wise fashionista's collection.

Recently there has been a massive consumer backlash against the brand conformity of the corporate
and licensed t-shirt market. The customer is at last regaining some sense of individuality, consumers are
not satisfied with the notion of "brand loyalty". People wish to reflect their own personality, political
beliefs, sense of style or laughter. Some are designing their own with the help of a wide selection of D. I.
B online t-shirt printing services, including "Cafe Press" along with "Threadless" to mention just two. But
many people neither possess the time nor the inclination to design their own artwork, and thus marks
the rise of the independent T-shirt designer. Similar to the 1960's but with a worldwide appeal, artists,
graphic designers, renegades of the fashion world are beginning to get noticed. The greatest resource a
modern T-shirt can have is its originality, a quality which will always be in demand, both now and
hopefully far forward6171.