The journey of T-shirts from being an undergarment to a fashion statement

T-shirt is something that all of us love to wear for your daily comfort. But it was originally designed as an undergarment. Yes, a piece of innerwear slowly transitioned its way into the iconic T-shirt that you love to flaunt today. Let us take you through the journey.  

T-Shirt as an undershirt 
The origin of T-shirt dates back to the late 19th century when labourers would cut their jumpsuits in half to keep cool in warmer months of the year. The first manufactured T-shirt was invented between the Spanish-American War in 1898, and 1913 when they were given to members of the US Navy to be worn as an undergarment beneath their uniforms. It was then called a union suit. Curious to know what it looked like? It was a one-piece garment in white colour with buttons in the front. As it started to gain popularity, textile company P.H. Hanes Knitting introduced their own version of the garment in 1902 - it was a two-piece undergarment instead of a one-piece, was shorter in length but looked much like a union suit. 

The word T-shirt: When was it used first? 
American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald was the first person to publish the word T-shirt in his novel, This Side of Paradise and it was all thanks to him that in 1920 the word was inducted into the English dictionary. In 1938, an American departmental store, Sears, launched their own version of the early T-shirt which they called a gobshirt. It was similar to a modern plain t-shirt and could be worn as an undergarment, as well as an outer garment. 

T-Shirts in Hollywood  
Soon enough, T-shirts were gaining popularity, and Hollywood saw potential in this garment. They became even more popular with the public when actor Marlon Brando famously donned a white t-shirt as Stanley Kowalski in the movie A Streetcar Named Desire (1950), only to be followed by actor James Dean in the movie Rebel Without a Cause (1955). After that, the popularity of the T-shirt as a stand-alone fashionable outerwear garment skyrocketed. 

A fashion statement  
A number of companies in Florida started to experiment by modifying the garment design. The first use of T-shirts as a promotional medium came in 1948 when republican presidential candidate Governor Thomas E. Dewey got the slogan “Dew-It with Dewey” printed on them. It was a part of his promotional campaign. In the 1960s, printing and tie-dying emerged soon after plastisol (a liquid substance) was invented. It was during this decade that wearing different bright colours and patterns became a very popular fashion trend. Thus, T-shirts started becoming a way of self-expression through slogans or protests, and commercial ads. 

A medium for message 
In the 1970s and 1980s, customised T-shirts were on the rise. New methods were being invented to make printing on them easier. On-the-spot printing was a growing trend, thanks to the advent of shopping centres. 

T-shirts started becoming powerful tools for conveying strong messages. Companies and musicians found T-shirts to be a strong promotional tool for sales and branding. Today, T-shirts have become more trendy and fashionable and comfortable than ever. You can choose a design and material depending on how they fit into your own personal style. Plus, you can print any design of your choice from the internet.