23 Feb The Fascinating History of the T-Shirt

There are very few things people can agree on when it comes to fashion. What looks appealing to one person looks tacky to another, and vice versa. Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to style. However, there is one article of clothing that could be considered somewhat universal: The T-shirt.

Regardless of how well-dressed a person is, you would be hard-pressed not to find a T-shirt in their wardrobe, even if it’s just for when they exercise, do chores or sleep. The T-shirt is the one piece of clothing that transcends fashion sense.

Are some T-shirts more fancy, stylish and appealing than others? Of course, but at the base, they are all the same—short sleeved, often made from cotton and usually quite comfortable.

So, how did this piece of clothing that almost everyone has worn in one capacity or another find its way into the fashion lexicon? It turns out, the T-shirt has an interesting evolution. Keep reading to discover the history of the T-shirt.

Early History of the T-shirt

Gizmodo reports that the T-shirt debuted during the 19th century. It appeared when the one piece “union suit” was divided into two separate garments; the top portion was long enough to be tucked into the waistband of the bottom half.

As a one-piece garment, the union suit was good at keeping men warm in cold weather but unfortunately continued to keep them warm even in hot weather. The top half became popular with manual laborers like miners because they stayed cooler while they worked.

Into the Mainstream

Things changed for the T-shirt in 1904 after the Cooper Underwear Company marketed the garment to single men as “bachelor undershirts.” The company’s campaign highlighted the lack of buttons, meaning durability and less maintenance. The “no buttons” campaign proved popular among young men in the U.S. Navy who couldn’t sew well, and they started to wear T-shirts under their uniforms.

U.S. Army soldiers caught on to the T-shirt trend during World War I and many continued to wear them when they returned to the States.

What’s in a Name?

“The Great Gatsby” author F. Scott Fitzgerald was the first known person to use the term, “T-shirt” in print, according to Time. He used it in his book “This Side of Paradise.” The book’s protagonist, Amory Blaine takes the garment with him to college.

It was actually at a college where the early T-shirt design was altered and brought on the crew neck T-shirt. Jockey International fulfilled the University of Southern California football players’ request for a lightweight garment they could wear underneath their pads to prevent them from rubbing. A new T-shirt design emerged.

Not Just an Undershirt Anymore

High school and college students took to wearing T-shirts, but adults still saw them as undershirts. It wasn’t until World War II ended that it became more common to wear a T-shirt as an outer garment. Soldiers continued to wear them as part of their wardrobe at home like they had during the war.

T-shirts as an outer garment to perhaps their biggest boost when Marlon Brando wore one as Stanley Kowalksi in “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1951. T-shirt sales increased significantly after that. After that, Walt Disney, Roy Rogers, and others saw a market for T-shirts with designs and images on them.

The T-shirt Today

Today, people wear T-shirts not just for comfort, but to communicate about their favorite bands, movies, and pop culture interests. They wear them to support causes they care about and to advertise companies. T-shirts serve as conversation starters and memorabilia.

It’s hard to imagine a T-shirt hidden away only as an undershirt, given their ubiquity now. In a casual setting, no one thinks twice if someone shows up wearing a T-shirt, and in some offices, it’s even okay to wear one to work. This garment has come a long, long way.

We may never all agree on much when it comes to fashion, but one thing is for sure—we can all find a place for a T-shirt in our wardrobe for one reason or another.