The Evolution of T-shirt as a Trendy Apparel

A t shirt is common trendy apparel in the contemporary world. Whether it is formal or informal attire, t shirts always top the list when style is to compliment the comfort. We all wear t shirt to look cozy and stylish. Oversized t shirts, denims, mix and match, forever black, leather etc- we have our wardrobes flourishing with t shirts of various styles and trends. But have we ever thought, why is a t shirt called ‘t shirt’? Is there any specific dialectic behind its name? What has its history been? How did it become a classy wardrobe staple? I am quite sure that all such questions frequently tickle your mind. Do these questions not fascinate you? If they do, then you are at the right content, as this blog discusses about the several engrossing facts about the term ‘T shirt’

A tee shirt or simply a tee shirt is named after the t shape of its body and sleeves. A traditional t shirt lacks collar and has a pair of short sleeves escorted by a crew neck. The fabric used for manufacturing t shirts, is usually delicate and supple. Some modern versions have a body made from a continuously knitted tube, produced on a circular knitting machine, such that the torso has no side seams. The manufacture of T-shirts has become highly automated and may include cutting fabric with a laser or a water jet.

From the history, T-shirt has evolved from, underwear, outerwear, military uniform to sportswear. It progressed from the undergarments used in the late 19th century. With and without buttons, they were used by minors and stevedores during the late 19th century. They were put on as a shield from hot environment conditions.

The earliest t shirt dates back to somewhere around 1898, during American-Spanish war. In 1913 the US Navy issued t shirts as undergarments. They were made up of a white cotton fabric and had short sleeves with a crew neck. Those t shirts were used to be worn under shirts of the uniform, commonly known as ‘undershirts’. It was their very first clothing role as an undergarment. Due to their cozy fitting, easy cleaning and nominal costs, t shirts grew popular among young boys.

After the end of world war second, t shirts from being a uniform-part, transformed into a common wear amongst the veterans. People put it on for the sake of comfort associated with it and soon it became a part of casual clothing. T shirts paired with trousers became very common on the roads. BY 1950s T shirts grew quite popular and got the identity of a fashionable and comfortable outer-wear. Often boys wore them while doing chores and playing outside, eventually opening up the idea of wearing them as general-purpose casual clothing.

The versions that we see today, are available in various styles, fabrics and shapes including V neck and Crew neck. T-shirts are among the most worn garments of clothing used today. With time, variants of t shirts have been developed. Now we have hip-hop t shirts which extend down to the knees. Such t shirts can be very easily worn without pants. Long t shirts are very common among the modern girls as a comfortable nightwear. The rise of online shopping in the early 2000s caused a proliferation of new T-shirt ideas and trends.

Along with advertising, t shirts have become a hefty self-expression tool containing any imaginable combination of words, art and photographs on the display. Today, we have flip-up t shirts which is again a quite innovative concept in which a wearer lifts the t shirt and stretches it over his head to expose an interior print.

As t shirts are not so expensive as far as their manufacturing is concerned, they have become popular with branding purpose as well. We usually get to see t shirts with printed company names or many a times slogans carrying a specific message. Many modern day protests involve t shirts printed with slogans or one-liners as a sense of unity.

This is how an under-wear garment transformed into a modish stylish wear and soon acquired a revolutionary touch as well. This has been a journey of piece of cloth from an under-wear to the most classic wardrobe staple.