History of T-Shirts: From Underwear to Fashion Statements

Created by Viryabo@Polyvore

The t-shirt has come a long way since the late 1800s when it first evolved from men’s undergarments. It was an invisible item of clothing that served more as the top half of long John-type underpants. It was an item of clothing used by mine and dock workers to wear for the hot and stuffy environments of coal mines and the deep recesses of ships. Soon after, they became popular with workers in various industries.

In the early 20th century (around 1913), t-shirts gained popularity through the US Navy. They were issued to be worn as undershirts. And when sailors arrived in the warmer regions, it became commonplace for the marines to wear their t-shirts as outerwear, without shirts or jackets, to their work, parties, or when they went out to town.

 
They were typically short-sleeved with round crew necks (the origin of the name), just like some of the t-shirt neck styles of today. The V-neck styles soon followed.

The Evolution of Modern T-Shirts 

  
Today, t-shirts are worn by everyone. Almost everybody owns a couple of t-shirts (at least) in their clothing collection. They have become the go-to fashionable and trendy outerwear and a modern-day medium for self-expression, individuality, sports loyalties, musical inclinations, souvenirs, and company advertising.

 
With any imaginable combination of words, art, doodles, photographs, and graphic illustrations painted or printed on them, tees have gradually evolved from that plain piece of underwear to something colourful, statement-making, highly sought, cross-culture item of clothing worn by all ages, sizes, genders. The t-shirt is an item of clothing that can be worn as casual wear, formal wear, and anything else in between.

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