T-shirts are considered simple and comfortable clothing wear and unlike haute couture which can get anyone’s attention immediately there is nothing remarkable about wearing a t-shirt. However, the ever-reliable t-shirt is as much a part of history as the people who made it.
The t-shirt is a very political piece of apparel and none of the other clothing wears, except perhaps the bra, can lay claim to such a significant role in society. Before the industrial revolution, clothing was just considered one of the three basic needs of man apart from food and housing. And like the other basic needs, clothing was worn to keep man warm. Thus, clothing consisted of hand-stitched materials sans the artistic characteristics that today’s clothing boast of.
The growth of the t-shirt industry started side by side with the industrial revolution as the latter allowed the mass production of t-shirts. The United States and Europe share the history of t-shirt because while the cotton material from which t-shirts were originally made was sourced from the US, it was the Europeans who first manufactured t-shirts as underwear.
However, this does not discount the fact that the t-shirt may have originated from the Egyptian Tunic which was used by Egyptian farmers thousands of years ago. The tunic, which was worn under the Egyptian toga, is either plain or with stripes depending on the status of the wearer in the Roman society.
One significantly humorous timeline in the history of t-shirts was during World War II when the American soldiers, who were sweating it out under their woolen uniforms, noticed how comfortable the European soldiers were in their undershirts made of cotton. The War was ultimately won and lost depending on which side you are on but American won because the soldiers were able to bring back one important clothing item—the t-shirt.
While the working class in America sweated it out under their vests, the European workers worked manually wearing only their t-shirts. But this was changed in the 20th century when t-shirt became a popular clothing wear not only in Europe and American but all over the world.
T-shirts are an important part not only of history but of economics considering the multi-billion industry spawned by the t-shirt business. If you don’t believe this then take note that at least two billion t-shirts are sold all over the world every year. Millions of t-shirts are donated to the Salvation Army annually and these are auctioned off to third world countries.
Through the years, the t-shirt has become an important propaganda and marketing tool not only for politicians but for corporate entities as well. The movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ which was shown in 1939 got a lot of help from the promotional t-shirts featuring the movie’s characters. Marlon Brando’s fans would never forget the body-fitting t-shirt he wore in the play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ in the 1950s. More than $8 million worth of t-shirts helped launch the career of Farrah Fawcett in 1977.
The t-shirt may have been in existence since the ancient Egyptian era but it is ironic that Webster’s Dictionary only listed it as part of the book’s official word in 1920.
T-shirts are part of the American life as much as French fries and burgers. It may be nearing a hundred years old but its popularity is growing and does not show any sign of going down. This is evident with the result of a survey which shows that over 62% of people in the US of all age bracket own at least, not one, but ten t-shirts. Those within the ages of 18 to 24 however claimed they own more than 10 t-shirts.
Today, you can find t-shirts in all colors screaming the headlines of the society. It is popularly used as a tool to promote political statements, corporate promotions and even sports events. Rock bands have made millions from t-shirts printed with their names and images.
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