Today, the T-shirt is one of the most universally recognized wardrobe fixtures in the world. They can be found on every continent, and literally almost every settlement of humans owns and wears them. From high-end fashion in New York and London to donations in third world countries, the T-shirt is a mainstay of apparel. It has a variety of uses; it may be used to promote a brand, convey an idea, or memorialize a friend. One thing is for sure: the T-shirt is one of the most common worn and recognized pieces of clothing in the entire world.
The T-shirt is named as such due to its shape, and is also notable due to the fact that it is a unisex garment. However, its popularity and prolific status was not always the case. The first incarnation of the T-shirt debuted in the 19th century. Surprisingly, it was originally an undergarment, rather than its own piece of outer apparel. As the 19th century progressed, the T-shirt became common work clothes for miners and employers, as it provided coverage without being too hot.
As the years progressed, the T-shirt became a more widespread piece of apparel, and was commonly issued by the US military as an undershirt. They were first issued around the Spanish-American War, and would be a familiar sight to those with knowledge of the modern T-shirt: white, crew necked, and made of cotton. They were generally issued to soldiers in tropical climates, where it would be uncomfortably to permanently wear a full uniform. This trend of wearing only a T-shirt on the upper half continued to be evidenced in the Pacific Theater of World War II and the Vietnam War.
During this time, it also became popular with workers in all industries, as well as young boys. T-Shirts were cheap, comfortable, easily cleaned, and came in a variety of sizes, making them ideal for workers or children who might easily get them dirty. The T-shirt became more commonly accepted as a standard garment for all in the 1950s, and has been ever since. Although they are still worn as undershirts, (sometimes even under other T-shirts) the T-shirt is generally considered its own piece of apparel.
The shirt's popularity has been enhanced by its variety of decorations and adaptations. The colorful trend of tie-dye, popular in the 1960s and 70s, has given way to silkscreened and graphic shirts, which can display any picture or motto possible. T-shirts can reflect favorite brands, restaurants, places, sports teams, or political ideologies, as well as simply bearing a creative or amusing graphic. Truly one of the most versatile items in the modern wardrobe, the T-shirt has been a fixture for decades, and will likely remain one.
