The History of T-Shirts

When Were T-Shirts Invented?

The T-shirt originated in the late 19th century when labourers, miners and sailors cut their cotton jumpsuit undergarments into two pieces for comfort in hot conditions. By 1913, the U.S. Navy had officially adopted lightweight cotton T-shirts as their standard undershirt, praising their hygiene and comfort.

However T-shirts didn’t get their name until 1920 when F. Scott Fitzgerald first used the term “T-shirt” is his novel This Side of Paradise, referencing the garment’s shape.

When Did T-Shirts Become Popular?

It was only in the 1950s when T-shirts broken into mainstream fashion thanks to films like A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) where famous American actor Marlon Brando was seen wearing a custom-made T-shirt as a standalone, outerwear garment. Soon, even more influential people like James Dean and Elvis Presley were seen wearing T-shirts, turning this simple clothing item into a symbol of youth and rebellion and skyrocketing its popularity!

By the 1960s, screen printing technology had developed, making graphic tees a widely available fashion item and further solidifying the T-shirts place in mainstream culture. The blank cotton canvas eventually became a medium for political statements, artwork and branding which is how T-shirts are still often used today!