From classic wardrobe essentials to more
Perhaps one of the most essential clothing garments to this date, the simple white t-shirt has evolved throughout history. Although predominantly worn by men as undergarments or work-wear, the classic shape soon translated itself to women’s fashion and became an iconic staple piece. With developments in the last
T-shirts were first worn for pure practicality; and originally, only by men. Having evolved from one-piece undergarments in the 19th century, the US Navy began issuing t-shirts to be worn under uniforms in 1913. The crew-necked, cotton t-shirts became a popular bottom layer of clothing for workers nationwide – a t-shirt was cheap, comfortable, easy to clean, and easy to fit. For this reason, it became the default garment for men to wear whilst doing farm or ranch chores, as well as whilst at work in a variety of industries. However, it was still technically seen as an undergarment, making it scandalous to be seen out in public in one.
It was in the
During the war, it wasn’t just men who needed practical clothing. As women went to work, safe clothing was a necessity to prevent garments from snagging in the machinery and becoming a hazard. Women began to wear men’s trousers to work in factories, and these were generally paired with a top that resembled a classic t-shirt – even if it wasn’t necessary labelled that way at the time. This led to trends such as high-waisted trouser suits which were made popular by Katherine Hepburn.
Around the
Once women had experienced the comfort of unrestricted movement whilst working during the war, they understandably didn’t want to go back to restrictive clothing of the past. The wardrobes of men and women began overlapping, with women beginning to wear trousers and bohemian style bottoms in the
T-shirts not only served as a staple piece of fashion throughout history, but they also had a function. Printing logos, slogans or other visuals on
T-shirts have always been created from similar materials throughout history. When they were first issued to the US Army, they were made from inexpensive cotton due to the cheap material and the fact that they were easy to clean as well as easy to wear. A jersey knit made cotton t-shirts stretchy and comfortable, as well as being breathable. To this day jersey cotton is one of the most popular choices of t-shirt fabrics, which are often made in a variety of thicknesses and stretches.
One of the best things about a t-shirt is that it can be a blank canvas – if you could design anything on a t-shirt, what would you design? Think about the style you’d love to represent; colours, font, images, whether your t-shirt is minimal or busy, sleek or fun. One of the most versatile items in fashion can be made just to suit you, and with no minimum orders.