There are several conflicting versions of the origin of the T-shirt. In one, it is a descendent of the 19th century ‘union suit’, one half of the original one-piece undergarment. Another story has the shirt originating with Britain’s Royal Navy. Sleeves were added to their tank top-like work shirts prior to a royal inspection, underarms not being considered an appropriate sight for royalty.
In any event, the classic pull-on, no button T shirt we know today is said to have made its debut as an item of military apparel, possibly around the time of the Spanish-American War, ultimately becoming standard issue for US Army and Navy personnel. Inexpensive, easy to fit and easy to clean, T-shirts were comfortable to wear in the heat. They became practical, popular work wear for miners, farm workers and other labourers.
T shirt printing seems to have begun in the 1940s but only for children’s shirts featuring characters such as Roy Rogers and Davy Crockett. The T-shirt did not enter mainstream, adult fashion until the 1950s. It was popularised by returning WWII veterans, with a little help from Hollywood. Marlon Brando in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” startled the viewing public by modelling T shirts as casual outer wear rather than underwear.
From the late 60s onwards, improved inks, transfers and print processes have made T-shirts not only a fashion item but also an entirely new medium of expression, with the addition of text and images. Today’s T-shirt printing technology allows you to cheaply create a single unique garment or order a thousand and you can even do it online, Adlogo is an online printing company who use a wide range of printing methods giving you plenty of choice.