Today it is so commonplace to pull on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans and be set for the day; hardly any thought goes into it for most people.
Most of us have been raised with the t-shirt as a wardrobe staple that has always been there as long as can be remembered.
Whether a white undershirt or a colored garment worn by itself, there is no doubt that comfort and convenience makes this garment a favorite item to wear.
When considering how inexpensive t-shirts are, it is no wonder that the concept to imprint them with a message was eventually conceived.
Past History T-shirts originally evolved in the 19th Century as a more functional version of one-piece underwear worn by men.
Soon they were regular issue garments to the Navy and Marines, who needed undergarments that were lightweight and easily cleaned since uniforms were frequently removed when working in hot and dirty environments.
The progression from military usage to regular attire worn by many factory and agricultural workers was an easy one.
The t-shirt was affordable, easy to make from readily available material, easy to clean and durable.
It wasn't until the early 1950's that the t-shirt would begin its evolution as an art and advertising medium.
Message Progression The first t-shirts to carry messages were of two basic types: "vacation destination" advertisements that were imprinted with resort names, and the very first character design which was none other than Mickey Mouse.
Today, the Mickey Mouse version still enjoys popularity and fame as one of the most popular t-shirts ever created.
From vacation resorts and cartoon characters in the early 1960's, the t-shirt slowly progressed thanks to the creation of better screen printing technology and more durable inks from a durable garment to an expression of art.
By the late 1960's and into the early 1970's, this form of artistic expression evolved into political statements, popular sayings and other commentary; they could then be worn publicly.
During this time, the birth of tie-dye came about as well as t-shirts displaying other psychedelic motifs and colors, all of which became insanely popular within the hippie subculture as well as the vast followers of the band The Grateful Dead.
Technology Progression As the popularity of this garment as personal statements grew, so did the different ways to create them, led by the introduction of specialized printing techniques and inks in the 1980's.
By this point, the garment was well on its way to being one of the most important mediums for self-expression and advertising; each new discovery such as metallic, color-change and puffy inks guaranteed the sale of even more of this item.
The world was now a highly opinionated, free-speaking place where everyone who had an opinion or preference wanted it known; what better way to do that than on an inexpensive piece of clothing that could be produced by the hundreds of thousands or more, in no time! T-shirts are now a global way of life, especially as a great means for spreading political awareness.
Whether promoting a product, company, person, musical group or political opinion, a design can be created and inked onto a shirt in some way.
Mass production is an inexpensive means of advertising and has turned the t-shirt printing market into a veritable goldmine.
This favorite cotton shirt will be around forever - or at least as long as people have things to say!