The Good Tee Unravels The History Of A T-Shirt
We can all agree that no wardrobe is complete without a good basic t-shirt, right? It’s a wardrobe staple that is gender neutral, perfect for every age group, comfortable yet chic and can be styled in so many different ways. Since time immemorial a simple t-shirt has been making a fashion statement like no other, and it has never gone out of style. How did this timeless wardrobe staple evolve? We at The Good Tee made it our mission to find out, here’s what we unraveled.
The First Glimpse of The T-shirt
The origins of the t-shirt date back to the 19th century when the US Navy personnel started wearing them as standard undershirts. Before that they were usually cut out of jumpsuits and worn by labourers to keep cool during the warm months. The t-shirt business boomed in 1901 when the P.H. Hanes Knitting Company began producing men’s underwear and undershirts. The actual term “t-shirt” didn’t get inducted in the English dictionary until 1920. Then in 1938, the American retailer Sears launched their own version of the early t-shirt called a Gob and it could be worn as an undergarment, as well as an outer garment. It was considered an all-purpose t-shirt.
Rise to Fame
The t-shirt was slowly becoming acceptable as an outer-garment by the 1950s and it wasn’t until Hollywood actors began donning t-shirts in public that they began to gain popularity. Remember the gorgeous Marlon Brando in A Street Car Named Desire and James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause? Both actors sported t-shirts to portray their characters’ rebelliousness and it soon became a raging fashion trend among their fans. By the 1960s the classic t-shirt appealed to more and more actors, singers, musicians, writers, and intellectuals of all genders.
Making a statement
During the 1960s, printing and tie-dying emerged and wearing different bright colors and patterns became very popular. T-shirts became a means of self-expression through art prints and slogans. In the 1970s and 1980s, customized t-shirts were on the rise. More companies found t-shirts to be a powerful tool for sales and branding. It soon became a blank slate for messages, whether it was political or commercial.
The wardrobe staple
Today, the t-shirt has become a wardrobe staple, an essential garment worn around the world. T-shirts are more trendy and fashionable than ever, depending on how you want to wear them and how they fit into your own personal style. Earlier it was acceptable as an out-of-work attire but today it is easily styled for a formal business look too. They’re styled in various ways to keep up with fashion trends and are definitely a timeless garment to have. There are truly so many different and unique ways to style a classic tee.
Sustainable Tees
The t-shirt evolved with the changing times and so did fashion practices. We have come a long way in the fashion industry and today have reached an era where information and awareness about sustainable and slow fashion is widely available. The destruction caused by fast fashion to the planet and the environment is horrific and it is about time that slow and sustainable fashion is more widely accepted. We are proud that we are doing our part by turning the timeless t-shirt into a sustainable garment that is not only good for the people and the planet, but also a perfect style statement. The Good Tees are made of 100% organic cotton, with eco-friendly GOTS-certified dyes, using 71% less water, and supports the livelihoods of the entire supply chain from farmers to factory workers. Now that’s true evolution in fashion, isn’t it?
From its humble beginnings , the t-shirt has certainly evolved into a great, flexible tool for self expression, a style statement, a comfortable second skin, and definitely a timeless piece which is here to stay for years to come. ‘Sew’ feel sexy in your new favourite organic cotton tee and know that it will always make you look and feel good, no matter what season.
Sustainable fashion starts with knowing your supply chain. Check out the entire process and people #whomakemyclothes.
When you choose The Good Tee you contribute to the health of our air, earth, and oceans, while helping people like our farmers.
FAIR TRADE COTTON SAVES LIVES
“It’s been a hard road for cotton farmers, especially in India. Since 1997,over 200,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide”. - BBC News.
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