T-shirt

A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a shirt, usually buttonless, collarless and pocketless, with a round neck and short sleeves, pulled on over the head. There are also long-sleeved T-shirt and sleeveless T-shirt variants.

T-shirt decoration

In the 1960s people started to tie-dye and screen-print the basic T-shirt and variants such as the tank top, wife beater, muscle shirt, scoop neck, V-neck etc. became popular.

Related Topics:
1960s - Tie-dye - Screen-print - Tank top - Muscle shirt - Scoop neck - V-neck

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Since then T-shirts have become an accepted medium for self-expression and advertising, with any imaginable combination of words, art and even photographs on display.

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Other methods of decoration used on T-shirts include airbrush, applique, embroidery, and the ironing on of either flock lettering, heat transfers, or Dye sublimation transfers. Laser printers are capable of printing on plain paper using a special Transfer Toner containing sublimation dyes which can then be permanently heat-transfered to T-shirts.

Related Topics:
Airbrush - Applique - Embroidery - Ironing - Dye - Sublimation

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In the 1980s, thermochromatic dyes were used to produce T-shirts that changed colour when subjected to heat. This brand of T-shirt, Global Hypercolour, was a common sight on the streets of the UK for a few years, but has since mostly disappeared. These kind of T-shirts are still being produced, however, and are available to buy over the internet.

Related Topics:
1980s - Global Hypercolour - UK

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Since the late 1980s and especially the 1990s, T-shirts with prominent brand-name logos have been popular, especially with teenagers and young adults. These garments allowed consumers to flaunt their taste in designer brands in an inexpensive way, in addition to being decorative. While critics claim that wearing such logos serve only to advertise for clothing designers without being paid, brand-name T-shirts remain popular. Examples: Calvin Klein, FUBU, Ralph Lauren, The Gap

Related Topics:
1990s - Calvin Klein - FUBU - Ralph Lauren - The Gap

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The late 1990s saw the renewed popularity of T-shirts with simple slogans and designs. The trend was most visible in 2004 when popularized by celebrities such as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Also notable that year was the popularity of political slogans and messages on T-shirts, coinciding with a presidential election.

Related Topics:
2004 - Britney Spears - Paris Hilton - Presidential election

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