What is now known as the common T-shirt dates back to the Spanish-American War. The United States Navy was issued these shirts, which were short-sleeved and had crewnecks, to wear under their uniform. It soon caught on in the Army, where they decided to make it a standard issue for recruits. T-shirts got their name from their shape, which many felt resembled a “T”. They soon became a popular clothing option for farmhands, construction workers, miners, and others who worked outside, as the material was lightweight and made it easier for them in the warm weather. By the early 1900s, T-shirts became more common in everyday society due to the cheap material and the fact that they were easy to clean. Many mothers bought the shirts for their boys to wear while playing or doing chores.
In the 1920s, “T-shirt” was officially entered into Merriam Webster’s Dictionary. The first time printed T-shirts were noticed was when The Wizard of Oz came out in 1939. Shirts were printed to promote the film, and they became a highly-coveted item. The first printed T-shirt to be photographed was in 1942, when Life Magazine featured a man wearing an Air Corps Gunnery School tee on the cover. Mickey Mouse T-shirts followed several years later, as did the popularity of plain white T-shirts after Marlon Brando wore a white tee for his role in A Streetcar Named Desire. This became a turning point in the history of the T-shirt, as it was around this time that T-shirts first became acceptable and fashionable as an everyday garment, instead of just as an undershirt or work shirt.
T-shirts took on a new meaning in the late 1960s, when teenagers wore them as a way to express their opinions and pop culture preferences. Shirts throughout the late 1960s and 1970s were designed with political cartoons, band logos, popular icons, and fun phrases. During this time period, T-shirts expanded into more than just the tradition tee. Offerings emerged in a variety of colors, cuts, and styles, ranging from camisoles to crew necks. While putting images and designs on clothing dates back to ancient times, the 1960s saw modern silk screening, heat transferring, and embroidery emerge as the popularity of T-shirts continued to grow.