1913: Early prototypes of the T-shirt emerged as an undergarment during World War I, although accounts of its origin vary — some sources peg it to the “light undershirts” worn by U.S. Navy sailors. Others say they were worn by European soldiers during the hot summers and were the envy of American troops clad in wool uniforms.
1920s: The T-shirt became an official word when it was included in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.
1932: Jockey International Inc. developed what became the modern T-shirt at the request of the University of Southern California Trojans football team. Officials were looking for an inexpensive undergarment to absorb sweat and to prevent a player’s shoulder pads from causing chafing.
The Smithsonian museum has one of the oldest printed T-shirts on record in its collection: a campaign shirt for New York Gov. Thomas Dewey’s 1948 presidential campaign — “Dew it with Dewey.”
1950s: The T-shirt became a status symbol when it was worn by such icons as James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” and Marlon Brando in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
How Many T-Shirts can 1 person wear at 1 time???