| The T-shirt is a very versatile piece of clothing. | | | | The New York logo was created by Milton Glaser |
| T-shirts have been on the scene since the late 1800s. | | | | who, at the time, had no idea how popular this simple |
| They were frequently worn by those in the mining | | | | logo would become. Interestingly, Mr. Glaser created |
| industry, because they were more comfortable to | | | | his famous logo free of charge, to help promote |
| wear in a hot environment. These original garments | | | | tourism in the city of New York. It has since been |
| were available with and without buttons. | | | | copied hundreds of times, promoting all sorts of |
| T-shirts officially got their name in the 1920s. It was | | | | locations, hobbies, organizations and causes. |
| during that time that the word 'T-shirt' was added to | | | | Virtually any design can be printed on a t-shirt. Not |
| the Merriam-Webster dictionary. By 1939, these shirts | | | | only can designs be printed on the front and back of |
| were issued as standard US military underwear and | | | | the shirt, they can be printed on the sleeves as well. |
| were manufactured without buttons. | | | | The process involves using a squeegee to push |
| Interestingly enough, the first printed t-shirt thought | | | | Plastisol ink through a screen. The screen must be |
| to be worn publicly was displayed on the cover of | | | | prepared before any printing can take place. This is |
| LIFE magazine in 1942. It made reference to the Air | | | | achieved by coating the screen with a thick emulsion |
| Force Gunnery School, which was located in Las | | | | and allowing it to dry. |
| Vegas Nevada. | | | | (Plastisol ink is individually formulated to work well |
| However, printed T-shirts were formally introduced in | | | | with a wide variety of fabrics, so that every |
| the late 1950s/early 1960s. Some of the first printed | | | | garment produced will be top quality.) |
| t's featured the names of notable resorts and | | | | Once the screen is completely dry it (along with the |
| well-known character figures. For example, Mickey | | | | image to be printed) are placed on a light table and |
| Mouse t-shirts flew off the shelves. During this time, | | | | exposed to high intensity light. This actually burns the |
| both screen printing and tie dyeing methods realized | | | | image into the screen. |
| steady gains in popularity. | | | | Next, the emulsion solution is rinsed away with a |
| Due, in part, to this popularity variations of the | | | | pressure washer, leaving only the design on the |
| standard t-shirt were introduced. This included muscle | | | | screen. The actual printing process then begins. |
| shirts, tank tops and v-necks. Much more recently, | | | | Typically, most t-shirt printing companies automate |
| 'tall t-shirts' which are garments stemming from the | | | | printing for large orders and manually process smaller |
| hip hop craze have entered the mix. | | | | orders. In regard to design, they work with clients |
| T-shirts depicting more artful designs were made | | | | until they are 100% satisfied with the image that will |
| available in the late 60s. These styles were very | | | | be transferred to their garments of choice. Of |
| popular among rock music fans and those with | | | | course, these clients have the option of supplying |
| strong political views, especially those that pertained | | | | their own design, as well. |
| to the Grateful Dead, Che Guevara and marijuana | | | | It is less expensive to have a design printed on a |
| use. | | | | light colored t-shirt than on a dark one. This is |
| At that point, other rock bands and even sports | | | | because dark colored garments require a base coat |
| teams decided to take the risk and use the t-shirt as | | | | of white ink, before any additional inks can be applied. |
| a promotional tool. It was an excellent choice for | | | | This is to prevent colors from blending together. |
| most, who found themselves making good money | | | | Another reason for the extra expense is that it |
| selling these shirts to their fans. | | | | costs t-shirt manufacturers more to produce dark |
| Many notable T-shirt styles were produced in the 70s | | | | colored clothing. |
| and are still a huge part of pop culture, today. These | | | | With proper care, a screen printed t-shirt will last for |
| styles include: bright yellow happy face t-shirts, Rolling | | | | years. There are even instances where the design |
| Stone t-shirts complete with the tongue sticking out | | | | outlasts the actual shirt. Typically, machine washing |
| gesture made famous by Mick Jagger and the iconic | | | | and then tumble drying the shirt (inside out on low |
| 'I love (heart) New York' t-shirt. | | | | temperature) works best. |