The Hidden Journey of a T-Shirt

( ChicMe Brand)

The t-shirt is arguably the most popular outer garment in the entire world. Coming in a range of styles,
colors and sizes there is quite literally a t-shirt for everyone. But have you ever wondered where did
this iconic garment come from and how did it become so popular?
The first manufactured t-shirt was invented between the Spanish-American War in 1898, and 1913
when the U.S. Navy began issuing them as standard undershirts. The T-shirt started as an item of
underwear - in the 19th Century the t-shirt was born when laborers in America cut their jumpsuits in
half to cope with the summer heat. Although they were starting to be manufactured in1898, the T-shirt
really made it in 1913 when it became standard issue in the US Navy’s uniform. Fruit of the Loom
started making T-shirts in the 1910’s and this was the beginning of them being available to civilians
too. But it wasn’t until slightly later that this undergarment received a name, the actual term “t-shirt”
inducted into the English dictionary at 1920’s, which was first used in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel - This
Side of Paradise.

So early in September Amory,

provided with “six suits summer
underwear, six suits winter
underwear, one sweater or T
shirt, one jersey, one overcoat,
winter, etc.,” set out for New
England, the land of schools.
-THIS SIDE OF PARADISE (1920)

But at this point it is still a piece of underwear, not to be worn alone, until Marlon Brando and James
Dean burst onto the Hollywood scene in the 1950s, that the t-shirt became popular not only as a piece
of clothing but as a sign of rebellion and masculinity. But this was all for men, women didn’t start
wearing t-shirts as something to be seen in until later in the 1960s and by the 1970s it was a truly
unisex item. It wasn’t until t-shirt printing became easier and more accessible that a fashion staple
was truly born in the 1970s. As it is pretty much a complete blank canvas for everything from
branding, political statements and your favorite band. In the early 1960s Plastisol ink was invented
which changed the speed and cost of printing garments meaning that the blank canvas could now be
easily harnessed. The best example of this might be when Katharine Hamnett wore a T-shirt with an
anti-nuclear message when she met Margaret Thatcher in 1984. But it all started way before in 1948
when US Presidential Candidate Thomas E Dewey used the first-ever slogan T-shirt in his 1948
campaign ‘Dew it with Dewey’. By the 1990s the T-shirt had become high fashion, when in 1992
Chanel used a ribbed knit tank top with the mirrored pair of C’s logo on the front. And then eventually
Sharon Stone wore a t-shirt to the Academy Awards in 1996 cementing the T-shirt as everything from
a daily basic to something very fancy indeed.
Current versions are available in many different designs and fabrics, and styles include crew-neck
and V-neck shirts. T-shirts are among the most worn garments of clothing used today. T-shirts are
especially popular with branding for companies or merchandise, as they are inexpensive to make and
purchase.
One example of the brand that produces high quality t-shirts is ChicMe.  the ChicMe fashion brand is
owned by Shanghai Jigao Information Technology Co., Ltd., based in China. China has become
known as "the world's factory" because of its strong business ecosystem, lack of regulatory
compliance, low taxes and duties, and competitive currency practices.  Luxury fashion brands such
as, Louis Vuitton[Dior, and Chanel, etc., were also inspired by Chinese art and aesthetics, these
influences are sometimes reflected in their creation of colours and the patterns found on their fabrics.
Chic Me produces a unique shopping app with a distinctive tone focusing on women’s fashion.
Founded in 2015, Chicme began selling clothes within China before broadening its horizons to a
worldwide scale. They offer high-performance-price products, including women’s clothing, jewelry,
beauty & health products, shoes, bags, home goods, and more. Unlike many of its competitors, Chic
me sets itself apart with inclusive size options, offering the Chic Me Curve & Plus collection,
specializing in large sizes. ChicMe has been dedicated to providing unique fashion products to
consumers worldwide since 2015. ChicMe has always held women's opinions close to its core and
has forged close relationships with customers passionate about fashion, aesthetics, and lifestyle.
Since its establishment, ChicMe has been spreading influence globally, spreading merry lifestyles.
They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and launch more than 1,000 new products each week so
you can purchase the latest models at affordable prices. They make fashion accessible and exciting,
helping ladies across the globe possess the wardrobes of their dreams.
 References

1. Green, M. 2016, December 20,A simple cotton T-shirt doesn’t seem so simple
when you begin to trace the various steps in the now-standard vast global
process from cotton farm to clothing shop.
https://www.kqed.org/lowdown/7943/making-your-t-shirt-a-journey-around-the-world

2. Bajpai, P. 2022, June 18. Why China Is "The World's Factory"

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/102214/why-china-worlds-factory.asp

3. ChicMe Review
https://missmv.com/chicme-review-is-it-legit-or-a-scam/#:~:text=Founded%20in
%202015%2C%20Chicme%20began,%2C%20home%20goods%2C%20and%20more.