Once considered an undergarment in its own right, this cotton item has come a long way to become a true basic in the men’s wardrobe . Let’s be honest, today, the t-shirt is undoubtedly one of the items of clothing that we consume the most and replace the most often! We therefore tend to be less careful about it (wrongly, of course!), while investing in good, sturdy t-shirts is the key to a well-controlled
History of the T-shirt
Even if the exact origin of the t-shirt is rather vague, we know that it was indeed present in the wardrobe of American working-class men from the 19th century. Most often, it was found as underwear, worn under a shirt or under work overalls. The light cotton piece was adopted by the American army, more precisely by the US Navy in 1913 as an undershirt, and this for different reasons. Equipped with a round neck and short sleeves, the white cotton t-shirt absorbed perspiration and was easily washable. It is therefore from this moment that this piece will gradually demilitarize and then gain in popularity. During the Second World War, the American army will in turn introduce Europe to the famous t-shirt. It will then be adopted in civilian life, until it becomes today one of the essential basics of the male wardrobe.
Steve McQueen riding his Triumph wearing a white t-shirt , jeans and a pair of Desert Boots.
The history of the t-shirt
What is the best material for a T-shirt?
In the vast majority of cases, with the exception of creative madness, t-shirts are made from cotton , silk , wool ( merino ), or synthetic materials ( polyester , viscose ). Most of the time, a t-shirt is made of 100% cotton, so the notable difference is the quality of the cotton used. Note that it is quite possible to find t-shirts on the market made of a small percentage of synthetic materials, such as polyester. The latter will give a different feel to the final fabric and will promote better durability. But above all, it costs less! Silk is sometimes used, but given the high cost of this material, it is often replaced by its synthetic counterpart: viscose. Finally, it is not uncommon to find t-shirts made of merino wool, a much more interesting material than you might think for this type of piece!
The most widely used natural material in the world, cotton is a plant fiber taken from the cotton flower. Moderately warm, resistant, easy to maintain and soft, it comes in various qualities, the most prestigious coming from Zimbabwe. However, the one guaranteeing one of the highest quality standards that is frequently found is called Pima or Egyptian cotton . It comes from the gossypium barbadense , a tree originally growing in South America producing cotton with long, soft and strong fibers. When we talk about t-shirts, we can also talk about cotton jersey . It is above all a type of weaving originating from the island of Jersey. The use of cotton has now spread to create light and soft fabrics. It is thus found on models of t-shirts intended for the warm season.
Silk is an animal fiber produced by the silkworm. Soft to the touch and to the eye, its qualities make it one of the most prestigious fabrics once it is spun. Its elasticity, strength, finesse, lightness and flexibility allow the creation of luxurious clothing. It is often found in the composition of women’s t-shirts, but it can also be used in men’s fashion.
Who said that merino wool was an exclusively winter material? Indeed, this is rather a preconceived idea since merino wool is a material that will adapt according to our body temperature, breathe and be thermoregulating. In other words, a smart material, because it will be as effective in winter as in summer. It is an interesting alternative to cotton when we know that merino wool will absorb up to 35% of its weight in moisture. Note that it also has the particularity of not retaining any body odor . However, a wool t-shirt can, just like a sweater, slightly deform depending on the wear and take longer to dry than a simple jersey t-shirt. A material already adopted by cyclists or hikers!
