In warm weather it’s important to find a garment that is comfortable. T-shirts offer comfort and breathability in warmer weather. Before the 1950’s t-shirts were mostly used as undergarments to protect dress shirts from sweat, however Marlon Brando helped change this. He began wearing the t-shirt as outwear which aided in the promotion of t-shirts. This is how 50/50 t-shirts became popular.
Modern T-Shirts
People everywhere wear t-shirts. They are used for a variety of reasons and have many different styles. They promote comfort and can be worn close to the body or can be worn bigger. They are a composed of a lightweight material and are very comfortable. They tend to be inexpensive and due to the variety available they are often ideal for mass ordering when it comes to work materials or any other group clothing material.
Styles
T-shirts feature a variety of styles and logos. They can have short sleeves, long sleeves, pockets, crew necks, the list is endless. In addition to style the colors that are available are also quite extensive. This makes them a desirable product because they are able to feature company colors. Print and logos are also available for T-shirts which can aid in identifying the wearer such as a uniform on a construction site, or help advertise. The ability to print logos or quotes allows the wearer to express themselves more so than a uniform option.
Safety
T-shirts are also used to comply with safety standards as well. Instead of wearing bulky vests or name badges that get in the way, the same can be accomplished with comfortable, wearable, t-shirts. Construction workers, for example, work in the heat, a t-shirts gives them the breathability but also helps distinguish the fact that they are a worker and can even identify them. The t-shirts meet the American National Safety Institute in regards to standards both the long sleeved and short sleeved choices. They can also feature reflective strips to make the wearer much more visible.
Materials
One important factor regarding work materials is comfort. If the clothing a worker has to wear is comfortable then they are better able to focus on the task at hand. T-shirts are made from many different materials ranging from cotton to polyester, sometimes featuring both. These knit fabrics have an elasticity about them making them quite versatile and able to fit most sizes. Threads come in many different varietyies as well including a monofilament thread. The collars and sleeves of the shirts often times are reinforced allowing the t-shirt to maintain its shape and eventually strengthen the stress points on the garment.
Manufacturing
Because ANSI safety vests are relatively easy to design and manufacture, companies will often do the designing. Companies will create a tubular design in order to decrease the amount of seams that need to be sewn on the garment. If a machine can mass produce a t-shirt it leads to a much lower cost. Often times companies and the government will create standards for the 50/50 t-shirts. These standards include the number of stitches that must occur per seam, how the collar is supposed to lay on the wearer, and other qualities of t-shirts that most people take for granted. Labels also accompany the t-shirt with information regarding where the shirt originated and how to maintain the shirt.