Funzo T-shirts

This article features a timeline including some of the history and development of what are now standard t-shirt printing techniques, and the history of the t-shirt. Note: T-shirts were originally sold as underwear for wearing under a regular button up shirt, until popularized in the media during the 1950's.

960 AD - 1279 AD
The technique of screen printing originates in China during the Shang Dynasty period (960-1279 AD).

1280 AD - 1906 AD
Over these years the process is gradually refined and different techniques and processes are experimented with.

1902
First Known Use of Iron-On Transfers!
The Kaumagraph Co. begins manufacturing "hot melt" wax transfers using a process discovered in England.

1907
First Screen Printing Patent.
Samuel Simon patents a screen printing process intended for printing onto wallpaper, linen, silk and other fabrics.

1920
The First Known Use of the Word T-shirt
1920 is the first known use of the word according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. During the 1920's the word "t-shirt" is used in some top selling books and first appears in the dictionary.

1933
The First Known Printed T-shirt
Champion sells their first order of printed t-shirts to a sporting goods store in 1933. At this time t-shirts were worn primarily as undergarments.

1939
The First Known Printed Promotional / Movie T-shirt
The first printed promo t-shirt we know of was produced for the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.

1940's
First Known Use Of The T-shirt As Outerwear
During WWII, Around 1942 - The Military issues t-shirts as standard issue apparel for the Navy, then other branches begin using them too. During the late 1940's printed t-shirts featuring popular children's shows of the 1940's such as Davy Crockett, and Roy Rogers were produced.

1950's
The Rise of the T-shirt
The t-shirt itself was originally a plain undergarment designed and intended for wearing under other clothing, around the 1950's it became trendy to wear the t-shirt as outerwear. This was popularized by popular celebrities of the era such as James Dean, John Wayne and Marlon Brando wearing t-shirts in movies.

1951
Marlon Brando wears a t-shirt in the film, A Streetcar Named Desire.

1955
James Dean wears a t-shirt in the film, Rebel Without A Cause.

1960's
The Screen Print Becomes Popular
Andy Warhol is generally credited with popularizing screen printing with his famous screen-printed pop art pieces beginning in the early 1960's. During the same time period, another artist Michael Vasilantone began developing and using a screen printing machine for printing on t-shirts and other garments. This caused a sudden boom in printed t-shirts and quickly became the most popular screen printing device in the industry. Some of the earliest printed t-shirt designs were sports logos, promotional items and rock band t-shirts.

1963
First Plastisol T-shirt Transfer.
Plastisol is a stretchable, flexible new ink developed in the late 1950's.

1967
Screen Printing Machine Patent Application
Michael Vasilantone applies for patent of his rotary garment screen printing machine.

1969
The First Commercial Screen Printing Machine
The patent is granted for the rotary garment screen printing machine and it is quickly accepted and used by manufacturers in garment printing industries.

1969
Don Price produces hundreds of tie dyed t-shirts and gives them away free at Woodstock, a marketing stunt for a dye company. This popularizes the tie dyed t-shirt.

1970's
First Colored Shirts And The Iron-On T-shirt Trend
While screen printing was gaining popularity in the logo and sportswear printing industries, iron-ons were becoming popular as a cheaper way for artists to sell their designs on t-shirts. Some early design studios popularized iron-on t-shirt transfers (or decals), and began selling a wide variety humorous, political and popular culture inspired designs in comic books and advertisements in other popular publications of the era. Iron-ons were cheap to manufacture and could easily be applied to any shirt or garment by the customer using just a regular home iron. Iron-on t-shirts were popular throughout the 1970's and into the 1980's.

The first colored t-shirts began to appear around the early 1970's to meet the demand of t-shirt printers and t-shirt sellers.

1975
More than 200,000 t-shirts were printed to promote the film, Jaws. This began the t-shirt boom.