Custom and Brands t's
If anyone asks you what a t-shirt is then the likelihood is that your response will describe an item of clothing with short sleeves. Why? Because the typical t-shirt does have short sleeves and is acknowledged as an item of clothing that is usually worn in warmer weather. Very often people forget all about long sleeve t-shirts or even that they are a member of the t-shirt family. However, long sleeve t-shirts are just as popular as their short sleeved relatives in terms of the level of sales and wear around the world. The rest of the article will give you a quick introduction into them and explain why they are still so popular hundreds of year after their creation.
If you know anything about t-shirts then you will know that short sleeve shirts were undergarments used by the upper class to protect their clothes from their own sweat. The short sleeves were perfect to hide under their shirt sleeves when they were in formal dress. This also explains why long sleeves were rarely used by the upper classes. As such, the long sleeve t-shirts that are available today came from the working and lower classes instead. The origins of the two types of t-shirt could not be more different in that respect.
Long sleeve t-shirts were born in Europe following the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Working class men could not wear shirts with loose material in factories or on ships because the likelihood is that they would get caught in dangerous machinery and the individual in question would be killed. As such, they needed a much tighter and more convenient garment to ensure their personal safety as far as possible. There was also the cost factor. It took hours to make items of clothing back then because they did not have the equipment to manufacture it all en masse. As such, the previous shirts had been way too expensive to wear when performing hard manual labour. The long sleeve t-shirts that came out of the process of finding new and more convenient clothing to wear were much cheaper and much more convenient.
The long sleeve t-shirts had long sleeves in order to afford the arms some sort of protection against the elements and the conditions in the workplace, which were far from ideal. The sleeves were designed to allow the person wearing the t-shirt to move freely without any restriction but also without any risk of damaging the skin. They were cool in summer but warm in winter, and it is for this reason that they are still popular today.
Long sleeve t-shirts are very popular on both sides of the Atlantic today because of their ability to survive all forms of weather. They are cool enough for wear in nice weather but do offer some warmth against the cold of the winter. This has been the appeal for a number of years now. With such convenience and lower clothing costs as well because you do not have to pay for both long and short sleeves, you can see why their popularity has surged. However, that is not to say that long sleeve t-shirts have not been subject to trends because they have. Their popularity has seemed to surge and wane over and over again through the years.
Although long sleeve t-shirts were practical in the 18th and 19th Centuries, they were not as popular as short sleeve t-shirts until the 1980s purely and simply because of the fashion trends of the eras. Take the punk era for example. Short sleeves were preferred because it was those shirts that tended to feature slogans providing political protest messages. Personal expression was more commonly associated with shorter sleeves and they proved to be the best sellers. Rock t-shirts were also short sleeved, which should come as no surprise given how tough rockers were supposed to be and the other fashions that went with the shirts, including leather jackets. In the 1980s and 1990s, grunge bands and fashion made long sleeve t-shirts popular again, especially as the accepted way of wearing them was to wear a short sleeve t-shirt on top of one! They also became more and more popular on university campuses. As such, major stores like Gap began to stock them and their popular appeal surged.
You can purchase long sleeve t-shirts in most major fashion stores in a variety of styles. There are both male and female shirts available so you can always find one that suits your personal taste and your body type. However, you might want to know that there are different types of long sleeve t-shirts as well. For example, the choice of female t-shirts is huge. You can buy those that are fitted and hug the curves, baggy long sleeve t-shirts, wrap around long sleeve t-shirts, polo necks, turtle necks… and the list goes on. The type of long sleeve t-shirts available directly reflects fashions of any given period so you can always find something out there for you. With the male designs available, it is much easier to describe the range – there are baggy, not so baggy and fitted in a variety of colours and patterns.
In terms of the sizes you would expect to find long sleeve t-shirts available in, they follow the general sizing that is associated with all t-shirts. As such, the male scale is usually XS to 3XL and the female scale varies widely depending on the country you live in and the system you are working with. You should always check the chest and waist measurements to make sure that a shirt will fit you but you might also want to make sure that the sleeves are the right length as well for extra comfort. Providing that you choose the right long sleeve t-shirts for you, you should find that they are incredibly comfortable for wear out and lounging around the house alike. All you have to do is put them on and enjoy!
Copyright © 2009 UKcentric Ltd all rights reserved. Web designers UKcentric.