Muscle Shirts

Brief History of Printed T Shirts

The T-shirt is a very versatile piece of clothing. T-shirts have been on the scene since the late 1800s. They were frequently worn by those in the mining industry, because they were more comfortable to wear in a hot environment. These original garments were available with and without buttons.

T-shirts officially got their name in the 1920s. It was during that time that the word 'T-shirt' was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. By 1939, these shirts were issued as standard US military underwear and were manufactured without buttons.

Interestingly enough, the first printed t-shirt thought to be worn publicly was displayed on the cover of LIFE magazine in 1942. It made reference to the Air Force Gunnery School, which was located in Las Vegas Nevada.

However, printed T-shirts were formally introduced in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Some of the first printed t's featured the names of notable resorts and well-known character figures. For example, Mickey Mouse t-shirts flew off the shelves. During this time, both screen printing and tie dyeing methods realized steady gains in popularity.

Due, in part, to this popularity variations of the standard t-shirt were introduced. This included muscle shirts, tank tops and v-necks. Much more recently, 'tall t-shirts' which are garments stemming from the hip hop craze have entered the mix.

T-shirts depicting more artful designs were made available in the late 60s. These styles were very popular among rock music fans and those with strong political views, especially those that pertained to the Grateful Dead, Che Guevara and marijuana use.

At that point, other rock bands and even sports teams decided to take the risk and use the t-shirt as a promotional tool. It was an excellent choice for most, who found themselves making good money selling these shirts to their fans.

Many notable T-shirt styles were produced in the 70s and are still a huge part of pop culture, today. These styles include: bright yellow happy face t-shirts, Rolling Stone t-shirts complete with the tongue sticking out gesture made famous by Mick Jagger and the iconic 'I love (heart) New York' t-shirt.

The New York logo was created by Milton Glaser who, at the time, had no idea how popular this simple logo would become. Interestingly, Mr. Glaser created his famous logo free of charge, to help promote tourism in the city of New York. It has since been copied hundreds of times, promoting all sorts of locations, hobbies, organizations and causes.

Virtually any design can be printed on a t-shirt. Not only can designs be printed on the front and back of the shirt, they can be printed on the sleeves as well.

The process involves using a squeegee to push Plastisol ink through a screen. The screen must be prepared before any printing can take place. This is achieved by coating the screen with a thick emulsion and allowing it to dry.

(Plastisol ink is individually formulated to work well with a wide variety of fabrics, so that every garment produced will be top quality.)

Once the screen is completely dry it (along with the image to be printed) are placed on a light table and exposed to high intensity light. This actually burns the image into the screen.

Next, the emulsion solution is rinsed away with a pressure washer, leaving only the design on the screen. The actual printing process then begins.

Typically, most t-shirt printing companies automate printing for large orders and manually process smaller orders. In regard to design, they work with clients until they are 100% satisfied with the image that will be transferred to their garments of choice. Of course, these clients have the option of supplying their own design, as well.

It is less expensive to have a design printed on a light colored t-shirt than on a dark one. This is because dark colored garments require a base coat of white ink, before any additional inks can be applied. This is to prevent colors from blending together. Another reason for the extra expense is that it costs t-shirt manufacturers more to produce dark colored clothing.

With proper care, a screen printed t-shirt will last for years. There are even instances where the design outlasts the actual shirt. Typically, machine washing and then tumble drying the shirt (inside out on low temperature) works best.

About the Author

This article is provided courtesy of Tojam T Shirt Druck. Based in Germany Tojam provides a wide variety of printed t-shirts, as well as several kinds of garments.

Muscle Will $10 Muscle Will

Muscle $10 Muscle

Muscle Anatomy Sports Toddler T-Shirt by CafePress $15 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Toddler T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Our 100% cotton toddler tee will look great on your little ones.5.5 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Koz Muscle Muscle Jr. Raglan by CafePress $31.5 Our Jr. Raglan from American Apparel is body contoured and baby soft. Made of 100% superfine combed cotton baby rib, this raglan provides the perfect look for any season. 5.8 oz. 100% Ultra-fine combed ring spun 1x1 baby rib cottonSize up Muscle Jr. Raglan Our Jr. Raglan from American Apparel is body contoured and baby soft. Made of 100% superfine combed cotton baby rib, this raglan provides the perfect look for any season. 5.8 oz. 100% Ultra-fine combed ring spun 1x1 baby rib cotton. Size up

Muscle Anatomy Sports Fitted T-Shirt by CafePress $29.5 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Fitted T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt For stylish weekend comfort anytime, guys will want to live in our Fitted T. Made of ultra-fine, combed ring-spun cotton, that gets softer with each washing. Lightweight for summer comfort or winter layering. Grab attention with this vintage fit that love

Muscle Anatomy Sports Jr. Spaghetti Tank by CafePress $22.5 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Jr. Spaghetti Tank Our spaghetti tank from American Apparel will keep you in style year round. Made of soft 100% superfine combed cotton baby rib, this tank provides the perfect silhouette.5.8 oz. 100% Ultra-fine combed ring spun 1x1 baby rib cotton. Size up

Muscle Anatomy Sports Men's Sleeveless Tee by CafePress $25 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Men's Sleeveless Tee Beat the summer heat or workout in comfort. Our 100% cotton sleeveless tee from Anvil is what to wear when you want to go casually cool.6.1 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Muscle Anatomy Sports Women's Tank Top by CafePress $25 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Women's Tank Top Sporty and sexy, wear our women's tank top to beat the summer heat or workout in cool comfort. Our tank top is made of 100% combed ring spun cotton, and cut for a close, fashionable fit. Neck and armhole are carefully shaped to conceal a bra.6.1 o

Muscle Anatomy Sports Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $48 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90

Muscle Anatomy Sports Jr. Hoodie by CafePress $37 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Jr. Hoodie A fashion must that defines today39;s hip style, our Jr. Hoodie is a body-loving curve-hugger. From American Apparel, get into baby soft 100% super fine-combed cotton fleece. Front zipper, hood and pockets to keep the chill off. Pre-washed 7.2

Muscle Anatomy Sports Yellow T-Shirt by CafePress $23 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Yellow T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Yellow fans, color your world, or at least your body in this vibrant attention-grabbing hue. Stand out in a crowd. Our 100% Authentic Tagless T-Shirt is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed. 6.1 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Muscle Anatomy Sports White T-Shirt by CafePress $25 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports White T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The white t-shirt is a timeless classic for a reason; it should be a staple in every wardrobe. It is clean, simple, and durable. The best part is you can wear it with anything. This 100% cotton T-shirt is so comfortable you'll want to wear it to bed.

Muscle Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $45 The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90 Muscle Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90

The Raw Food Muscle - Men's T-Shirts dark Health Dark T-Shirt by CafePress $26 The Raw Food Muscle - Dark t-shirts Health Dark T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Don't waste time deciding on which shirt to put on each morning. This dark shirt t-shirt will never go out of style and hides stains better too. This high-quality t-shirt is pre-shrunk and 100% cotton, which makes it both comfortable and durable.

Muscle Cam Sports Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $48 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90

Muscle Cam Sports Baseball Jersey by CafePress $35.5 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Baseball Jersey Our 100% cotton Baseball Jersey is a sporty hit with both men and women whether you're in the game or just looking the part in great run-around casual-wear. Choose red, blue or black sleeves. 6.1 oz. 100% heavyweight cotton. Standard f

Muscle Cam Sports Fitted T-Shirt by CafePress $29.5 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Fitted T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt For stylish weekend comfort anytime, guys will want to live in our Fitted T. Made of ultra-fine, combed ring-spun cotton, that gets softer with each washing. Lightweight for summer comfort or winter layering. Grab attention with this vintage fit that love

Muscle Cam Sports Women's Tank Top by CafePress $25 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Women's Tank Top Sporty and sexy, wear our women's tank top to beat the summer heat or workout in cool comfort. Our tank top is made of 100% combed ring spun cotton, and cut for a close, fashionable fit. Neck and armhole are carefully shaped to conceal a bra.6.1 o

Muscle Cam Sports Light T-Shirt by CafePress $25 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Light T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt This light t-shirt will be fashionable even after the zombie Apocalypse. In fact, this shirt might be the very reason you'll survive said Apocalypse. The light color shows you aren't worried about getting stains - and even if you were, those stains show t

Muscle Cam Sports Women's T-Shirt by CafePress $25 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Women's T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Our 100% cotton Women's tee is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed. 5.6 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Muscle Cam Sports White T-Shirt by CafePress $25 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports White T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The white t-shirt is a timeless classic for a reason; it should be a staple in every wardrobe. It is clean, simple, and durable. The best part is you can wear it with anything. This 100% cotton T-shirt is so comfortable you'll want to wear it to bed.

Property of a Myologist Muscle Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $45 Visit our Job Shirts for more Property of a Myologist shirts,Property of a Myologist t shirts,job and office mugs, hats,stickers, pins and many more Myol Muscle Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90

COBRA STRIKES Muscle cars Mousepad by CafePress $13 Cobra car art work, classic cars, cobra car photography, hot rod cars, roadsters, muscle cars, cobra car t-shirts, cobra car prints, car greeting cards Muscle cars Mousepad Keep your mouse rolling in style on our durable cloth top mousepad. A great gift for geeks, gamers, or anyone with a computer. Rubber backing prevents the mousepad from sliding. Machine washable.

The Mother Road Muscle Car Hobbies Sweatshirt by CafePress $39.5 A map of the route 66 on the USA behind a vintage muscle car decorates these t-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel gift items-perfect for any rt 66 lover, or muscle car buff Hobbies Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Warm up in our stylin' Hanes Heavyweight 90/10 cotton/polyester sweatshirt. Thick but not bulky, for maximum comfort and durability whether you're working out or hanging out. 10.1 oz. patented PrintPro174; fabric in a 90/10 cotton/polyester

Muscle Anatomy Sports Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt by CafePress $26 Muscle anatomy design showing the various muscle groups in the human body. Both front muscle and back muscle anatomy displayed on most shirts. Sports Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Get into sporty, stylin' casual comfort with our Women's Cap Sleeve Raglan. Looks great on the go or just hangin' out. Made of 100% combed ring-spun cotton that gets even softer with each washing.6.1 oz 100% combed ring-spun cotton 1x1 rib.

1968 Muscle Car Hobbies Wall Clock by CafePress $15 1968 was probably the best year in terms for this King of the Muscle Cars. Get one of these gifts for the Muscle Car Lover on your list Hobbies Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

Muscle car Ringer T by CafePress $22.25 The Ringer T has made a fashion comeback, and ours is a popular favorite. This classic style is sure to impress even the most discerning t-shirt connoisseur with an eye for retro-coolness. Great for relaxing in comfort year-round.5.5 oz. 100% pres Muscle car Ringer T The Ringer T has made a fashion comeback, and ours is a popular favorite. This classic style is sure to impress even the most discerning t-shirt connoisseur with an eye for retro-coolness. Great for relaxing in comfort year-round.5.5 oz. 100% pres

Muscle Diva Sports Cap by CafePress $17 Great for any woman who loves to workout and be a muscle diva. Who says you have to be ugly to be strong? Sports Cap . Our adjustable, 100% brushed cotton Cap is unstructured and an ideal way to beat the heat. Wear it anytime you want to keep the sun off or cover up a bad hair day. It features a sturdy low profile brim, sweatband, and adjustable closure, as well as Pre

Muscle Diva Sports Mug by CafePress $15 Great for any woman who loves to workout and be a muscle diva. Who says you have to be ugly to be strong? Sports Mug The perfect size for your favorite morning beverage or late night brew. Large, easy-grip handle. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special. Measures 3.75 tall, 3 diameter. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Muscle / Bodybuilding Sports Cap by CafePress $17 Muscle / Bodybuilding Cap - Great item for any bodybuilder, powerlifter, trainer, or anyone who loves muscles Sports Cap . Our adjustable, 100% brushed cotton Cap is unstructured and an ideal way to beat the heat. Wear it anytime you want to keep the sun off or cover up a bad hair day. It features a sturdy low profile brim, sweatband, and adjustable closure, as well as Pre

Koz Muscle - Jason's favorite Muscle Baseball Jersey by CafePress $35.5 Our 100% cotton Baseball Jersey is a sporty hit with both men and women whether you're in the game or just looking the part in great run-around casual-wear. Choose red, blue or black sleeves. 6.1 oz. 100% heavyweight cottonStandard f Muscle Baseball Jersey Our 100% cotton Baseball Jersey is a sporty hit with both men and women whether you're in the game or just looking the part in great run-around casual-wear. Choose red, blue or black sleeves. 6.1 oz. 100% heavyweight cotton. Standard f

Muscle Car-GTO Cool Sweatshirt by CafePress $39.5 '67 Pontiac GTO muscle car with American flame flag.Muscle car t-shirts and other gifts. Cool Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Warm up in our stylin' Hanes Heavyweight 90/10 cotton/polyester sweatshirt. Thick but not bulky, for maximum comfort and durability whether you're working out or hanging out. 10.1 oz. patented PrintPro174; fabric in a 90/10 cotton/polyester

TOP Vegetarian Muscle Sports Large Mug by CafePress $18 Vegetarians united at the health club and workout hard in a Vegetarian Muscle slogan t-shirts, sweatshirts, tank top, or other gift. Great for that exercise friend who likes their veggies. Sports Large Mug Super-size your favorite beverage or just size-up to avoid spills with our hefty, 15 oz. ceramic Large Mug. Large easy-grip handle. When you need more, mug it up. Measures 4.5 tall, 3.25 diameter. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Muscle Cam Sports Long Sleeve T-Shirt by CafePress $35.5 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Long Sleeve T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The most comfortable t-shirt ever Our 100% cotton, Hanes Beefy-T is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed. 6.1 oz. 100% luxuriously soft ring spun cotton . Standard fit. Ribbed sleeve cuffs.

Muscle Cam Sports Women's V-Neck T-Shirt by CafePress $25 Muscle Camaro. Nothing sits like the prince of muscle. Get your authentic muscle car, hot rod, and rat rod designed shirts and racing gear by quartermilecafe.com. Let's get rolling Sports Women's V-Neck T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Our 100% cotton, women's v-neck tee is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed. 5.6 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Muscle Bodybuilder Sweatshirt by CafePress $42.5 Warm up in our stylin' Hanes Heavyweight 90/10 cotton/polyester sweatshirt. Thick but not bulky, for maximum comfort and durability whether you're working out or hanging out. 10.1 oz. patented PrintPro174; fabric in a 90/10 cotton/polyester Bodybuilder Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Warm up in our stylin' Hanes Heavyweight 90/10 cotton/polyester sweatshirt. Thick but not bulky, for maximum comfort and durability whether you're working out or hanging out. 10.1 oz. patented PrintPro174; fabric in a 90/10 cotton/polyester

MUSCLE HEAD Sports Wall Clock by CafePress $15 MUSCLE HEAD Wall Clock Sports Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

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