T-shirt, also known as T-shirt (Topsuit), T-shirt， short-sleeved round-neck shirt， etc.， is one of the favorite clothing items for people in spring and summer. Especially during the scorching summer when the temperature is unbearable， T-shirt has gradually replaced the previous mode where men wore a vest or a sweatshirt over a short-sleeved shirt or a Hong Kong shirt when attending social events. It has become a fashionable seasonal clothing that people enjoy wearing. It has become a trendy outfit loved by people of all ages and genders around the world. It is said that the T-shirt is the most sold clothing item worldwide， with an annual sales volume of several billion pieces.
The origin of the name "T-shirt" is rather complicated. In the 16th century in a small town in Europe, someone's T-shirt was mistakenly regarded by their neighbor as a sweat-absorbing shirt for wiping sweat, and the neighbor simply used it for that purpose. Later, this person decided to call it "T-shirt", thus giving birth to the prototype of T-shirts. In 1913, the US Navy stipulated that its sailors should wear white short-sleeved round-neck shirts uniformly. People then referred to this round-neck shirt as a T-shirt.
T-shirts come in two styles: with collars and without collars. The style without a collar is in the shape of an "H". According to its shape variations, fabric, patterns, and manufacturing techniques, it is divided into several types:
1. Printed T-shirts: There are two types - screen printing and offset printing. Screen printing uses a screen plate to print, which has bright colors, detailed patterns, and strong durability, but is more expensive. Offset printing uses ink paste for printing, which is suitable for printing large patterns and has simple process and lower cost, but due to poor durability, it tends to fade over time and has been gradually phased out.
2. Printed fabric T-shirts: Different colors are printed alternately on the white fabric to create color variations, such as stripes, squares, and irregular patterns.
3. Tie-dye T-shirts: Tie-dye was formerly known as binding dyeing, twisting dyeing, sandwich dyeing, and dyeing dyeing. It is a traditional and unique dyeing technique in Chinese folk culture. This is a dyeing method where part of the fabric is tied to prevent it from dyeing during the dyeing process, which is one of the traditional manual dyeing techniques in China.
4. Wax dyeing T-shirts: Wax dyeing is a dyeing method where wax is applied with a wax knife and then dyed with indigo. After dyeing, the wax is removed, and the fabric then presents various patterns such as blue background with white flowers or white background with blue flowers. At the same time, during the dyeing process, the wax naturally cracks, creating a special "ice pattern" on the fabric, which is particularly charming.
5. Embroidered T-shirts: Various patterns and designs are embroidered on the T-shirt using different needle techniques. It has bright colors, delicate embroidery, and diverse needle techniques, allowing for the creation of many traditional auspicious patterns and colorful decorative patterns.
6. Spray-painted T-shirts: Art is created using a spray pen (spray gun) on the T-shirt, resulting in a realistic effect and an artistic effect that cannot be achieved by hand-painted T-shirts.
7. Ink paste T-shirts: Ink paste is mixed with pigments and then printed on the T-shirt to form certain patterns and designs. Its characteristics are simple process, low cost, good durability, but the texture is relatively hard.
8. Water-based paste T-shirts: Water-based paste is mixed with pigments and then printed on the T-shirt to form various patterns and designs. Its characteristics are good color saturation, bright colors, soft texture, but poor durability.
In addition, T-shirts come in various categories such as sports T-shirts, cultural T-shirts, advertising T-shirts, travel T-shirts, film and television T-shirts, commemorative T-shirts, jacket T-shirts, couple T-shirts, children's T-shirts, sleeveless T-shirts, off-shoulder T-shirts, high-neck T-shirts, etc. The patterns on the T-shirts can be chosen according to personal preferences. Such as letter patterns, cartoon characters, animal and plant patterns, landscape patterns, abstract patterns or patterns designed by oneself, etc.
Overall, T-shirts are a simple, comfortable and versatile piece of clothing that can be worn in various settings and are one of the indispensable items in daily life.
