First things first: in order to make a t-shirt popular, you need an idea for a t-shirt!  A great idea is to think locally.  Make a design for a t-shirt that only applies to the city/town that you live in.  For example, the “Natty Boh” t-shirts (Natural Light Beer) are a huge hit in Baltimore City.  Drive down the beltway to Washington D.C. and nobody would understand why that shirt is so awesome.  People like being misunderstood or just even thought about! It makes the youth feel a part of something that outsiders just don’t get.  Second, think of ideas that go along with current events.  Funny slogans for politics, current trends, and happenings always seem to put a smile on people’s faces.  Did a celebrity do something really stupid this week?  Any given day the answer is probably yes!  Put it on a t-shirt and watch everyone start to ask you, “Where did you get that?”

Secondly, if you decide you want to sell your shirt, understand your target audience!  Don’t try and sell your t-shirt at a surf shop when mostly 50-year-old men are going to find your t-shirt hilarious! Try to make the t-shirt “too hip and cool” for the buyer.  Make it a status symbol.  Make people feel that if they wear this walking down the streets, they are going to get a look or two.  And again, think locally.  Don’t be generic and sell your t-shirt at some big corporate warehouse.  It is far cooler if you can only buy this shirt at this one clothing store or bookstore downtown. People will show up to buy it!  Soon enough someone will be asking you, “How do T-shirts become popular?”

How do T-shirts become popular?

T-shirts are popular because they are comfy, they give off that relaxed feeling that so many people thrive for. T-shirts are known as the most comfortable piece of clothing you could ever wear. Most commonly they are designed in cotton, which in itself speaks comfort already.

T-shirts are also very popular because they can be designed in the most clever and artistic ways. This is typically done through screen printing, which is a simplistic procedure created by many clothing industries across the globe.

Screen printing is the process of creating an image on a computer and then simply applying it to the T-shirt itself using a printer and a screen.

The Process of T-Shirt Screen Printing

Screen printing uses light-sensitive materials and film-positive images that can be printed on many different objects like plastic, wood, paper and of course fabric.

Screen printing uses a process of designing a particular image on a computer, this can be any type of design, a logo for a company or a sponsor image for a local band, the image could consist of anything. Typically, it is created through different downloadable applications from the internet.

Once the image is designed, it is then printed out through a laser-jet or ink-jet printer on either a transparent sheet of paper or a piece of vellum. There are special programs that can be bought that convert ink-jet printers for screen-printing positive film prints also.

After the image is created and then printed, the screen process starts. Generally, the screen consists of synthetic screen mesh and is usually stretched over a metal or wood frame. The printer then layers the frame with a light-sensitive emulsion coating.

Once the coating is dry, the printer places the film positive, facing down, on the mesh screen and a piece of glass is placed on the top of it. Light from an exposure lamp and a process of lightly spraying a warm water helps to form an image on the top side of the screen.

The screen is then left to dry and clamped into the screen-printing press where the printer uses a squeegee to wipe ink through the mesh and onto the T-shirt itself.

It is very simple process and every T-shirt is unique too.

First, it’s time to ditch the ironic tee. You should be ironic, not your clothing. Plus, this trend has seen its day come and go and if you’re wearing an ironic T-shirt these days, it means you look dated, not hip.

Look for subtle all over graphics on T-shirts instead of loud messages. These make a much more stylish statement than any funny saying or throw back “Where’s the Beef?” shirt. Consider tone on tone fabrics and prints.These look cool and chic while catching the attention and curiosity of those around you without screaming for attention.

The runways in Milan and Paris for 2012 were filled with net processing over leather so look to see this trend reinterpreted for the basic T-shirt. Also walking the catwalk were bright solid colors for men and bold, bright floral designs for women. These greens, oranges and yellows will brighten up your spring wardrobe.

Of course, 2012 is the year the Mayans predicted the end of the world so look for T-shirts bringing a little of the apocalypse into the design. Think Mad Max goes casual.

And as always, the classic white T-shirt will never go out of style though shapes usually change. The Jazz Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald are making a comeback so look for drapey styles and fits that get you thinking flapper as much as hipster.

Look your best at work, at brunch or out on the town in 2012. And your best can and should always include a great T-shirt.

Five Reasons T-shirts are Becoming Hot in India

1. You can wear them under business suits. If you have a well-fitted tshirt made from elegant material or one that features unique designs, wear it under an open suit jacket whether you are a man or woman. The casual look of the shirt paired with the more professional look of the jacket sets a trend all on its own.

2. You can wear them long or short. While long shirts are definitely in style right now, short tshirts are also very attractive. Depending on what you pair them with, long or short shirts can definitely make a statement. If you go short, choose to bare your midriff or else wear high-waisted skirts or pants. If you choose longer shirts, layer them to get a colorful effect around your midsection.

3. They are comfortable. Whether you are wearing tshirts under your business suit or to the gym, they are comfortable and easy to wear. Choose cotton blends for the most comfort possible.

4. They can be personalized. Reveal your artistic side by creating a unique tshirt of your own. Design it using fabric paints, lettering or stamps. You can even braid the sides of the shirt with ribbon or cut and tie the seams in knots to reveal some skin and show some personality.

5. They are affordable. While the prices of clothing seem to keep going up, it is still possible to find great tshirts on sale at very affordable prices. Because they are also such a necessary part of any wardrobe, make sure to buy a few when you spot a good deal.

You want to protect the investment you made in style by washing your T-shirt appropriately. You wouldn’t throw your best suit jacket in the washer, so why would you do this to your high end T-shirt? Here’s a few tips to keep your shirts looking their best for as long as possible.

1. Turn your T-shirt inside out, especially if the shirt has a design or screen print on the front. Doing this will reduce the amount of friction on the print and reduce fading. All shirts fade over time, but taking this simple step will protect the fabric and the print for longer.
2. Use cold water. You’ll save wear and tear on your clothes and you’ll save some money on your electricity bill. Hot water will fade T-shirts faster than cold water.
3. Pre-treat stains and spots on your shirts before putting them in the washer. Consider washing shirts with stains in warm water separately from T-shirts without stains.
4. Dry your T-shirts on a low setting or consider using the tumble dry setting on the dryer. Tumble drying means the dryer doesn’t use heat; it just tumbles the clothes until they are nearly dry. You can also consider flat drying the T-shirts. If you do hang the shirts to dry, don’t put the hanger through the neck hole. It will stretch out the neck and put weird bulges in the shoulders. Instead, use clothes hangers and a clothes line.
5. Once your shirts are done drying, iron and fold them immediately. This way, they will be ready to wear whenever you want to .

Taking a few extra steps to wash your T-shirts with care will ensure your fashion statements will continue to speak loud and clear for years to come.

Thanks to tcritic.com where I found the link and the guys at Think Geek who seem to have a lot of time on their hands! – Tasha

Fairey created the Obey Giant image after his Andre the Giant has a Posse campaign from 1989 and one description of the Obey Giant image I read is that it “has no meaning but exists only to cause people to react, to contemplate and search for meaning in the sticker.” Goal achieved. I spent an hour researching and the factoid I’m taking away from all that research is that the Obey Giant design is that it’s based on Andre the Giant, who you may remember was in The Princess Bride with Hopper’s mother, Robin Wright.

I know I’ve seen the Obey Giant image in a few places around Boston and Cambridge, mostly on stickers on lampposts, but also a bigger poster above Central Kitchen in Central Square. I looked around a little but couldn’t find a list of other locations, but now I’m intrigued. Have you seen the Obey Giant posters? If so, where? Also, anyone have any idea about the meaning or who designed the rest of the tee? – Tasha

I know I have friends who will wear these, although hopefully not in public. I’m okay with that. I also know I have friends who will tell me I’m out of the loop or too narrow minded for thinking it’s weird to wear these in public. I’m also okay with that.

I’ll admit, they look softer and less scratchy than Snuggies, and it’s estimated that over 8 million of those have been sold, so I recognize there is a market for them. But, except for campy Snuggie themed pub crawls Snuggies are confined to the privacy of one’s home. Wearing them around? Outside of the house? Never!

In my opinion the OnePiece qualifies as taking lounge-wear a little too far. Would you wear one? Oh, and before you answer that, let me mention that the cheapest one on their website is $136. On sale. – Tasha