“From Undies To Icon: The Witty History Of The T‑Shirt - Graphic T-Shirt”
This Week at Cover Up Tops: The Tale of the Tee
Welcome back, fellow fabric fans and stylish sentients!
This week, we’re diving into the surprisingly epic origin story of one of the most universal items in your wardrobe—the mighty T-shirt. Yes, the same humble cotton marvel you throw on for coffee runs, protest marches, rock concerts, and Netflix marathons. But don’t be fooled by its casual appearance—this unassuming garment has a rebellious past, a cinematic resume, and has even saved a life or two (seriously).
From its military underwear roots to Hollywood stardom, from political statements to sci-fi cult classics, the T-shirt has evolved into a wearable piece of history. Here at Cover Up Tops, we like our cotton with a side of cosmic curiosity, so we’ve also folded in some fast-folding tricks, famous sci-fi shirt moments, and updates from the final frontier—space, science, and all things stellar for you.
So roll up your sleeves (or don’t—tees are versatile like that) and join us for a thread-counted tour through time, pop culture, and galaxies far, far away, and don't forget to shop our catalogue, for your next staple T-Shirt - graphic T-Shirt!
1.The Surprisingly Noble Undergarment Origins
T‑shirts began as humble undergarments in the late 19th century—literally the top half of union suits, cut for comfort by hot workers. By around 1913, the U.S. Navy officially issued cotton crew-neck tees to sailors, setting the stage for their transformation into everyday wear.
2. Hollywood Makes the Tee Cool
The 1950s—and Hollywood—helped the T‑shirt graduate from underwear to iconic outerwear. Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) turned a plain white tee into a symbol of rebellion and sex appeal.
3. Sleeves Up: From Protest to Pop Culture Canva
The first printed T‑shirts appeared around 1938 with Wizard of Oz and military shirts . By the ’60s and ’70s, tees were plastered with everything from psychedelic slogans to protest messages. Designer Katharine Hamnett’s bold “CHOOSE LIFE” tees (1984), famously worn by Wham! and Queen, proved that a tee can shout louder than a megaphone.
4. Corporate Cash‑Ins Tourist Tees
The 1980s saw corporations—and all kinds of local shops—printing logos on tees. Budweiser promo tees, tourist souvenirs, and band merch spread worldwide: your shirt became a billboard.
5. Power Tee: Real Life Stories
Kidney-saving T‑shirt: In 2018, Rob Leibowitz wore a plea for a kidney donor on a T‑shirt during a Disney trip—and it worked. A stranger, Richie Sully, matched his blood type and donated, saving his life.
“Je Suis Charlie” solidarity tees: After the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo, these shirts became a symbol of free speech and global unity.
6. The Speed Folding Myth (and Magic)
Yes, folding a T‑shirt in under 2 seconds is possible… if it’s perfectly laid out. Life‑hack guru DaveHax famously demonstrated it, with ABC News and GQ picking it up. But as Reddit wags point out, the prep time makes it more like 8 seconds. Practice makes perfect—or at least impressively wacky.
Try this yourself:
Watch DaveHax’s 2‑second folding trick on YouTube (search: “DaveHax fold t shirt 2 seconds”). It’s both oddly satisfying and humbling.
T‑Shirts in Sci‑Fi Pop Culture
Sci‑Fi T‑Shirt Legends
Louis Vuitton × Stranger Things – In 2017, Nicolas Ghesquière showcased a “Stranger Things” tee on the LV runway (model Sora Choi), blending high fashion with sci‑fi fandom .
Star Wars Influence – From Princess Leia gowns to R2-D2 tees, Star Wars revolutionised both film costume design and everyday T‑shirt culture.
Atomic Tarantula’s “Stealth” Sci‑Fi Tees – Nods to 2001, Blade Runner, Neuromancer and more on supersoft cotton from a 2008 Wired collaboration.
On‑Screen T‑Shirt Easter Eggs
In Blade Runner, set tensions erupted: the American crew sported “YES GUV’NOR” tees in response to Ridley Scott’s British praise—sparking retaliatory “XENOPHOBIA SUCKS” shirts.
In Back to the Future Part II, Doc Brown’s locomotive‑patterned shirt in the “future” foreshadows scenes from Part III where he hijacks a train—and famously tears that very shirt during the showdown.
Lost’s “Flight 815” mosaic tee by Nathan Pyle fit over 100 show‑references into the flight‑shaped design—threading character history into wearable art.
Sci‑Fi Films Shows: Trailers Info
Watch the Skies (2025) – AI‑dubbed Swedish thriller about alien abduction using “vubbing” tech.
Project Hail Mary (2025) – Big‑budget adaptation of Andy Weir’s interstellar rescue novel starring Ryan Gosling.
Mickey 17 (2025) – Bong Joon‑Ho’s clone‑thriller starring Robert Pattinson.
Sci‑Fi Science News
Astrophysics Space
Black Hole Jets – New radio‑telescope data reveals plasma jets ripping through galactic cores.
Dark Matter Mapping – Gravitational lensing breakthroughs chart unseen mass around galaxy clusters.
Astrobiology
Extremophile Studies – Tardigrade‑like organisms are being tested in simulated Mars conditions—hinting at life’s resilience.
Exoplanet Atmospheres – JWST detects possible biosignature gases on Earth‑like exoplanets.
Sci‑Fi Films: Streaming Ticket Info
Title Where to Watch / Trailer Watch the Skies ⬤ Netflix (trailer coming soon) Project Hail Mary ⬤ Trailer support via Paramount Pictures site Mickey 17 ⬤ Exclusive early footage via Alamo Drafthouse newsletter
Note: Exact release dates and platforms will be announced soon.
Summary References
Sci‑fi has long intertwined with T‑shirt culture—from runway fashion to film easter‑eggs and real‑world fandom .
Want to mimic that sci‑fi aesthetic? Check out Uniqlo’s Alien and 2001 collection, or subtle designs from Atomic Tarantula .
The iconic fast‑fold technique is pure internet culture magic—fun, slightly impractical, and widely debated .
Useful Links
Fast‑fold video (DaveHax): embedded above
Louis Vuitton x Stranger Things runway: via Vogue
Star Wars fashion history: Vanity Fair
Atomic Tarantula sci‑fi tees: Wired
Blade Runner crew‑shirt story: Looper
Doc Brown’s locomotive shirt hidden detail: Looper