History of T-shirt

T-shirts have become such a big part of our everyday clothing, that most of us don’t even realize we are wearing one. We start our day wearing one, pair it up with our favourite pair of jeans when we are outside, and sip our bedtime cocoa comfortably lounging in one. The t-shirt as we know it today, has its origins, in 19th century Europe, and actually evolved from vests. The round necked, short sleeved buttonless vests were an excellent option for people like miners and farmers, who had to work long hours in dirty conditions. A vest absorbed sweat and other dirt, was easy to wash and didn’t take long to dry. It was also a very practical and inexpensive option to wear everyday. For a long time, such vests were associated with menial labor. However, it was not proper to appear in public wearing only a vest as they were considered to be cheap undergarments.

The First World War brought American and European soldiers in contact with each other. That was when the former noticed that the European soldiers stayed comfortable in a thin stretchable material which was ideal for hot days. It sparked the beginning of the t-shirt revolution. The word ‘ T-shirt’ was given because of the unique alphabet like shape that the garment had. The word was officially listed in the American dictionary by the 1920’s. This simple piece of clothing which resembled the initial vests worn by laborers was given a stylish touch on screen by actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando. There were plenty of angry protests as well, because people couldn’t accept the fact that their heroes were wearing ‘undergarments’ on screen. The t-shirt became a fashionable symbol for rebellious teenagers who often wore it with just a jacket. By the fifties, experiments with t-shirt designs and styles began in full swing. That was how various necks such as V neck, low necks and scoop necks evolved. Tie dying and screen printing were used on t-shirts in the sixties, and by then they had become a staple fashion item. Other forms of decorations and artwork such as airbrushing, appliqués and embossing soon followed.

T-shirts became a valuable mode of unique expression as well. A person didn’t have to say what he thought- the t-shirt he wore simply said it all. Various slogans, thoughts, sayings, and expressions of art began to surface on t-shirts. Designer labels sold hundreds of coloured t-shirts which simply featured their logos. Other brands followed suit and soon t-shirts became available in a wide range of colours, styles, patterns and even fits. T-shirts which glow in the dark, those which have a witty statement or an unusual graphic are still hot favorites even today. Prints of cartoon characters and movies are a big hit with children and teenagers as well.

The t-shirt which was first worn as an undergarment has traversed through time, to become a commonplace yet powerful piece of clothing. Its importance in fashion will never diminish but only grow stronger.

Urban Wear Caps and Hats

A hat is an accessory that most people own. Of course, they are worn for different reasons. For instance, your dad might wear one to a game to show his support for a particular team, and your sibling might wear one because it adds to his style. The history of the hat is difficult to trace but it is believed that even primitive man used to wear some kind of head clothing, as a protection from the harsh elements of nature. The Egyptians and Romans used hats to signify a person’s stature or rank, particularly in the army. By the 14th century, both men and women began to use some kind of a head cloth. However, the kind of hat one wore and the material it was made from said a lot about the person’s status in society. Peasant women often wore a thin hanky on their heads, wealthy men chose tall black hats and well to do women wore elaborate bonnets. Today, the humble hat has evolved into a fashion accessory with different shapes, patterns and styles.

Hats, caps and bandanas became a part of urban wear because it completed the cool image. Many music artists wore flat billed hats, but never the right way. The bill was always turned to the left, right or towards the back, to indicate a difference in style from other people. Not before long, dozens of youngsters were wearing their hats much the same way. Today urban wear hats have become much more fashionable and are part of a very diverse style range to suit any kind of dressing style. There are flat billed hats with graffiti designs on them, simple motifs, the image of a hip hop artist, a small painting, a saying or just one word, and even plain coloured hats. There are hats with glitter work on them, an intricate design or even patchwork- often making them small works of art in themselves. Die hard fans of streetwear are willing to buy such hats no matter how expensive they are, because of their stylish distinctiveness.

As streetwear spread throughout the world, it picked up various influences along the way. Military style and camouflage printed flat bills, sailor caps and simple caps without bills, began to feature in urban wear as well. Girls wear plain coloured or printed hats too, often teeming them up with bright coloured clothes. That not only makes the wearer look stylish but prevents the overall look from becoming too garish. Reigning hip hop queens like Rihanna and Fergie have often been spotted wearing hats made of net, wool or mesh to give their ensemble an interesting streetwear twist. Bandanas in plain colours, graphic prints or bright artwork, are also very popular among boys. Plaid which is the current in season trend is surfacing in head wear too.

Even if you aren’t into wearing jewellery with your streetwear, the right hat is the best accessory you can have. After all, hats undoubtedly highlight one’s personal statement.

Urban Wear in Japan and Europe

True fashion not only stands the test of time, but spreads far and wide, adapting itself to local tastes, and thus becoming unique. Although urban wear was given a starting push by skateboarders and surfers, the urban wear fever soon caught on. People identified with this movement that could be seen on every street. Celebrities helped popularize urban wear too. Trademark gear like colourful sneakers, t shirts with messages on them, bandanas, flashy jewellery and caps, became a must have rage. This new stylish movement which not only engulfed America, soon began to spread across the world. Surprisingly, the second country to be caught in the grip of urban wear happened to be Japan, where designs and colours were adapted to suit local Japanese tastes. Although it took longer, Europe too succumbed to urban wear at a much later stage.


Japan came on to the urban wear scene in the early 1980’s. At that time, everything American was considered cool and they felt that streetwear deserved the same acknowledgement as well. By the early 1990’s, a few established brands like BAPE started releasing their limited edition wear at high prices. That did not deter the fashion conscious Japanese from purchasing the colourful sneakers and spunky t-shirts. Ironically, the real magic of Japanese streetwear lies in the fact that the look appears to have been copied from elsewhere and is more of a mish mash than a representation of anything original. If one had to take apart the whole look, individually it might seem totally out of place but somehow the look worked as a whole. The interest in American culture also made video games, skateboarding and surfing popular among the Japanese. Japanese urban wear carried motifs of dragons, other religious symbols, cartoon characters, floral prints and squirts of colours on their urban wear. Tunic tops, short dresses, cargoes, flashy t-shirts, colourful bags and even printed hoodies were some of the best selling streetwear items.

In Europe, streetwear packed in tons of attitude and style. Brands like Volcom and OBEY became the rage among youngsters. Hip and cool clothing which could suit anybody, yet reflected a chilled out style, was what people were looking for. Needless to say, urban wear filled in that gap for them. T-shirts with single words, an image or which could glow in the dark, were best sellers. If something was considered art, then it was thought of as being good enough to wear - which is why some of the best selling brands in Europe have urban wear with unique art like prints and designs on them. For women, short pleated skirts, tweed, soft jackets, slinky tops, t-shirts with nature designs and jewellery such as rings and chains, were considered fashionable. Men wore shirts with plaid designs, cargoes, carried oversized bags and wore funky hoodies. Eventually, streetwear became an extension of one’s personality. With so many global brands today offering a wide range of streetwear to suit everybody’s tastes, one can say that streetwear is here to stay.

RAGEWEAR Clothing: Big Hit in Urban Wear Fashion

Though many people turn to urban fashion in hopes of finding a way to express themselves in their clothing styles, too many urban fashion manufacturers seem to be producing the same general looks. Those who are interested in expressing their individuality through their clothes choices, this can be severely limiting and can leave them looking like everyone else. With RAGEWEAR, however, that is about to change.

RAGEWEAR Clothing is dedicated to providing clothes that say “It's All The Rage”. Ragewear Clothign is creating a style that reflects what is popular in society without simply repeating the same looks that other clothing manufacturers have produced. Clothes produced by RAGEWEAR feature a one-of-a-kind style that uses creative, high quality designs which include the “RAGE” name and incorporate the company’s bull elephant mascot FYDO. RAGEWEAR clothing options are eye-catching and embody the spirit of urban clothing that others try to imitate.

The RAGEWEAR clothing line offers a variety of items to choose from. RAGEWEAR t-shirts come in a variety of designs and colors, presenting a number of options to those who wish to establish an independent look. Two distinct hoodie lines are also available, letting those who prefer either a pullover hoodie or a zippered hoodie to have several unique choices available in regards to design and color. Hats are available as well, with different hat designs being offered to compliment other RAGEWEAR clothing or to add to an existing look. There are even ladies-cut shirts available for those women who like to express themselves through urban wear designs, letting them feel the RAGE in comfort.

RAGEWEAR clothes are perfect for those who don’t want to look like everyone else; people will take note of the unique designs that appear on the shirts and other items of clothing featuring the RAGE branding. The emotion evoked by the “RAGE” designs will get the message across that the wearer has their own voice full of feeling and emotion, and isn’t simply going to dress and act like everyone else. Instead of following tired fashion trends created by people who aren’t in touch with the needs of today’s generation, those who choose RAGEWEAR will be able to keep up with the latest rage and show a little attitude while doing it.

In order to keep up with the rage, visit the RAGEWEAR Clothing website at http://www.ragewear-clothing.com/ . Here you will be able to see what’s new, what’s on sale, and browse the entire catalog of RAGEWEAR clothing and merchandise. You can create an account that will allow you to shop faster, view the status of your orders, and keep track of any orders that you have previously made. You can even enjoy free shipping on orders over $100, letting you save money while building your RAGE.

The Origins of Hoodies

This particular piece of clothing spells out attitude clearly, and is worn by boys, girls and even babies alike. Rap artists have belted out their songs wearing one of these, to add some style quotient to their image. Wearing one indicates you’re cool. So how did the hoodies come into existence and why is it such an important ingredient in urban fashion wear?

Who was the influence behind the hoodie and when was it first used, is a much debated question in history. Some say that the cowl which was a hood worn by Catholic priests on top of their tunics, was the original inspiration for the hoodie. These cowls were commonly used by them for prayers and during confessions. A more plausible theory is that workers, who used to spend long hours working in frozen warehouses, were the first people to wear the hoodie. Of course back then, the intention was to give the wearer warmth and not to make him look stylish. Soon a few sportswear designers such as Claire McCardell actually developed many collections all proudly featuring the humble hoodie. Not before long, athletes and football stars in particular began to wear them quite often. However, the image attached to the hoodie was one of exclusivity.

People get hugely influenced by the movies and in the late 70’s, the world was raving about Rocky- the famous underdog who was determined to fight back and stay fit. Who can forget Stallone’s workouts wearing his hoodie? Something about the character struck a chord with teenagers and youngsters. It was almost as if the hoodie seemed to say ‘The world is against me, but I will make my place eventually’. Sales of hoodies slowly began to rise. Coincidentally, America was also slowly waking up to hip hop, which was a new refreshing sound unlike rock and other popular music forms at that time. Hip hop for some reason, was seen as music for outcastes and for people who just didn’t fit in. Its lively beats and meaningful lyrics, soon found a place on every street and in the nightclubs. Just as the music itself was different, hip hop artists sought to create an image different from the torn jeans and denim jacket style of those times. The hoodie teemed with a t-shirt, colourful sneakers and bling for style, became the signature look of so many hip hop artists. Graffiti artists, surfers and skateboarders quickly followed suit.

The image of the hoodie itself has changed a lot over time. It hasn’t helped that rebellious teenagers wear it often, or that crimes have been committed by people wearing a hoodie with the hood up. When the hood is worn covering the head, this stylish garment transforms into something darker. However many designers have added a creative touch to the hoodie by including prints on them, adding pockets and zips or simply fine-tuning it. For a garment that has truly changed with the times, the hoodie isn’t likely to go out of style anytime soon.

Urban Wear began as a cultural movement

Urban wear itself began as a cultural movement back in the early seventies. Wearing clothes that were influenced by hip hop and other music genres was seen as a sign that a person wearing such clothes was different and had their own style. Every generation has its own influences, but urban wear has moved up from being worn by rebellious teenagers, to giving the word attitude some much needed style. Today, it’s not uncommon to see children, teenagers and even adults walk around in urban wear. No matter what the wearer’s age, the message still remains the same- we don’t care, we’re full of attitude, we know style when we see it, we are confident and we have our own identity. At RAGEWEAR clothing, we respect that. That’s why; we have our fantastic line of clothing designed especially for people who like urban wear. You can wear it to class and look cool, wear it to a party and look hot, or even wear it at the beach and look relaxed. You can choose to dress it up or dress it down. You can bet that more than one person, besides that pretty girl is going to be notice you.

Your style should be unique and define you. It’s about wearing what you feel comfortable in, and feeling good in it. People may not remember your name, but they will remember what you wore. Our clothing is so versatile, that you can team it up with a pair of scruffy jeans, hemmed up cargoes or even shorts. There’s no one right look. We also believe in saying more by saying less. That’s why some of our t-shirts simply have the word RAGE across them, or the print of an elephant who means business. Either way, our t-shirts help enhance your personality by jazzing up your look, yet never stealing the spotlight from you. We have a whole collection of colours to suit any mood, so you can wear your favourite RAGE t-shirts every day of the week if you like. To give you an extra edge, choose from our range of hoodies. All of them have an eye catching print on the back, so that people will know your have attitude. Wear it to a bike race, to a party, to class, on the bus, while you’re skating, at the movies- anywhere at all. After all, nobody said you can’t have fun and be stylish at the same time. We also have flat brim rimmed hats - ideal for just hanging out with your friends. Not only will it help you beat the heat, but its simple design will remind the competition who’s boss.

Simply put, RAGEWEAR clothing gives you enough reasons to become a rage yourself. Buy your RAGEWEAR clothing online to give your wardrobe a feisty touch, or gift it to somebody who could do with some style. Either way, give the world something new to talk about.