Publisher Description

Ever since T-shirt-wearing James Dean gave us his moody slouch, this little piece of clothing has become the most ubiquitous cotton item-worn by the whole world, from celebrities to kids in the poorest villages in Africa.

Whether you're talking Gap plain, Nike branded, Che Guevara iconic, or anti-capitalist slogan-bearing, there's no escaping the T-shirt. This is a whistle-stop tour covering the T-shirt's first outing under the uniforms of American soldiers in World War I, slavery and cotton mills, fair trade, and "smart" Ts of the future.

Author Biography

Troth Wells joined the New Internationalist in 1972 to help launch the magazine. She has written a number of world food books including the Spices of Life and the World in your Kitchen. She an editor of the World Guide, a global reference source that focuses on majority world issues.

Long Description

Ever since T-shirt-wearing James Dean gave us his moody slouch, this little piece of clothing has become the most ubiquitous cotton item--worn by the whole world, from celebrities to kids in the poorest villages in Africa. Whether you're talking Gap plain, Nike branded, Che Guevara iconic, or anti-capitalist slogan-bearing, there's no escaping the T-shirt. This is a whistle-stop tour covering the T-shirt's first outing under the uniforms of American soldiers in World War I, slavery and cotton mills, fair trade, and "smart" Ts of the future.

Description for Sales People

-Series approaches core global issues of conflict, poverty and injustice by looking at modern cultural impacts. Facts about the T-shirt: - The first T-shirt with a rock likeness was put our by an Elvus fanclub in 1956. - Raed in the Middle blogger, Raed Jarrar, was forced when flying into JFK airport to change out of his T-shirt that said 'We will not be silent' in English and Arabic. - From Key West to Alaska the majority of tourist T-shirts are produced by a single company, Sherry. - North Carolina-based Nano-Tex LLC have developed stain- and wrinkle-resistant T-shirts. - Mitumba is now big business in Africa. Mitumba is the name given to T-shirts and other clothes given to charity in the West.

Details