T-shirt history 

The t-shirt evolved from undergarments used in the 19th century by cutting the one piece underwear into separates so you had top and bottoms. It was also adopted by miners and stevedores in the 1800's as a convenient top for hot conditions. T-shirts without buttons then became big in the U.S as the issued them to the navy to wear underneath there uniforms like the one below .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt

   This is what the first t-shirt looked like that the navy wore.

The word T-shirt didn't become a word in the english dictionary until 1920's also up until the 1950's t-shirts were still considered a underwear until john wayne, Marlon Brando and James dean all shocked americans by going on live TV in there "underwear." In 1955  James Dean helped make the t-shirt everyday clothing in Rebel without a cause. In the 60's screen printing became big and also tye dying became quite popular too, other types of t-shirts also made it quite big like the tank, and muscle shirts. In the late 60's early 70's people realised that printing on t-shirt could be an up and coming business so people like rock and roll bands and athletic teams started to make big profits selling screen printed tops.

www.t-shirt-buyers-guide.org/custom_t-shirts/t-shirt_history.htm

 This is a David & goliath printed tee.