Tag Archives: Fashion Advice

Can I Get Sunburned Through My T-shirt?

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The question of whether or not you can be sunburned through a t-shirt is a common one. Having clothing on seems like a logical way to protect yourself from the damages of UV rays and preventing the sun from burning your skin. Sadly, that is not technically accurate. With the increase of skin cancer many people are concerned with doing everything they need to protect their skin from the harmful effects of the sun. There are many different brands of sun block with varying amounts of protection. Even some makeup is toting sunscreen protection.

While protecting your face and other exposed skin from UV rays with sunscreen is a great start, it is just a start. Clothing does not block enough of the rays to be a perfect protection. After hours in the sun, or less depending on the situation, you may find that your skin is burned even where your clothing was. The likelihood of being burned through your t-shirt rests on several factors.

A lighter weight material is usually less effective than a thicker material. There are some companies that claim they offer clothing with UV ray protection, but usually these items are swimwear and not t-shirts for everyday wear. Loose woven fabrics are much more likely to allow sunburn than fabrics that are tightly weaved. Also, a wet t-shirt greatly increases the risk of a burn over a perfectly dry one. While a wet shirt may seem like a great idea to keep your body cool during a hot summer, if you don’t protect your skin with a waterproof sunscreen, you may end up being sunburned.

Wearing a sunscreen under your t-shirt helps to block the UV rays that do seep through the fabric. While it seems like a waste of energy and money to wear sunscreen under clothing, it is the best way to try and prevent the sun from burning your skin and increasing your chance of skin cancer. While you may be able to still get cancer even if you have never once had sunburn, the more your skin is exposed the higher the chances are of getting skin cancer. Sunscreen is designed to protect your skin from the rays for a designated amount of time, so take the time to apply it as often as needed.

Just because your shirt may not be a tight woven fabric doesn’t mean you should just through it out and buy new ones. Your favorite shirts can still be worn if you take a little extra time to protect your skin by applying a liberal layer of sun block to your skin before putting your shirt on and going outside. You will not only be protecting your skin but you will also be able to enjoy wearing your favorite t-shirt without worrying too much about the effects of the sun on your body. Your t-shirt is an expression of your individuality and personality. Don’t let the sun dictate what you wear. Just take the precautions of applying sunscreen before hand and enjoy a life of wearing your favorite clothes.

My Poor Friend Always Wears the Same T-Shirt…

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Best friends share a very special bond. They know and understand each other’s needs and no words need be spoken to express them. Mostly, best friends understand their obligation to help each other out. Sometimes this means protecting your best friend, even from himself. I consider myself a good friend. When I see a friend in need, I’m there in a flash. Hopefully with a solution. Lately, I’ve noticed that my best friend is having a fairly serious problem. The saddest part about his situation is that he seems unaware of its presence. Because of his ignorance, he has not approached me for help, his bestest buddy. I think I’m going to have to impose a solution on him. It’s my duty.

See, my friend is a swell guy. Everybody likes him. He’s funny, the life of the party, and he’s super smart. Needless to say, he has a bright future ahead of him. However, this bright future of his is going to get dimmer if he doesn’t get another shirt to wear. When I say “another,” I don’t mean that the poor fellow has a history of wearing bad shirts and that they need to be replaced with better ones. I mean quite literally, that he needs another shirt to wear besides the single, lonely shirt he has. It’s so pitiful, hanging there in his closet all by itself. My best friend’s single, solitary shirt.

The shirt itself is okay, there’s nothing offensive about it. He keeps the shirt clean, which is to his credit. In fact, the shirt is fresh as a flower most of the time. It would be a perfectly good shirt if it weren’t for the fact that every time you see my friend, he’s wearing it. And it’s starting to affect his life. This seemingly harmless shirt is shamelessly sabotaging my friend. He finally got the guts to ask this great girl out on a date last week. He’s been working up the courage all semester long. She said “yes” and they went out last Saturday. Of course, he wore the infamous shirt. He says they had a great time, but now she won’t return his phone calls. It’s got to be the shirt.

I suppose it isn’t fair to blame the shirt. It’s not its fault that my stupid friend wears it constantly. You’d think he would know better. Nevertheless, I can’t stand by and watch my friend’s life go to shambles. What kind of friend would that make me? I decided to get him a new shirt. But not just any shirt, an extra cool one designed by me. I might even go wild and get him several shirts, so he can have some options. Not only will our friends have a renewed appreciation for my dear friend, but they’ll be stunned by his fabulous new wardrobe. They won’t even know what hit them. And he will be scratching his head, trying to figure out how he ever survived without these fantastic shirts. See, personally designed shirts can change lives.

A Farmer’s Tan by Any Other Name Is a T-Shirt Tan

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A T-shirt tan, also known as a farmers tan, is particularly common for anyone who works outside and especially so in the spring and early fall. It is simply a tan which stops at the borders of where a T-shirt would be worn. It cuts off around the neck and mid-upper arm. One of the most famous farmer’s tan pictures around is that of one of the Tour de France participants who trains daily for up to 10 hours in a biking T-shirt. You can imagine the contrast in his tan lines.

Farmer’s tans are so common in spring and early fall because the temperatures are warm enough for short sleeves but not quite warm enough to wear any less. In those types of in-between temperatures, we also tend to forget about sunscreen to protect ourselves, as getting a tan is often not even a thought that crosses our minds. Such tans are also common when people spend long periods of time outside in the summer in places or doing activities where it is inappropriate to wear less than a T-shirt.

Don’t fear, there is a way to fix a T-shirt tan. When you have the opportunity to go topless for the guys and nearly topless for the girls, apply SPF 45 to the areas of your body that are already tanned. Apply only SPF 15 to the untanned area. This will protect you from getting sunburned but will also speed up the equalization process for your tan. Remember to reapply often and be careful to apply the lower sunscreen right up to the tan line or you may have patches of dark tan, light tan and red on your body. The process may need to be repeated depending on how dark your farmer’s tan is.

If you have a farmer’s tan and are proud of it, then show it off in a farmer’s tan T-shirt. You can have one custom-made saying something like this:

  • I love farmer’s tans
  • I love your farmer’s tan
  • Yup, she loves my farmer’s tan
  • One day I’ll have a farmer’s tan like my daddy

You can even have a custom-made anti-farmer’s tan T-shirt made up with a line like: This isn’t a farmer’s tan, it’s a gardener’s tan or a golfer’s tan or a watching my kid’s soccer game tan. There are so many choices of what you can print on your anti-farmer’s tan T-shirt. You can even take the high road and print a line like “The correct term is T-shirt tan.”

If you have a group of people working together outside, for a special project or even on a regular basis, you can get a set of farmer’s tan T-shirts made up for everyone in the group. It can say “Proud member of a farmer’s tan T-shirt group” or “This is my official farmer’s tan T-shirt.” Whatever the case, it’ll surely earn a smile from everyone in your group.

Get yourself a farmer’s tan or T-shirt tan T-shirt today and flaunt your T-shirt tan.

Is My T-shirt preshrunk? It Pays to Know

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Most T-shirts today are preshrunk. It just makes sense to have them sold that way. You get the benefit of knowing more accurately how your shirt will fit once you get it home, wash it and want to wear it. It also gives the fabric a much softer feel and anything printed on it will be more accurately positioned if the shirt is preshrunk.

When fabric is preshrunk prior to production it is much more accurate to work with during sewing. T-shirt fabric is preshrunk in huge batches in specially designed washing machines and dryers that are used solely for these purposes. It is done in order to remove excess dyes and chemicals, bring the fabric closer to the actual size it will be once the consumer gets it and make it more pliable for working with.

The best and easiest way to find out if your T-shirt is preshrunk is by reading the tags. Usually tags attached to the shirt for sales purposes will tell you if the item is preshrunk. The inside tag with size and laundry directions may also tell you. Preshrunk T-shirts are a sign of higher quality manufacturing. The maker of the shirt wants to produce a better quality garment and has therefore added a step to the production process that will insure that.

Regardless of whether or not your T-shirt is pre-shrunk, there is usually still room for more shrinkage. This is particularly true with T-shirts that are 100% cotton or a cotton-blend with a high percentage of cotton. Therefore, you should keep the shrinkage factor in mind when you are purchasing even preshrunk T-shirts. Buy them a little larger than you like to wear them and then wash them when you get them home to bring them down to the size that you want them to be. Be careful to purchase the correct size with this in mind because many retailers will not return items that have been washed.

It is so frustrating to buy a shirt that you really like and wear it, only to discover that it is not preshrunk. When you wash it for that first time, it shrinks and you can no longer wear the shirt anymore, or you can but are not as comfortable in it, because it has lost the shape and size you wanted. It is an annoying and costly mistake when you buy a shirt that is not preshrunk and you only get to wear it once. T-shirts that are not preshrunk, especially cotton ones, may as well be called disposable shirts or shrink and wear shirts, so that the consumer is aware of what he or she is getting.

When you are looking for a custom-made T-shirt, your best choice is a preshrunk shirt. Whatever you choose to have printed on it will turn out better and will be more naturally placed. Your custom-made T-shirt will show its high quality by how good it looks and how long it will last. Make the smart choice and get a custom-made preshrunk T-shirt today.

How to Preserve Your Autographed T-shirt

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Having an autographed t-shirt is special. Whether that t-shirt is signed by a famous person or just by some of your greatest friends you will want to take care of you shirt to have it for a long time. Without taking proper precautions to preserve your autographed t-shirt, you run the risk of having it wear out, fade and destroyed. Taking care of your t-shirt will allow you to enjoy it for years and depending on the autograph allowing you to profit from it later.

If your shirt has been signed in permanent marker you may be able to preserve it easier than if the ink is from a regular pen. One way to protect your autographed shirt is by not washing it obviously! However, that isn’t very fun, so thankfully there are a few other ideas that may help you keep your autograph from fading. One suggestion is to cover the autograph with a clear paint designed for fabrics. This paint may allow the autograph to remain unscathed during washing. One suggestions however, test it on another piece of fabric over the same type of ink and wash several times to ensure it will work for your t-shirt.

Another great option is to simply hand wash the t-shirt with very mild soap such as Woolite or detergent designed for baby clothes. You can also use the gentle cycle if you prefer, but run the risk of the machine damaging the shirt. Do not dry in the dryer though as that might harm the ink. Instead, lay flat to dry or hang on a line in the shade until dry. Craftgaurd is also a product that can be sprayed over the signature to help protect it. This is available at most craft and fabric stores. For best results though washing on the gentle cycle might be warranted.

The best way to ensure the autograph will not fade is to simply not wash it. Hang it in a frame under glass to admire it on your wall. There are also companies that will preserve your clothing in a box that is designed to keep all air and bugs out to keep the clothing in near perfect condition. This option can be quite expensive though and may not work the way you want it to. If you choose to use a preservation company make sure to investigate the company to ensure that they offer the exact services you require.

Not wearing the shirt really is the best way to keep your t-shirt from fading or staining, ruining the effect the autograph provides. Preserving your autographed t-shirt will allow you to enjoy your collectible for years to come. You may even profit from the shirt later on if the autograph becomes worth money. So take your time and choose what method works best for your needs. If you choose to wear your shirt, take your time in washing it with gentle detergents and don’t put it through a dryer. Your shirt is your memory of that particular event in your life and will be a reminder for years to come.

T-Shirt Storage 101 – How to Store Your T-Shirts

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How to store your T-shirts is another one of those debatable topics. Many people swear that their preferred method is the absolute best and only way to store T-shirts. Whether to fold or hang T-shirts is a subject that some people can argue about for hours. In most cases it truly is a personal choice, sometimes based on the amount of storage space a person has and sometimes based on other reasons.

If you choose to hang your T-shirts, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Place the T-shirt straight on the hanger to avoid wrinkles and avoid it falling off the hanger. Padded hangers are best to avoid bumps and dents in the shoulders of your shirts. Plastic and wooden hangers are acceptable, but wire hangers should be avoided at all cost. Rotate your shirts so that none stay hanging in your closet unused for too long. When you go to use them you will encounter not only hanger dents, but also a line of dust along the shoulders. If you iron your T-shirts, hanging them on a hanger may be the best way to ensure that they remain wrinkle-free.

If you decide to fold your shirts, you need to do so neatly and place them so that they are not overcrowded or stuffed into a small area. In order to keep your shirts from wrinkling, you should fold then properly using the following technique. Hold each sleeve in your hands with the T-shirt facing towards you. Fold the sleeves inward with a crease forming at mid-shoulder. This type of folding will cause the outer sides of the T-shirt torso to fold also. You should now have an almost rectangular shape to fold either in half or in thirds, depending on your own preference and storage space. A plastic folding board may also be a useful thing to have on hand to help ensure neat folding.

One thing to keep in mind with custom-made printed T-shirts that have something big printed on them is to be careful how you fold them. You want to avoid folding the shirt so that print is not folded over on itself. It may stick together a little causing you to pull it apart when the time comes to wear it. Such action over time may cause additional wear and tear on the print and it may not last as long as you would like. You may also want to avoid folding the print itself, especially if it is a large one, because it may have a tendency to hold the crease after you unfold it, meaning you may need to iron the shirt.

Some people even suggest that a good way to store T-shirts is to roll them. This works particularly well if you have a tight space to store them in or if you are packing a suitcase. Simply fold the arms of the T-shirt inward mid-shoulder, like in the folding instructions, and then starting from the tail of the shirt, roll it into a neat cylinder shape.

There is no right or wrong way to store your T-shirts; it is simply what works best for you.  Get yourself some custom-made T-shirts today and try out the different storage techniques to find the one you like best.

Is Putting Names on Kids T-shirts Safe?

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T-shirts are so much fun. They are great gifts for anyone. Kid’s t-shirts are a blast since you can personalize the shirt with their favorite activities, places and even name. The question is it safe to have your child’s name on a t-shirt then becomes the issue. The problem with having the child’s name right on the shirt is that a stranger then has access to that information without even trying. A less than stellar stranger may use this information to approach your child thus can put your child in danger. Keeping your child protected is one of the main concerns for parents. Letting your guard down over a t-shirt just doesn’t seem worth the risks.

Each parent has the responsibility to protect and teach the kids in their home. Teaching kids about potential dangers can ease your mind a bit, but you must remain vigil in keeping watch. With your child’s name on a t-shirt a stranger could approach your child. Using your child’s real name may confuse your child into thinking that this stranger actually knows him or her. Of course, potential threats can find out this information other ways as well.

Having your child’s name on a t-shirt is cute. Most kids enjoy seeing their names on t-shirts and having other people to acknowledge them personally. If you are uncomfortable with your child’s name on a shirt for fear of a stranger knowing your little one’s name, perhaps there is another alternative. A fun nickname that wouldn’t be a cause for alarm may work great. If you decide to have a name or nickname printed onto your child’s t-shirt you may want to explain to your child about strangers and the potential threat they offer.

Another option if you intend to have your child’s name on the t-shirt is to only allow your child to wear that shirt when you are around and paying attention. Perhaps at birthday parties or family gatherings would be perfect places for your child to wear this prized t-shirt. This might be a great way to please your child since the personalize t-shirt can be worn out but under the strict watch of responsible adults. For large gatherings like family reunions it might also come in handy to have the child’s name on a t-shirt so that everyone will be able to address the child personally and give the child a sense of belonging.

Deciding if it is safe to put your child’s name on a t-shirt is a personal decision that should be made after serious look into the implications. Having your child’s name on a t-shirt might be a great thing, especially if your child loves to have others know his or her name. Of course, the risk of someone dangerous knowing your child’s name by simply reading a shirt can also cause serious problems, so weigh the options carefully. Taking special care to protect your child while still allowing the enjoyment of a personalized t-shirt can be tricky, but worth it.

Does My T-Shirt Match? A Question for Every T-Shirt Wearer

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Matching colors when you are getting dressed is something that most of us focus on and others simply do not. However, in order to look your best, it is important to wear colors that match and complement one another. Let’s face it, bright orange and bright purple simply do not make a combination that is pleasing to the eye.

From every age you will hear the question, does my T-shirt match? It comes from young children practically every time they get dressed. From adults it is less common, but will get asked when the wearer is not sure. Men are more often the ones who ask their wives for advice on matching colors.

Color is incredibly important to the look we are trying to present. Poor use of color will not put forth the impression that we have made an effort or that our appearance is important. Therefore to make the best impression possible on others, it is important to match, even when you are wearing a T-shirt. A good use of color gives an aura of sophistication, good taste, and style to the person wearing a well-matched outfit.

There are certain things that will match practically any color T-shirt. They are jeans; black pants, shorts or a skirt; and to a lesser degree khakis. Blue jeans and black bottoms match well with any color tee and make for easy dressing and coordination. When you are wearing khakis, you have almost the same ease. White T-shirts and khaki T-shirts definitely do not match with khaki pants or shorts, unless you want to look like a nurse or chef. The combination of two almost white colors gives the impression that you are wearing a uniform. With the exception of those colors, any goes with khaki.

Apart from those three easy-to-match colors, matching two or more colors together is often a dicey proposition depending on your experience and taste. To make it more difficult, what is considered matching also changes with what is in style. Green and pink was not considered a match until recently, nor was brown and pink. With this said, different hues and tones also contribute to the match factor. Not all tones of green match with all tones of pink.

Some rules of thumbs when matching are:

  • Avoid seasonal color matches. For example, red and green do not match, nor do pale yellow and pale pink. Black and orange tend to look best together at Halloween.
  • Do not try to put colors that are similar to each other together thinking that they will automatically match. Often two tones of any one color together look like a sloppy attempt to make a match. If you have more than three tones of the same color, it is a fashion disaster.
  • Try to find balance in working with bright colors. If you are wearing something bright on top, wear a more muted or neutral color on bottom and vice versa.

One thing is sure, with these tips in mind T-shirts are easy to match. Having a good selection of different T-shirts will make dressing for success, an easy thing to do.

Get different colored custom-made T-shirts today and jazz up your wardrobe in an easy to match way.

Will you Regret Wearing an Ironic T-Shirt?

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SheKnows.com did a story on the top 10 regretable fashion trends and one of them includes the t-shirt. The fashion/style no-no’s include:

  1. overtanning
  2. extensions
  3. hobo chi
  4. t-shirts with ironic expressions
  5. giant sunglasses
  6. Uggs
  7. bringing back the 1980s
  8. hoodies
  9. crocs
  10. ultra low rise jeans

The article states that “This once-cute trend has now reached an annoying level of pop culture pervasiveness. Sorry, hipsters, but it would be nice if you found some other way to express your sarcasm.”

Well, I have to say that shoving all ironic expression t-shirts into one group is not exactly fair. As a t-shirt lover I believe there is a place for ironic t-shirts. I would love to hear more from SheKnows about why they don’t like them. Personally I find them amusing and always commend those who are brave enough to wear text based t-shirts. Will you really regret wearing the shirt 20 years from now? If the ironic t-shirt was your biggest no-no when looking back 20 years then I say you aren’t doing too bad. Let us know what you think.

When Are T-Shirts Appropriate?

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From the White House, to the workplace, to the red carpet, and everywhere in between, dressing down is trending up. While some occasions still require a suit, a tie, and patent leather shoes, casual dress is becoming increasingly acceptable where formality was once the rule. T-shirts used to be relegated to the bottom dresser drawer, nestled between old pairs of underwear and mismatched socks. Now they are seen as a fun way to liven up a wardrobe, not just on the weekends, but every day of the week.

T-shirts are no longer off-duty from 9 to 5. Many employers now encourage their employees to embrace a more flexible corporate culture, which often includes a more casual dress code. For some workers, jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops are the daily uniform. Even if that look is too dressed down for your office, there still may be room for a t-shirt or two in your wardrobe. A t-shirt can be dressed up with a tailored blazer and crisp slacks, adding a splash of warmth and color to a no-nonsense business look. Sharply dressed young men often layer traditional button down shirts over playful t-shirts, spicing up the corporate look with a bit of youthful fashion sense. With a little imagination and style, anybody can incorporate t-shirts into a professional wardrobe.

Wearing a t-shirt to work makes it easy to transition into going-out garb at the end of the day. Take off that jacket or undo another button or two, and you’re left with a fun, flirty look that will carry you through the evening. Graphic tees, emblazoned with words and pictures, are a far cry from Grandpa’s plain white undershirt. Today’s t-shirt makes a statement, and can be as unique as the person wearing it. It’s a look that’s absolutely appropriate for a dinner out, grabbing drinks with friends, or even going to a party. If Sharon Stone can wear a t-shirt to the Oscars, you can wear a t-shirt to your buddy’s birthday party.

Of course, the t-shirt’s bread-and-butter is relaxation. T-shirts are soft, flexible, easy to care for, easy to wear–the perfect garment for lounging around the house, for vegging out in front of the TV, or for taking a Saturday afternoon nap in the hammock. College students–the gurus of relaxation–practically live in t-shirts. There’s no better choice for someone watching Sunday afternoon football or staying up for an all night study session. And for those weekend activities that aren’t so relaxing–washing the car, painting the garage, mowing the lawn–t-shirts are the only way to go. T-shirts let you get through any tough job in style.

Once upon a time, you couldn’t wear stripes with plaid, you couldn’t wear white after Labor Day, and you couldn’t wear t-shirts if you weren’t doing chores or going to the gym. But times have changed. Society has embraced a more expansive and flexible set of fashion rules. These days, people are free to choose the clothes that they like best. T-shirts are now appropriate in a whole range of settings and situations, meaning we can look good and feel comfortable at work, at home, and out on the town.

What Does Your T-Shirt Say About You?

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Americans are addicted to self-expression. Among other things, we have the right to free speech, as recognized and ratified by our founding fathers. While I don’t think they had light cotton shirts that bare the arms and are emblazoned with witty sayings, graphics, and whatnot in mind, I’m sure they’d approve of this most American way of expressing ourselves.

Walk down any street in any neighborhood, town, or city across the nation and you’ll find you can feast your eyes on other folk’s “self-expression” by simply reading their t-shirts. One can buy a t-shirt for any reason, to suit any purpose, and to state any belief.

What does your t-shirt say about you? Well, that depends on the shirt, doesn’t it? If you have a quirky sense of humor, you may choose to wear shirts that show funny situations or have jokes printed on them. You might believe that part of your purpose in life is to spread happiness to your fellow man. Wearing a funny t-shirt is an easy way to achieve this goal. You may be free-spirited and happy-go-lucky, and just want the world to know it.

You may have t-shirts hanging in your closet that reflect your political views. Maybe you are a member of a political party and have graphics depicting a donkey or elephant on your shirt. Maybe you want to support a particular political issue, such as withdrawing troops from the battlefield and choose a shirt that sports a yellow ribbon.

Many people wear shirts that show-off their interests. Lots of these types of shirts include humor; one that comes to mind is the one with three cats or dogs walking on the front, and their rear ends on the back of the t-shirt. You many have participated in a big event, like a hunting convention, and bought or received a t-shirt commemorating your participation. Wearing this type of t-shirt is another way to show the world what you enjoy.

Perhaps you want to share your spiritual beliefs. You might then choose a shirt that has inspiring verses from the holy texts of your religion. Your shirt might show a particular icon that is sacred to your beliefs, like Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.

Still other people wear t-shirts that show their support of a particular sports team, whether it’s a professional or an amateur one, or their kid’s soccer team. This may be one of the most popular types of t-shirts you’ll see coming down the street, especially during play-off time. In fact, when showing their support for “their team”, people will gladly wear their team colors on their shirts, but will also match their shorts, socks, shoes, accessories, and sometime their hair and faces to their t-shirts!

Another group of people who wear t-shirts that will give you a clue about who they are are people who support a charity or a cause. Think about the piles of t-shirts that are given away to participants in Red Cross marathons, Alzheimer’s walks, Green Peace rallies, and so on. Not only do the shirts draw attention to the event’s particular cause, but they show the world that the wearer is aware of the issue, and supports it. A person wearing one of these types of t-shirts is working to raise awareness of their cause, in one of the easiest ways of doing it; by wearing it!

What you’re wearing does indeed say something about who you are. Whether you are supporting your favorite charity or sports team, or want to share your faith or your love for cats, you can do it with a t-shirt. The only difficulty lies in picking one from a nearly infinite number of choices!