Science and History: Fun inventions for our comfort – T-shirts, knickers, corsets and more!
Sometimes it’s about comfort, other times about modesty, fashion, hygiene, sport, emancipation, technology, or even the basic need not to freeze. And so, underwear—which was meant to be hidden—becomes a fascinating part of history. Let’s take a closer look—discreetly, but without unnecessary shyness.
The T-shirt: from underwear to fashion icon
Today, the T-shirt is one of the most common items of clothing. We wear it in town, on trips, to work, to sleep, for sport, or even under a jumper when it’s cold outside. Its ubiquity is what makes it so interesting: few garments have travelled such a long journey from an inconspicuous base layer to a significant fashion statement.
For a long time, the T-shirt was more of an undershirt, a piece of underwear designed to protect both the body and outer clothing. The modern T-shirt, however, is associated with workwear, the army, the navy and a desire for comfort. The English name ‘T-shirt’ comes from its simple cut, which resembles the letter T, and that is precisely what is so magical about it: its simplicity.
A major social shift occurred in the 20th century. The white T-shirt ceased to be merely a practical layer worn under a shirt and, on the silver screen, became a symbol of rebellion, youth and casualness. Figures such as Marlon Brando, James Dean and other icons turned it into a garment that no longer needed to be hidden. And with the addition of prints, the T-shirt transformed into a poster, a banner, a souvenir, an advertisement, an expression of fan devotion and a personal statement.
T-Shirt Day: a great opportunity to show off your favourite pieces
International T-Shirt Day is celebrated in Europe on 21 June, which is the ideal time when the T-shirt finally takes centre stage, free from jumpers, coats and winter compromises. Whether you have favourite classic white T-shirts, striped sailor shirts, sports functional pieces, retro prints, festival finds or T-shirts from your travels, this day is a small celebration of a garment that can handle practically anything.
The T-shirt also perfectly illustrates how fashion relates to production, materials and the environment. Cotton is comfortable, universally popular and traditional, but its cultivation and processing can require a lot of water and other resources. That’s why more and more people today are looking for higher-quality, locally sourced or sustainable clothing that lasts longer than a single season. Incidentally, around two billion T-shirts are sold worldwide every year. Alongside T-shirts featuring diamond patterns and other collector’s items, one of the most expensive was a Hermès T-shirt, which cost over two million crowns and was made from black crocodile leather.
Panties: a small piece of underwear with a surprisingly rich history
International No Panties Day, celebrated on 22 June, should be viewed primarily as an internet curiosity and a joke. Far more interesting than this ‘holiday’ is the history of knickers – a garment we take for granted, but which was not so for a whole century.
The precursors to underwear were already known in ancient cultures: loincloths, belts and various protective layers of fabric were used mainly for hygiene, comfort and physical protection. In the Middle Ages and early modern period, people wore shirts, undergarments and various types of trousers under their clothes, but women’s knickers as we know them today were long absent. From a historical perspective, this is paradoxical: going without them was less scandalous than wearing them.
The change came about gradually through fashion, sport, cycling, working habits, hygiene and women’s emancipation. As women began to travel more, take up sport and wear more practical clothing, they also began to demand more practical underwear. Thus, knickers quickly went from being a suspicious and scandalous item to a common part of the wardrobe.
The corset: beauty that brought discomfort
When someone mentions historical underwear, most people immediately think of the corset. It was a symbolic representation of elegance, social status, fashion trends and social norms, but it also caused discomfort and often brutal treatment of the body. Corsets shaped the waist, posture and silhouette of dresses. But the ideal of beauty was sometimes literally tightened with cruelty.
From laced corsets to padded pieces and elaborate 19th-century constructions, the corset became one of the most significant tools of fashion in European history. Today, we tend to see it more as a historical costume piece, a fashion statement or a theatrical prop. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering: the history of fashion is not just a history of beauty, but also a story of what people were willing to endure for the sake of beauty.
The bra: an invention that brought relief to the female body
Even the bra has a longer and more interesting story behind it than one might think. Various forms of breast support were known as far back as ancient times, but more modern developments stem from an effort to replace heavy and uncomfortable corsets with a practical solution.
One of the key figures was Marie Tucek, a New Yorker of Czech origin. In 1893, she registered a patent for a ‘breast supporter’, a piece of underwear designed to support the breasts. Her design included separate cups, straps and a hook-and-eye fastening – features we now associate with the modern bra. Although fame later went to other names and more commercially successful designs, the Czech influence on the history of lingerie is undeniable.
Stockings: elegance, practicality and a touch of chemistry
Stockings and hosiery are another area where the fashion industry intersects with technology. For a long time, they were valuable and carefully crafted accessories that protected the legs, kept them warm and, at the same time, exuded elegance. New materials and industrial production brought about a major revolution: silk, cotton, wool, and later silon, nylon and other synthetic fibres, which fundamentally changed the availability and appearance of stockings.
And it is precisely here that we see that clothing is not merely a matter of fashion. It also encompasses chemistry, engineering, textile technology, commerce, advertising and social change. One need only look at ordinary stockings – and suddenly we are delving into the history of industry.
Czech textile manufacturers: from everyday underwear to the Moon
The Czech Republic has a long tradition in textile manufacturing, and a number of brands specialise in underwear, hosiery, functional clothing and home textiles. We can name brands such as Triola, Pleas, Timo, Gina, Andrie, Spoltex and Lasting. Some focus on tradition and comfort for everyday use, whilst others concentrate on functional materials, sportswear and extreme conditions.
And here is the perfectly ironic twist: thanks to its underwear, the Sokolov-based company Lasting has even made it all the way to NASA astronauts. Their functional underwear made from fine merino wool was used during the Artemis II mission, which orbited the Moon. From the undershirt that used to be hidden under a shirt, we’ve come all the way to space-age textiles. So this isn’t just fashion anymore – it’s science, technology and Czech craftsmanship on a cosmic scale.
Where to go for textile history and fashion?
If you’re interested in the history of fashion, textiles and clothing, we recommend setting off with Kudy z nudy to visit leading fashion designers, museums, open-air museums, historical exhibitions, castles and places where various crafts intersect. Textile production, lace-making, blueprinting, weaving, garment manufacturing and even historic laundries and wardrobes can tell stories just as fascinating as the crown jewels.
Because clothing is not just what we put on in the morning. It is the memory of an era, a connection with the material, the story of inventors, seamstresses, laundresses, designers, factories and people who wanted to feel more comfortable, freer or simply better. Whether that’s achieved by a simple T-shirt, well-fitting underwear or merino underwear from Sokolov? All the better.
