What Makes us Want to Wear T-Shirts?
From the catwalk to the building site and everywhere in between, these simple garments are strangely powerful things… but with humble origins.
They’re something you probably see every day… maybe hundreds of them, thousands. Plain ones, coloured ones, funny ones. Often they’re promotional, sometimes provocative. They’re so common that they’re very easy to ignore.
From the catwalk to the building site and everywhere in between, these simple garments can be tools of the rebel, the protestor, the campaigner, the corporate marketeer. They are strangely powerful things… but with humble origins.
Produced by Bob Howard
(Photo: Man wearing a T-Shirt with President Vladimir Putin crossed out in red at a protest in Barcelona. Credit: Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Clip
![]()
How did the T-Shirt become a Symbol of Rebellion?
Duration: 02:30
Broadcasts
- Thu 5 Nov 201512:04GMTBBC Radio 4
Fri 20 Nov 201521:32GMTBBC World Service South Asia- Mon 23 Nov 201502:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Mon 23 Nov 201503:32GMTBBC World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East, East Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Mon 23 Nov 201504:32GMTBBC World Service South Asia
- Mon 23 Nov 201505:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Mon 23 Nov 201507:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
- Mon 7 Sep 202008:45GMTBBC Radio 4 LW
Featured in...
![]()
Why do we look the way we do?—The Why Factor
Hairy, shaved, tattooed, in trainers, ties, suits or jeans - what's the story?
Get the podcast
Subscribe or download individual episodes for free
Why do we look the way we do?
Tattoos, trainers, jeans, hair, ties ... why?
Podcast
![]()
The Why Factor
The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions
