Thrifty Beatnik : The History Of Vintage Clothing : eBay Guides

Thrifty Beatnik: When Was My Vintage Clothing Invented?

Here at The Thrifty Beatnik we were curious about when the vintage clothing that we love was made and why. Therefore we've created a brief guide to the history of certain items where invented and / or who used them in their original context

When Was The T-Shirt Invented?

The US fighter pilots in the south pacific during WWII made undershirts fashionable when they decorated them with their old military slogans, Since then people long for the feeling a perfect t-shirt, light and soft, thin and timeless.

When Were Denim Jeans Invented?

There is no modern technology that could produce or duplicate the ideal fit generated from years of breaking in a pair of great Levi's. It takes decades of work and wear to create just the right whiskers, fade, and fashionable age. Providing true vintage Levi's in styles 517 and 501, this collection focuses on the idea of comfort and age to produce the most timeless identity known to any denim line.

When Was Corduroy / Cord Invented?

While the word "corduroy" would seem to have French origins, potentially derived from "corde du roi" (roughly translated as "cloth/cord of the king"), the phrase "corde du roi" is not French. In fact, an 1807 French list of manufactured articles includes an entry for "kings-cordes," apparently taken from English. Corduroy is believed to have been first produced in Manchester, England. Reaching the high of its popularity in the Revolutionary war, corduroy has undergone multiple utilities and phases. Next to jeans, it was one of the most functional pants from the 70's and 80's, corduroy holds a strong presence in the fashion world today. Spanning many decades, ages and styles, Corduroy provides casual comfort with a vintage wear and fit. The small whales and soft fibers reflect the quality of earlier times, leaving a strong foundation for continuous wear.

When Was Leather Invented?

Leather has played an important role in the development of civilisation. From prehistoric times man has used the skins of animals to satisfy his basic needs. He has used hides to make clothing, shelter, carpets and even decorative attire. To the Egyptian lady, a fur piece was highly prized as her jewellery. From leather, man made footwear, belts, clothing, containers for liquids, boats and even armour. The principle protective armour of the Roman soldier was a heavy leather shirt.

In recorded history, pieces of leather dating from 1300 B.C. have been found in Egypt. Primitive societies in Europe, Asia and North America all developed the technique of turning skins into leather goods independently of one another. The Greeks were using leather garments in the age of the Homeric heroes ( about 1200 B.C. ), and the use of leather later spread throughout the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the Chinese knew the art of making leather . The Indians of North America also had developed great skills in leather work before the coming of the white man.

When Was The Cotton Shirt?

The world's oldest preserved garment is a "highly sophisticated" linen shirt from a First Dynasty Egyptian tomb in. 3000B.C. in was exclusively an undergarment until the early 60's and the 70's the cotton shirt remained a classic. Whether worn in the office, casually with denim, or for a night out on the town this shirt has more world wide appeal than any other. Cotton shirts continues to display the same versatility, comfort, and endless style that they invariably have. What was once worn in the office may now strut its stuff on the dance floor, but the mix of plain, geometric and novelty prints complimented by the enduring comfort of cotton and cotton blends perseveres..

When Were Trainers / Sneakers Invented?

From Victorian gentlemens playing tennis to 80's B-boys vintage Sneakers don't need much explanation. The shoes themselves are made of flexible compounds, typically featuring a sole made of dense rubber. While the original design was basic, manufacturers have since tailored athletic shoes for the different purposes that they can be used for. A specific example of this is the spiked shoe developed for track running. Many of these shoes are made up to a very large size because of athletes with large feet.