In the late 19th century the T-shirt was primarily a heavy uncut cotton/wool undergarment which dates back to the Victorian Era.  T-shirt history was changed the moment the U.S. Navy took on a plain white, crew-necked, button-less, “T” shaped, cotton-knit undershirt as its own, with its broad neck-hole to allow it to be pulled down quickly over the head. Historically in 1913 the T-shirt was launched into mainstream Americana when the U.S. Navy adopted it as it’s standard issue undergarment.  The Royal Navy soon followed suit and, by the 1930’s the T-shirt, and the Tank-top were making inroads in the military and working men’s wardrobes around the globe.