The graphic shirt actually has a pretty interesting history. Printed tees are said to have been born in the 1950s with character licenses by Disney and other big names in the entertainment industry and the availability of souvenir shirts sold by holiday destinations. The invention of Plastisol, an ink which is still commonly used in fabric screen-printing today, paved the way for the proliferation of hellfire shirts in that decade. As social revolutions emerged in the 1960s, the graphic shirt became a fundamental instrument of self-expression.
In the 70s and the 80s, fashion houses churned out graphic tee designs depicting their logos by the hundreds. In the 90s, independent labels printed shirts with pop culture references, slogans, photos, and even art. It was also around these eras that funny tee shirt designs became popular commodities in the consumer market. They make nice additions to your wardrobe and even greater gifts to friends and family.