100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (2024)

Table of Contents
100. The Max 99. YOLO 98. The Neon Tee 97. Coed Naked 96. Austin 3:16 95. Stussy 94. Camouflage 93. Rainbow Brite 92. Metallica 91. Cookie Monster 90. Don’t Mess With Texas 89. Big Dogs 88. Anarchy symbol 87. Choose Life 86. Woodstock Festival 85. nWo 84. Mighty Mouse 83. FBI 82. Union Jack 81. Property of … 80. Obey 79. Notre Dame 78. Punisher Skull 77. KISS 76. Garth’s Aerosmith Shirt 75. Don’t Worry, Be Happy 74. Brew Thru 73. Bart Simpson 72. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 71. Planet Hollywood 70. I Survived … 69. Hulkamania 68. Hello, Kitty! 67. Alvin’s A 66. Transformers – Autobots Logo 65. We Can Do It! 64. Led Zeppelin 63. Lennon’s New York City 62. John Deere 61. Jesus is My Homeboy 60. Green Lantern 59. French Connection United Kingdom (f*ck) 58. Yo! MTV Raps 57. Where’s the Beef? 56. Thundercats 55. Nirvana Smiley Face 54. Hello, My Name Is … 53. Captain America 52. Boston Red Sox 51. Rock the Vote 50. The Flash 49. Abbey Road 48. The Godfather 47. Make 7 Up Yours 46. Bazinga! 45. adidas 44. Save Ferris 43. Peace Frogs 42. Legends of the Hidden Temple 41. Jack Daniels 40. Bikini 39. Hypercolor 38. Mud Smiley Face 37. Three Wolves Howling at the Moon 36. No Fear 35. CBGB 34. Have a Nice Day 33. Lifeguard 32. The Ramones 31. Mickey Mouse 30. Coca Cola 29. I Want My MTV 28. Harley Davidson 27. James Dean’s Plain White Tee 26. Peace Sign 25. Keep Calm and Carry On 24. ARMY 23. Charlie Brown 22. Kiss Me I’m Irish 21. I’m With Stupid 20. Grateful Dead 19. The Tie Dye Tee 18. … And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt 17. Ghostbusters 16. Bob Marley 15. Just Do It – Nike 14. Frankie Say Relax 13. AC/DC 12. Che Guevara 11. RUN DMC 10. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon 9. D.A.R.E 8. Tuxedo T-Shirt 7. Hard Rock Cafe 6. Batman 5. Superman 4. Rolling Stones “Lick” 3. COLLEGE 2. Vote for Pedro 1. I ♥ NY Jeff Gregory Leave a Comment FAQs References

Best Of Custom Ink

Posted By Jeff GregoryFebruary 8, 2023


It’s no secret that CustomInk loves custom t-shirts. We’ve always talked casually about the most iconic, the best, or most popular t-shirts of all time, but in light of the 100th birthday of the t-shirt, we decided to put our money where our mouths are and put it to a company vote. The result is a phantasmagorical stroll down memory lane through popular movies, rock ‘n’ roll, TV land, comics, college athletics, cultural movements, social statements, funky fads and so much more.

We hope you enjoy and share with friends. Watch the video by TopLists to learn the stories behind the Top 10 or scroll through all 100 below. We also hope you’ll be inspired to make your own t-shirt design for your group.

If you still have a little gas left in the tank after reading this post and want to rock out, be sure to also check out our 100 Most Iconic Band T-Shirts of All Time for more inspiration!

100. The Max

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No restaurant saw more acid-wash jeans, crop tops, or charity dances than “the Max” on the teen TV hit “Saved By the Bell.” This is one of many t-shirts that became real-world iconic because of its fictional prominence in pop culture.

99. YOLO

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A mantra started in by the rapper Drake, YOLO (an acronym for “You Only Live Once”) was a nominee for 2012 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society. It can now be seen on t-shirts sold by street vendors all over the country.

98. The Neon Tee

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Pink, orange, yellow, and green! It’s the ’80s fashion trend that’s come back in style in a major way. Popular with runners and great for any group traveling to a populated area, a bright neon tee makes you & your group stand out clearly.

97. Coed Naked

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Famous for turning any sport or activity into one you can do in the buff, these shirts and their slogans were popular amongst high school & college athletes in the ’80s and ’90s. Some were even involved in lawsuits by the ACLU in defense of free speech.

96. Austin 3:16

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Austin 3:16 was created by the iconic WWF/WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin after beating Jake “The Snake” Roberts in a historic match in 1996. Austin coined the phrase, mocking Roberts’ recital of John 3:16 before matches, saying the bible verse got him nowhere.

95. Stussy

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This streetwear brand got its start in 1980 by Shawn Stussy after he put his last name on t-shirts to promote his custom surfboards. Thirty-plus years later, the brand is still popular – just more mainstream and a tad less edgy.

94. Camouflage

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Whether being used by the military on the battlefield, by hunters in the woods, or as part of a new trend on the fashion runway, the Camouflage t-shirt never seems to to go out of style.

93. Rainbow Brite

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Isn’t she just adorable? A cartoon about psychedelic color kids, talking rainbow horses, and whatever Twink was. You don’t get much more ’80s than this. The t-shirt gained fame more from an ironic-teen movement than actual fandom.

92. Metallica

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While Metallica is certainly a popular band in its own right, it was one of America’s most-iconic doofuses who made this t-shirt truly iconic. Or as Butt-Head might say, “Nice shirt Beavis. Uh huh huh huh.”

91. Cookie Monster

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C is for COOKIE, that’s good enough for me. T is for T-SHIRT, iconic it will be. Born in 1966, Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster has been craving carbs for 46 years, with no end in sight.

90. Don’t Mess With Texas

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From anti-littering campaign to unofficial state motto, “Don’t Mess with Texas” is proof that a great slogan can take on a life of it’s own. Commisioned by the Texas Department of Transportation, over the next 28 years the saying grew to near cult status.

89. Big Dogs

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Founded in 1983, the Big Dogs brand of clothing became really BIG in the early ’90s with the release of their racy slogan t-shirts. Their first slogan “Man, these puppies are BIG” says it all. Ruff, ruff.

88. Anarchy symbol

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What do black cats, wooden shoes, and safety pins have in common? ANARCHY. An evolving message since the turn of the century, the symbol became popular stateside through early 1970′s punk rock.

87. Choose Life

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Worn by Wham! in its “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” video, the design was an early foray into social messaging on t-shirts. Designed by Katharine Hamnett to fight back against drug abuse and suicide, this & other Hamnett designs fused social issues and fashion.

86. Woodstock Festival

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Though originals of this classic are very rare, the Woodstock Festival t-shirt design remains etched in American minds, as it perfectly captures the spirit of the time: Peace, Love and Music.

85. nWo

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A hugely popular wrestling contingent from 1996-2001, first in the WCW and then the WWF, the New World Order (nWo) was comprised of wrestlers such as Kevin Nash, Sting, Randy Savage, and “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.

84. Mighty Mouse

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Here he comes to save the day! Airing off and on from 1942 to 1987, this super-powered rodent fought everything from alley cats to animated Nazi’s. What a mouse. WHAT A MOUSE!

83. FBI

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Whether for Federal Bureau of Investigation enthusiasts or Female Body Inspectors (yes, that is the other meaning), these shirts are sold ALL OVER the place. And bought by many a tourist.

82. Union Jack

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The stripes of Great Britain gained popularity stateside via Brit bands such as The Sex Pistols and Def Leppard. Def Leppard’s Joe Eliot frequently donned the sleeveless tee in concert. The Union Jack shorts, however, did not catch on. And we can all be thankful for that.

81. Property of …

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A classic case of function becomes fashion. USC printed “Property of USC” on their athletic t-shirts to prevent theft. Decades later, “Property of …” t-shirts are standard fare in most college bookstores, um, we mean websites.

80. Obey

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Before finding meteoric fame during the 2008 Presidential Election, Shepard Fairey first became known as an iconic street artist. Originally a sticker campaign, his Obey Giant works blossomed into a full line of art and apparel.

79. Notre Dame

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French in name, Irish in spirit, the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish football team is legendary. Formed in 1887, the team was named Forbes most valuable college football contingent in 2007.

78. Punisher Skull

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The ultimate antihero, The Punisher appeared for the first time in 1974 in The Amazing Spiderman comic #129. His black shirt with large white skull on the chest is so fierce, the original had bullets for teeth.

77. KISS

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Starchild, The Demon, Space Ace, and Catman. KISS has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and legitimized rocking out in platform shoes and leather.

76. Garth’s Aerosmith Shirt

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The awkward, soft-spoken member of the dynamic dweeb duo on Wayne’s World gave Aerosmith an extra injection of popularity with this tee. Though Garth’s was probably a bit more faded and stain-ridden.

75. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

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“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was sung by Bobby McFerrin in September 1988, and became the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

74. Brew Thru

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An east-coast favorite from the Outer Banks, NC, this drive-thru beer store has sold over 4 million colorful shirts since they opened in 1977 — each year releasing a unique one. And yes, we just said “drive-thru beer store.”

73. Bart Simpson

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Don’t have a cow man. It’s just your favorite spiky haired troublemaker (the one and only) Bart Simpson, whose cartoon shirts were owned by just about every eleven year old in the 1990s.

72. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Turtles on the halfshell, turtle power!” How can you not love four butt-kicking turtles named Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael?

71. Planet Hollywood

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A themed restaurant chain backed by the Hollywood action elite? What could go wrong? Planet Hollywood opened in 1991 and while over 100 locations have closed, 9 are still operating by a theme park near you.

70. I Survived …

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If you can eat it, ride it or visit it, chances are you can get an “I Survived …” t-shirt at the gift shop. This iconic design has spawned infinite incarnations for just about any experience that doesn’t kill you.

69. Hulkamania

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An icon in the ring, and an icon on our list, Hulk Hogan defined a segment of popular culture. Between 1983 and 2012 Hogan spearheaded an entire genre of entertainment, which spanned from TV to movies to apparel (mostly of the ripped variety).

68. Hello, Kitty!

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Hello, Japan. Hello, 1976. Hello, 5 billion dollar media empire. It’s Hello Kitty! Over the past 37 years, the Hello Kitty! brand has gone global with t-shirts and apparel a huge part of its success.

67. Alvin’s A

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Not only are Alvin & The Chipmunks the world’s most prolific rodent singing group, they’re also the longest living. Alvin’s “A” shirt takes center stage on our list… Sorry Simon and Theodore.

66. Transformers – Autobots Logo

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There’s something to robots from outer space that can turn into cars and trucks. And this Autobot logo t-shirt shows just why. From cartoon series to billion dollar movie blockbuster, these “robots in disguise” rock.

65. We Can Do It!

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Commissioned by Westinghouse Company, J. Howard Miller created a series of posters to help boost morale during WWII. Commonly conflated with Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post cover featuring Rosie the Riveter, both have become iconic images for WWII and women’s rights.

64. Led Zeppelin

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Other than the Beatles, no rock band has made fans more ga ga than Led Zeppelin. The band’s logo for their Swan Song record label became just as iconic as frontman Robert Plant’s wails and lead guitarist Jimmy Page’s rhythmic riffs.

63. Lennon’s New York City

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This shirt was bought from a street vendor for $5 shortly before the photoshoot of John Lennon that made it famous. Bob Gruen, the photographer wanted Lennon to show what being a New Yorker meant to him. Lennon then crossed his arms & said the pose was “his street stance.”

62. John Deere

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The gold standard in tractors and farm equipment, John Deere has made the colors green & yellow their own with their iconic logo. Pair it with a shirt or a hat and boom, now everyone likes farming.

61. Jesus is My Homeboy

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Inspiration for fashion photographer David LaChapelle’s Last Supper art exhibit, the Jesus is my Homeboy’s shirt is quite captivating. While LaChapelle is known for making the shirt famous, Van Zan Frater vows he is the shirt’s original creator.

60. Green Lantern

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“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!!!” -The Green Lantern Oath

59. French Connection United Kingdom (f*ck)

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A global fashion retailer based in London, French Connection knew it hit marketing gold when they added the letters “UK” for the United Kingdom to the company letters “FC”. We know it’s controversial, but it sure is eye-catching.

58. Yo! MTV Raps

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Remember when MTV had shows about music? “Yo! MTV Raps” ran from 1988 to 1995, but it’s pop art logo has stood the test of time.

57. Where’s the Beef?

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Octogenarian Clara Peller had some major beef (or lack thereof) with the size of burger patties. You knew when a simple slogan rose to enter Presidential politics that Wendy’s was onto something.

56. Thundercats

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Spaceships? Check. Cat-like humanoid aliens fighting interstellar battles? Check. Lion-O, Cheetara and the gang? Check. The Thundercats dominated Saturday Mornings from 1985 to 1989, and produced a sick logo t-shirt to boot. “Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! ThunderCats, HO!”

55. Nirvana Smiley Face

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Kurt Cobain and Nirvana took the historic “Have a Nice Day” smiley face seen on bumper stickers and t-shirts, and turned it into a grungeified logo for their merchandise. The rest is rock ’n’ roll t-shirt history.

54. Hello, My Name Is …

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Now you don’t need a sticker to let strangers know who you are. You can just wear this handy t-shirt! This witty design is likely the brainchild of someone who’d suffered through one too many insurance seminars or self-help conferences.

53. Captain America

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Lone white star. Blue bulls eye. Red and white rings. Step aside baseball, hot dogs, apple pie. This is what hard-core Americana should look like. This t-shirt remains one of the more powerful patriotic expressions to capture young minds.

52. Boston Red Sox

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Yankees fans will squirm, but the Red Socks are a combination of cute and cool that mixed with their legendary underdog story, make this a shirt any fan would wear.

51. Rock the Vote

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Started for the 1992 Presidential Campaign as a youth voter outreach program and to promote free speech, the Rock the Vote movement has had a huge impact on young voters.

50. The Flash

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What could be cooler than a big ol’ shiny, gold lightning bolt on your chest? Uh, running at the speed of light, thank you very much.

49. Abbey Road

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The Beatles final album cover showing John, Paul, George, and Ringo crossing Abbey Road has become a badge of Beatlemania, and when put on a t-shirt, you’ve got them all back together right on your chest.

48. The Godfather

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From Mario Puzo’s critically-acclaimed novel to Francis Ford Coppola’s Oscar-winning film, The Godfather has helped foster America’s fascination with the Mafia. Since then it’s become a cultural phenomenon, and the white title logo of Don Corleone on a black shirt makes it a very cool wearable movie poster.

47. Make 7 Up Yours

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The front: Make 7. The back: Up Yours. This juvenile play on the “Un-Cola” slogan of the time (Make 7Up Yours) made this shirt good for a chuckle and a smile.

46. Bazinga!

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In the winter, a t-shirt snug enough to keep warm and yet not so tight to cause perspiration. In the summer, light enough to catch the cross breeze from windows there and there. Sheldon Cooper’s comic genius immortalized in cotton.

45. adidas

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A portmanteau of founder’s name Adi Dassler, ADIDAS was founded in Germany and went on to become one of the world’s foremost sporting brands. You can still believe it stands for All Day I Dream About Sports. We won’t tell anyone.

44. Save Ferris

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“Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in awhile. You could miss it.” Ohhhh yeahhh.

43. Peace Frogs

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Peace Frogs originally started as a company selling a line of multi-colored international flag shorts. The reason they adopted the frog logo was because the frog just so happens to be recognized as a symbol of peace and good luck.

42. Legends of the Hidden Temple

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Over the moat and through the Steps of Knowledge, to Olmecs head we go! Red Jaguars, Blue Barracudas. Green Monkeys, Orange Iguanas, Purple Parrots and Silver Snakes marked competitors on Nickelodeans Legends of the Hidden Temple.

41. Jack Daniels

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The historic Tennessee Whiskey is not only good for drinking and BBQ marinades — it’s iconic label is pretty cool to wear on your chest too. A classic American brand that’s got a nose for merchandising.

40. Bikini

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Elegant. Tasteful. Classy. Three words never used to describe this immortal counterpart to the other famous faux apparel tee, the Tuxedo t-shirt.

39. Hypercolor

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The Hypercolor T-shirt, created in the ‘80s, reaches its all-time peak selling more than $50 million worth of shirts in a four-month period.

38. Mud Smiley Face

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For some reason, Forrest Gump decided to go for a little run. So he ran to the end of the Road. And when he got there, he thought he’d maybe run to the end of town. Eventually he ran into an ocean and had to turn around, but on the way he just happened to create one of the most iconic t-shirt designs, the Smiley Face T.

37. Three Wolves Howling at the Moon

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The Meryl Streep of Amazon Reviews, this entry just keeps on giving. A delightful collection of absurd mock reviews catapulted this t-shirt into Internet fame and it remains a staple of t-shirt culture.

36. No Fear

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Quite popular in the mid ’90s (during the rise of extreme sports), No Fear shirts show off catchy slogans about living life on the edge and defying death. Pair that with an sharp-eyed, intense logo and you had yourself quite the t-shirt trend.

35. CBGB

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Open from 1973 to 2006, CBGB (Country, BlueGrass, and Blues) was a pillar of the New York City music scene. Located at 315 Bowery, the club hosted acts from Blondie to the Beastie Boys, The Misfits to Talking Heads. It is now a John Varvatos retail store.

34. Have a Nice Day

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The road to iconic tee was a lot longer than Forrest’s run, starting in 1943 as a Swedish film promo and blossoming as the novelty brainchild of two guys from Philly as “Have a Happy Day” in 1972. Somehow “happy” later got switched to “nice.”

33. Lifeguard

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The near-universal outfit for a lifeguard, this red shirt with a white cross (or white with red) can be seen being worn at beaches and pool facilities all across the U.S. Not to mention, there was this TV show called “Baywatch” …

32. The Ramones

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, punk rock founders, and not a single Ramone by birth among them. The Ramones influence on music history is steadfast, and their iconic logo makes our iconic t-shirt list.

31. Mickey Mouse

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Following the popularity of Mickey Mouse, a Miami-based T-shirt company, Tropix Togs, purchases the exclusive rights to print the figure on a shirt. Emilio Estevez wore one in “The Outsiders” and, boom, it became cool.

30. Coca Cola

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As one of the most recognizable brands in the world, it’s not surprising a Coca-Cola shirt made the list. With its script logo iconic in its own right, co*ke has been able to spawn a collection of t-shirts around the world that never seem to go out of fashion.

29. I Want My MTV

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32 years ago, television was like the town from Footloose; void of rock music and ’80s dancing. Enter: MTV. Over the past three decades MTV revolutionized the airwaves, creating an industry for everything from music videos to bus-based dating shows.

28. Harley Davidson

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What once became synonymous with “Hell’s Angels” turned into a t-shirt for every man, symbolizing the freedom of the open road – on weekends of course, and as long as we’re back in time for dinner and to put the kids to bed.

27. James Dean’s Plain White Tee

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You don’t always need a cause to make a fashion statement. In 1955 James Dean soared to iconic status in Rebel Without A Cause, rocking nothing more than a white shirt and leather jacket.

26. Peace Sign

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All they were saying was “Give Peace a Chance.” And many continue to say it with a t-shirt to this day.

25. Keep Calm and Carry On

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Designed in 1939 to raise British morale during WWII but not publicly displayed until rediscovery in 2000, Keep Calm and Carry On speaks to a new generation of beleaguered masses.

24. ARMY

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Army follows the Navy by introducing the “Quarter Sleeve” shirt, keeping the boys in the Pacific theater cool in the tropical heat.

23. Charlie Brown

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While it could be easy to argue that all of the Peanuts’ gang t-shirts are iconic, none has the impact of the jagged look that embodies the spirit and bum luck of Good Ol’ Charlie Brown.

22. Kiss Me I’m Irish

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Popular on St. Patty’s Day, a promise of additional luck makes any Irishman or woman a true commodity.

21. I’m With Stupid

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… and it was genius. The grandaddy of the directional T-shirt elicited a symphony of juvenile snickers at the expense of thousands of unsuspecting bystanders.

20. Grateful Dead

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The psychedelic phenoms were also social media marketing pioneers, allowing fans to sell unofficial t-shirts outside their shows, as long as they used the official logo.

19. The Tie Dye Tee

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Rit Dye, a core component in tie dye is being phased out. The manufacturer of the product launches a huge marketing blitz aimed at the free-spirited youth of the time, due to the psychedelic colors used in the dyeing process. It catches on with hippies around the U.S. and takes off.

18. … And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

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As custom t-shirts gained popularity as destination-travel gifts, a humorous backlash developed in the form of this saying on t-shirts for nearly every spot imaginable.

17. Ghostbusters

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“When there’s something strange in the neighborhood… Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!” Two movies, a couple animated TV series, and a bunch of video games later, the Ghostbusters franchise remains popular to this day. And when you stick their logo on t-shirts, it’s universally recognizable.

16. Bob Marley

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A musical, national, and fashion icon all in one, Bob Marley is a superstar on our list. Selling 25 million copies world wide, responsible for bringing Rastafarianism and reggae to the mainstream, it’s only fitting that his image is immortal.

15. Just Do It – Nike

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Advertising exec Dan Wieden credits his inspiration for this iconic advertising campaign to the final words of a convict before execution. Hey! If he can face the firing squad, you can definitely run that marathon.

14. Frankie Say Relax

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To overrule censoring of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song “Relax,” in 1984, label owner Paul Morley prints “FRANKIE SAY RELAX” on T-shirts. It has become something of an graphical inspiration in recent years, with block letter tees becoming all the rage.

13. AC/DC

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The ultimate Rock & Roll t-shirt. Bob Defrin & Gerard Huerta’s gothic A” and “C” lettertype split with that bold lightning bolt is visually captivating. Pair that with 7 Grammy nods and their 2003 induction into the R&R Hall of Fame and you’ve got your self an iconic band and tee all-in-one.

12. Che Guevara

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A Marxist figure turned commercial fashion statement, there’s a degree of irony in this entry.

11. RUN DMC

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Considered to be one of the most influential hip-hop groups in history, Run-D.M.C. started out performing a new type of rap music in the early 80s. Their innovative musical style helped them achieve fame early, and were the first hip-hop group to be nominated for a Grammy and achieve gold-album status. This block letter tee showing off their emblem is bold, memorable, and represents hip-hop in its original form.

10. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon

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Wear this entry, play the Wizard of Oz, and just… Woah, man. An iconic image for one of rock’s most emblematic albums, Pink Floyd inspires generations of listeners to try looking to the dark side.

9. D.A.R.E

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In 1983, the International Drug Abuse Resistance Education program spread across the United States, providing free shirts, and what inadvertently has turned into sleepwear for an entire generation of schoolkids.

8. Tuxedo T-Shirt

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The perfect mix of high and low, the tuxedo t-shirt is a timeless addition to any wardrobe. Pair with a fine wool slack for that special occasion, or jeans and chucks for the 80s alternative prom look.

7. Hard Rock Cafe

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If you’ve done any traveling, you’ve probably seen someone wearing a Hard Rock Cafe T-Shirt at some point. Each Hard Rock Cafe, along with its vast array of music memorabilia typically sells a shirt with its city name in their gift shop. With over 100 restaurants having opened up all over the world, these shirts have become something of a collectible over the years.

6. Batman

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Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na, BATMAN!

5. Superman

100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (97)

The literal power of this phenomenon can be seen on t-shirts everywhere and with the seemingly endless television & movie remakes in nearly every decade of Superman’s existence, this story (and t-shirt design) isn’t getting old any time soon.

4. Rolling Stones “Lick”

100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (98)

Alternative album cover for one of the best rock albums of all time, The Rolling Stones’ “Lick” graphic from the Sticky Fingers LP quickly becomes one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most recognizable symbols.

3. COLLEGE

100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (99)

Providing comic relief in the film Animal House, John Belushi has become something of an icon for college guys everywhere based on his portrayal of oafy fraternity bro, Bluto. A poster of him wearing this shirt (really a sweater) can now be seen on dorm room walls across the country.

2. Vote for Pedro

100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (100)

Wildly popular after the cult hit movie Napoleon Dynamite was released in 2004, the Vote for Pedro shirt has since gained mass appeal. While it’s a relatively simple design on a white/black ringer tee, the movie created quite a visual imprint during Napoleon’s famous dance scene.

1. I ♥ NY

100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (101)

In an almost eureka moment, designer Milton Glaser sketches “I ♥ NY” on a napkin and the logo appears on T-shirts soon after. It then becomes one of the most worn t-shirts of all time. And our most iconic!

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  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (103)

    what is this all about

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (105)

    great list

    thanks

    ___________

    http://www.perfectplaylist.net

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (107)

    Where oh where is the famous Hot Rod t-shirt

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (109)

    Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap) neon green skeleton t-shirt.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (111)

    you forgot the Sublime Logo
    that t-shirt I bet had be sold a lot

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (113)

    I liked your post very much and bought more than 30 TShirts given here. But I am having a hard time finding the 59th (f*ck French connection) one. I have searched the whole Internet including the official site of frenchconnection, but never found it. Please help.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (115)

    Obviously a little late to the party here, but I just had to comment on the Che Guevara (#12) shirt and how ridiculous it was seeing active duty service members wearing this shirt while I was in Germany about 10 years ago. I remember wondering to myself, “do they have even a shred of a clue as to who the guy was and what he stood for, or are they just blindly wearing it because they think it looks COOL?”

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (117)

    Bob,

    I totally agree. They should have known people would want to buy them, so links to sites where they could be purchased should have been obvious. I want to buy about twenty of them myself, but searching is difficult as they are mostly out of date

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (119)

    Hey, John,
    We didn’t do the research on where you can still buy these shirts. That’s another project in and of itself. I do know you can get some of them at Target, http://www.target.com/c/graphic-tees-shirts-men-s-clothing/-/N-55cxi. But, for the majority of them, you’ll need to search the web or eBay to find a seller.

    Thanks,
    Jeff

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (121)

    Was not the “69” T-shirts sold in early 1970’s, easily a TOP 100 entry of all time?

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (123)

    Where the hell is the classic Motorhead T shirt, recognized as the most worn T shirt in TV shows and mainstream movies. The Motorhead T, has been seen publicly worn by, fashion models, to Sports stars and Actors to politicians. How can you overlook the most recognized pop culture T shirt ever.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (125)

    what about the iconic vh logo (im refering to years 1978-1984)

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (127)

    Is the Motorhead shirt a British thing? I love Motorhead but “the most recognized pop culture T shirt ever?” I can’t think of a single time I’ve seen it in pop culture.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (129)

    nice t – shirt site.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (131)

    nice tshirt site. i am very happy to buy the tshirt on this site

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (133)

    corrections:
    1)The “I Love NY” shirt was given to John Lennon by legendary photographer extraordinaire Jim Marshall without thought, plan or purpose immediately prior to the picture being taken….who the hell is bob gruen?….
    2) in the late 80’s and early 90’s, The Grateful Dead dispatched a team of US Marshals into the concert parking lots to confiscate unauthorized products for which they claimed to have owned trademarks and copyrights….in reality, the Dead had been ripping off the artists for decades and had no reproduction rights whatsoever…they were successfully sued by Phil Garris (the Fiddler) and by several other artists..

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (135)

    Great list but suprised to see Life Is Good wasn’t on this list.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (137)

    I didn’t see one of my old headbanger favs, (maybe I missed it) The old C.O.C. (Corrosion of Conformity) radiation skull.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (139)

    I didn’t see spicoli’s Colt 45 t-shirt from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I also didn’t see any of the Big Lebowski T-shirts.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (141)

    How did “parental advisory” not make the list?

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (143)

    Nice list! You missed the Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. I thought that’s pretty iconic.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (145)

    nice work I like it

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (147)

    Robert Indiana’s LOVE tee isn’t on here?? Unbelievable!!!
    That stamp is the best selling stamp of all time..statues worldwide…should be in top 5

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (149)

    Enjoyable list. You’re always going to have people saying “Where was x” or “why didn’t you include y”

    However I do agree that the Motor head Tshirt should have been included.

    Looks like you knocked the Frankie – Relax one up yourself? The tshirts worn in the 80s had a heavier font. Much like the Choose Life one you have above.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (151)

    works of art.

  • 100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (153)

    Move Zeppelin way up on your list, and you’re missing “Keep on Truck’n” for sure.

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100 Most Iconic T-Shirts of All Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the best selling T-shirt of all time? ›

Superman T-shirts

The Superman t-shirt is still the best-selling t-shirts of all time.

Who wore the first T-shirt? ›

With and without buttons, they were adopted by miners and stevedores during the late 19th century as a convenient covering for hot environments. In 1913, the U.S. Navy first issued them as undergarments. These were a crew-necked, short-sleeved, white cotton undershirt to be worn under a uniform.

What is the most expensive T-shirt ever sold? ›

UNICEF Cargo Flight T-Shirt

The prices on most of their tees range from $18 to $1,000. However, one particular shirt-which is just a simple white shirt with a green printed plane dropping supplies-recently sold for almost $300,000.

What is the most sold band T-shirt? ›

AC/DC. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the band AC/DC should be a group that you've heard of even if you've never listened to any of their music. And when it comes to their logo and top-selling T-shirt, there aren't many other shirts more recognizable than this one.

Which brand is top in shirt? ›

List of Top Most Best Shirt Brands In India in 2024
  • Peter England.
  • Levi's.
  • Arrow.
  • Raymond.
  • Jack & Jones.
  • Allen Solly.
  • Tommy Hilfiger.
  • Redtape.
Jan 10, 2024

What is the most sold clothing? ›

10 Best Selling Fashion Products in the US
  • Boiler suits:
  • Jeans:
  • Denim jackets:
  • Bucket hats/beanie:
  • Sneakers:
  • Wrap dress:
  • Hair accessories:
  • Trench coats:
Mar 4, 2021

What does the T in a T-shirt stand for? ›

The T in T-shirts stands for Tee, but the letter T were used for T-shirts in its name creation, because when you flatten a T-shirt on a surface and pull the arms out to the sides of it, you get a shape in the form of a T.

What was the old name for T-shirts? ›

The T-shirt was given many names, like a “crew-neck shirt,” a “bachelor undershirt,” or a “cotton pullover.” But when F. Scott Fitzgerald first called it a T-shirt in his book This Side of Paradise, the name caught on.

Did T-shirts exist in 1920? ›

The first manufactured t-shirt was invented between the Spanish-American War in 1898, and 1913 when the U.S. Navy began issuing them as standard undershirts. Even then, it took until 1920 for the actual term “t-shirt” to be inducted into the English dictionary, thanks to F.

What Grateful Dead shirt sold for $17000? ›

An original Grateful Dead T-shirt from 1967 sold for $17,640 through Sotheby's on Oct. 15, setting a new record for the most expensive vintage rock shirt sold at auction, Datebook writes.

What is the biggest T-shirt ever made? ›

The largest t-shirt is 108.96 m (357.48 feet) long and 73.48 m (241.08 feet) wide, achieved by Asociatia 11even, Kaufland Romania and Federatia Romana. After the record attempt, the t-shirt was broken down into 10,000 individual items of clothing for underprivileged children.

What is the rarest Grateful Dead shirt? ›

By Brittany Bowker Globe Staff,Updated October 20, 2021, 5:23 p.m. A Grateful Dead T-shirt from 1967 sold for more than $17,000 on Friday, breaking a record as the most expensive vintage shirt ever bought at an auction.

What is the most worn T-shirt size? ›

When you look at the numbers, large is the most common shirt size. In fact, it accounts for about 30 percent of shirt sales. Coming in at 28 percent, the size medium is a close runner-up and extra large is next at 20 percent. The percentages are much lower for smaller and larger sizes.

Who made t-shirts popular? ›

It wasn't until Marlon Brando and James Dean burst onto the Hollywood scene in the 1950s, that the t-shirt became popular not only as a piece of clothing but as a sign of rebellion and masculinity.

Which country buys the most t-shirts? ›

When comparing global revenues, in China leads the way, generating US$5,920m in 2024. Taking the total population into account, per person revenues in the T-Shirts market are estimated to reach US$5.87 in 2024.

What kind of shirts are sold the most? ›

Black shirts make the most money, hands-down. People love wearing black because it goes with everything, it does not get dirty and it is the most neutral color for anyone's closet. Most people wear black. Light-colored shirts do not sell well, and white shirts sell the least.

What is the highest quality of T-shirt? ›

What are High Quality T-shirts Made Of? High quality T-shirts start with 100% high quality, pre-shrunk cotton. That means no itchy synthetic fibers, and no shrinking or shape-changing after your T-shirt has gone through the wash.

What is the world record for most shirts worn? ›

A man named Ted Hastings made his place in the Guinness World Records by donning exactly 260 t-shirts all at once on top of the other, without taking any one of them off. The incredible feat was achieved in 2019.

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