In the world of symbolism, ordinary objects can take on extraordinary meanings, transforming them into powerful symbols that unite people under a common belief.
Consider white doves. They’re ordinary birds but have become synonymous with hope and peace. Owls are a symbol of wisdom, while oak trees represent strength and endurance.
Similarly, the American flag is a globally recognized symbol that inspires songs, artwork, writing, and…you guessed it—fashion.
Within the realm of fashion, the Stars and Stripes’ powerful presence can be observed on all kinds of clothing and apparel. There’s an abundance of American flag shirts, hats, bandanas, swimwear, bags, and much more.
But beyond celebrating the flag’s iconic design through fashion, what message are people conveying when they wear American flag clothing?
- Demonstrating their patriotism
- Celebrating freedom and justice
- Honoring our rich cultural heritage
- Expressing pride in our nation’s achievements
We’ll delve into these symbolisms to help you understand how you too can wear your American flag shirts as a means of expression. But first, let’s first dig out some history.
From Evolution of the American Flag to Emergence of the Flag Shirt
Over 200 years have passed since the birth of the American flag, yet the true inventor remains a mystery. However, what’s clear is that it wasn’t designed in one swoop, it evolved in design and symbolism over the years to become the flag we know today.
But why was the American flag designed in the first place? Prior to America’s independence from England, each colony flew its own distinct flag. However, after the declaration of independence on June 14 1777, a new flag was proposed to represent the 13 Union States.
As the years rolled by, our flag’s design continued to evolve. The number of stars was periodically altered to accommodate the inclusion of new states into the Union, totalling the 13 stars gracing our flag today.
Though the flag has been changed 26 times, most of the alterations only involved adding more stars. The most notable differences in design are observed in the earlier flags.
Here are the earliest designs of our flag.
| Flag Design | Name of Flag |
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Grand Union Flag (first American flag after independence) |
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Betsy Ross Flag |
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13-star Cowpens Flag |
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The original Star Spangled Banner Flag (displayed in the National Museum of American History) |
How American Flag Shirts Burst Into the Scene
About a century after the adoption of the American flag, citizens gained the privilege to display it on products and clothing. Prior to this era, it was restricted to the military and government buildings.
The American Civil War, and the first and second world wars also played a role in popularizing American flag clothing. Soldiers wore it on their uniforms to symbolize patriotism while women wore American flag ribbons to show support to the men.
The hippies, as rebellious as they were, also helped promote American flag clothing. In their effort to mock conformists, they wore clothes adorned with the flag’s pattern, unknowingly spreading the trend.
American flag clothing became well established during the 20th century, and the adoption of screen printing technology made it easier to produce them at large scale.
Nowadays, American flag shirts—arguably the most popular flag attire—are readily available, allowing anyone to wear them as a means of expression.
Whether you rock yours to support America at the Olympics, or you reserve it for National Flag Day, everyone has their unique reason for wearing theirs.
Let’s delve into the symbolism of the American flag shirt and see what it means to different individuals.
1 - Demonstrating Patriotism Towards America
Ever looked at the American flag flying high and felt a sense of deep reverence? That’s how some people feel. If the sight of Old Glory warms your heart, the flame of patriotism burns within you.
It’s what makes people feel love, commitment, and attachment to America, motivating them to vote during elections or attend town hall meetings with their American flag shirts on.
But patriotism isn’t just limited to official duties, it’s found in everyday life, and the American flag shirt hanging in your closet is a symbol of patriotism towards America.
How about wearing that shirt the next time you’re volunteering for community services, perhaps while assisting with disaster relief? You'll feel a stronger sense of commitment towards other people.
It will be a reminder of your dedication to selflessly serving other people, a value that makes America a great nation.
2 - Celebrating Freedom and Justice
Freedom is one of the most precious things in life. It allows us to speak and act without the fear of oppression, a stark contrast to the days before our country gained independence.
But pause for a moment and ponder: What is freedom without justice? Justice is the foundation of a free nation. It ensures that the rights and opportunities freedom brings are executed fairly to everyone.
“To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” ― Nelson Mandela
These words resonate with our nation because throughout our history, we endured injustice. We were taxed unfairly, denied the right to own property, and traveling freely seemed like a mirage. But through determination, we finally plucked the sweet fruit of freedom.
Now we can wear the American flag shirt to express our joy, grateful that we can work, travel, worship and express ourselves without constraint.
Look around you. The next person you see wearing an American flag shirt as they go about their business, they may just be silently celebrating their freedom.
3 - Honoring Our National Heritage
Our national heritage is like a long tapestry filled with images of its history, culture, and traditions. The images tell stories of America’s triumphs and tribulations through the ages.
“As Americans, we’re the inheritors of a uniquely rich and vibrant history, a magnificent tapestry of diverse cultures, beliefs, experiences, and intellectual movements, bound together by the warp and weft of American ideals of progress and opportunity.” — Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), NEH Chair
You’ll often spot people wearing their American flag t-shirts while visiting museums or attending cultural festivities. It’s their way of expressing the deep connection to our rich culture.
Another way we celebrate our rich culture is by wearing American flag shirts during special occasions such as:
- Flag Day: As we mark the day the American flag was officially adopted as a symbol of freedom and unity.
- Memorial Day: While remembering those who died as they gave selfless military service to America.
- Independence Day: Fourth of July shirts are commonly worn as we commemorate the day the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.
We can’t forget mentioning the excitement of wearing our American flag shirts to watch baseball games. It’s one of the oldest games in America, and a cultural icon that has permeated music, art, film, and literature.
What better attire to wear to a game that promotes togetherness than a shirt customized with the American flag?
Interesting fact: There’s an official way to print the American flag on shirts. It’s a sign of respect for members of the military. Read more about it on How to Print the USA Flag on T-Shirts [With Examples]
4 - Expressing Pride in Our Nation’s Achievements
The year is 2020, location—Tokyo, event—Summer Olympic games. America bags 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals, a total of 113.
As our national anthem echoes through the stadium, the athletes stand tall, hands over their hearts with a look of intense national pride at what they’ve accomplished.
You see, such achievements fill us with national pride, motivating many to wear American flag shirts. They do it as a symbol of solidarity to our teams during the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and other sporting events.
Our national pride doesn’t end with sports achievements. It extends to the numerous nobel prizes, international film awards, and space exploration achievements we’ve achieved, which remind us of the vast talent in our country.
It’s not possible to mention all the awards our country boasts of, but the table below mentions some of them.
| Category | Type of Awards |
| Sports |
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| Film and Entertainment |
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| Science and Technology |
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| Humanitarian and Peace |
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| Business and Industry Awards |
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Whether you’re in the stands cheering our teams during the Olympics, or watching the Humanitarian and Peace Awards on television, wearing your American flag shirt serves as a reminder of our national achievements.
Looking to Express Yourself With American Flag Shirts? Customize Your Own at Jupmode
The journey from inception of the American flag to the emergence of flag clothing is filled with both trials and accomplishments. That's why our flag holds a special place in the hearts of many.
As such, most Americans turn to their flag shirts to express themselves, whether to celebrate the good in our country, or to express dissatisfaction with certain issues.
With a few American flag shirt designs, you can express patriotism, celebrate our heritage, or show pride in our nation’s accomplishments.
Jupmode can help you design your own American flag shirt.. We’re the custom screen printing and embroidery experts, offering a range of comfy tees, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, and more.
We can even print your custom shirts on American made shirts.
Whether you’re seeking them for personal use or in bulk for business, we’re big enough to handle your order, yet small enough to make it perfect.
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