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The History of the Hanes Beefy®

Thirty years ago, California surfers were printing on undershirts. Then we blew in with a radical idea and introduced BEEFY – a better shirt for printing and style that became all the rage. We’re the original. And the only major brand with the softest ring-spun cotton. Every year we keep it fresh. This year it’s all about the continued soft feel of Beefy, 5 new cool styles and 50 incredible colors.

Our heritage is just one reason why other great American icons like Krispy Kreme®, Fender® guitars and Samuel Adams® beer have all chosen BEEFY as their walking billboard. Their message matters. Their image matters. When it’s important to your customers, like it is to these legendary brands, there’s really only one choice. Beefy®.

Some key dates in Beefy's history are:

1975	Hanes introduces the Beefy-T, as a heavyweight, outerwear shirt for screenprinting
1976	Research shows that less than 25% of the population owned a printed t-shirt
1980	Printables business becomes large enough to be recognized as a separate Sara Lee division
1982	Hanes expands the line to include a long sleeve and pocket
1985	Beefy-T launch of its first television advertising with "Beyond the Ordinary"
1996	One-of-a-kind series of Beefy-T t-shirts for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA
1997	Beefy-T is improved and the weight increased to 6.1 oz
1997	Beefy bull icon introduced; debute of "Without Beefy, It's Just a T" campaign on NBC’s Today
2000	Beefy-T celebrated its 25th anniversary. Research indicates that an average of four T-shirts are purchased each year by individuals aged 16 and older.
2001	Over 1 billion Hanes Beefy-Ts are sold! Hanes celebrates with a "Beefy-T" PT Cruiser Sweepstakes.
2002	Hanes launches Beefy product extension with Beefy Silver® introduction, a signature blend of cotton and eucalyptus-derived Nativa™ rayon, producing a soft, silky alternative to standard cotton t-shirts.
2005	Beefy No Shrink Fleece hits the market. The Beefy Collection totals 15 styles and 44 colors.
2006	Beefy-T color offering reaches 50 colors. Five new products hit the market, further establishing Beefy as more than just a tee.
2007	Beefy expands on its popularity with collegiate consumers, introducing Athletic Orange, Carolina Blue, and Texas Orange to its fanbase.
2010	The Beefy-T t-shirt celebrates 35 years as the best t-shirt in the industry. All thanks to our ultra-soft ring-spun cotton and legendary durability and fit. And now, a TAG-FREE neck label.

Beefy-T is a nationally known brand, with its strength on the West Coast. Beefy has a strong following among the surf crowd, as well as college and high school age consumers.