Cousteau Aqualung Patent T-Shirt

$28.00

See The Story of this design in tab, below.

Our original Cousteau Aqualung design is printed in full color on a classic pre-shrunk 100% cotton men’s/unisex t-shirt using an eco-friendly water-based ink process, in shirt colors as indicated. The large design is printed on the front only. Some element colors in the design change slightly depending upon whether it is printed on a dark or light shirt.

SKU: 119MS Categories: , ,

The Story

We humans, probably secretly envious of fish with their ability to breathe underwater, have forever dreamed of this possibility and its resulting freedom from familiar bonds of gravity.

In 1943, the Aqualung was invented by Frenchmen Jacques Cousteau and the brilliant engineer Emile Gagnan. The year was epic in the development of underwater exploration.

The Aqualung was the first completely automatic underwater breathing device: for the first time, utilizing this patented regulator and two-hose system, a diver could breathe through an open-circuit air system that supplied air on demand. No more manual on-off valves or precious air-wasting continuous flow.

Cousteau licensed the design to numerous American companies in the late 40s and 50s. In Southern California and Florida, along with intense marketing from Voit, Dacor, Healthways and US Diver, the sport really took off. With time—and with trademark conflicts—the name SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) as coined by the US Navy, became synonymous with Aqualung.

Hollywood soon dived in with the television series Sea Hunt, launched in 1958—a further boon to the diving industry. It generated thousands of new enthusiasts including a host of Baby Boomers who grew up watching the show. Also very popular internationally were the TV series documentaries first broadcast in 1966 and filmed by Cousteau, Under the Sea, The World About Us, The Cousteau Odyssey, and The World of Jacques Cousteau.

Respected as an outspoken environmentalist—particularly noted for his uncompromising stand on issues such as oil pollution and nuclear waste—the prolific filmmaker, photographer, and writer Jacques Cousteau will be remembered best for his profound influence on the world’s awareness of what lies beneath our oceans.

Sizing | Fit | Care: Unisex T-Shirt

A classic 100% cotton men’s/unisex t-shirt (except for Sport Grey, which is 90/10% cotton/polyester) that gives a rich and structured look and works great for layered streetwear outfits. The durable pre-shrunk jersey knit fabric maintains sharp lines along the edges and ensures your size is maintained throughout multiple washings. A classic fit style means it is not form-fitted at the sides.
Fit type: Classic. Primary brand: Gildan
NOTE: Dark color speckles throughout the fabric are expected for the color Natural.
  • 100% cotton (except Sport Grey=10% polyester)
  • 5–5.3 oz. fabric weight
  • Pre-shrunk jersey knit
  • Taped neck and shoulders
  • Tear-away tag

If you’re unsure about sizing, the best way to determine a correct size is to grab an existing favorite t-shirt, lay it flat, and then measure it.
To get the chest size, measure from armpit to armpit. To get the length, measure from neck/shoulder corner intersection to bottom of hem (see illustration). Double the garment width to determine the chest circumference measurement, and you’ll find it will generally fit.

USA/INCHES Sizes: Unisex/Men’s T-Shirt
1″ = 2.54 cm S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (inches) 36 40 44 48 52 56
Width (inches) 18 20 22 24 26 28
Length (inches) 28 29 30 31 32 33
CENTIMETERS Sizes: Unisex/Men’s T-Shirt
2.54 cm = 1″ S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (cm) 96 102 112 122 132 142
Width (cm) 45.7 51 56 61 66 71
Length (cm) 74 76 78 79 81 83.8

CARE:

Machine wash, cold, inside out, gentle cycle with mild detergent and similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach—only when necessary No fabric softeners.

Tumble dry, low heat, or hang-dry for longest life.

Cool iron inside-out if necessary. Do not iron decoration or print.

Do not dry clean.

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