We’re in the home stretch. Christmas, 2021 is in three days! This is typically a super busy week in most households. Lots of baking, wrapping, planning and decorating going on. In fact, you might be exhausted by now and wanting to take a break. So, go ahead. You have our permission. And to help you relax, you can get a cup of your favorite “whatever” drink, put your feet up and enjoy this post about three weird facts. Have you ever learned about something, then exclaimed, “Wow! I’ve always wondered what that was for!”?
Well, that’s what this post is. If you have a man’s long-sleeve collared shirt in your house, you might have noticed that it has an extra piece of fabric on the back that forms a loop. You’re going to learn what that’s all about. And, underwear — particularly, underwear for girls or women. We have a random fact about that today, as well. And, finally, padlocks. If you have one nearby, turn it over and look at the bottom. You’ll notice a teensy weensy hole there. Ever wonder what it’s for?
Weird facts about men’s collared shirts
Back in the 1960s, there was a popular brand of clothing called “Gant.” Many male students at Ivy League schools considered themselves real fashion statements wearing Gant shirts. If you look at the back of a men’s collared, long-sleeve shirt, you’ll find a little “strap” of fabric just above and in between the shoulder blade area. As it turns out, Gant manufacturers wanted to provide a way for Ivy League athletes to hang up their shirts in their lockers without getting wrinkled. Voila! The fabric loops started to appear on the backs of all Gant long-sleeved men’s shirts!
As time went on, an entire “romantic” tradition was built around the loops on Gant shirts. If a fellow living on an Ivy League campus gave his heart to a particular girl, he’d cut the loops off of his shirts. A loop-less shirt was a sign to all of the other ladies on campus that THIS guy was “taken.” This seemingly harmless tradition reportedly started causing a few problems for some poor Ivy Leaguers. Some of the more aggressive young women wanted to make statements of their own.
Beware of loop stealers on campus!
If one of these gals had her eye on a specific guy, she’d literally rip the loop off the back of his shirt. This, of course, happened whether the gentleman in question returned the young lady’s favors or not. Life on campus became awkward, to say the least. An unsuspecting fella’ could be walking to class one minute and, WHAM, lose his Gant loop, the next!
To make matters worse, the loops were often secured to shirts with extra stitching. So, when a girl tore one off, it often left a big hole in the shirt. Not only would the object of her affections be loop-less, he would have one less wearable shirt in his closet, as well.
There are some weird facts about underwear, too
At some point in your life, especially if you’re a girl, you’ve probably wondered why ladies’ underwear has a little pocket in the private area. (Same with bathing suits, right?) Anyone who has ever gone swimming in the ocean knows how annoying it can be when the little pocket fills up with sand! The pockets serve a purpose! They are designed to provide wicking, which prevents moisture build-up. They’re also there to add reinforcement and breathability.
If it weren’t for the little pockets, sweat and bacteria would collect a lot more easily. The little pockets are typically made from cotton, even in underwear that is primarily made of lace or other materials. This helps the area stay dry and improves ventilation. And, while we mentioning weird facts about underwear, do you know that those little pockets have a name? They are called “gussets.”
Last but not least — you will soon know why there are tiny holes in the bottoms of padlocks
Padlocks are often used outdoors on sheds or other things, such as to lock a bicycle to a bike rail. Anything that is outdoors is likely going to get wet at some point. If a padlock were to get wet, then dry, then get wet and dry, etc., it could rust inside. A rusty lock isn’t going to work right. Padlock manufacturers thought of this, hence, the reason for the tiny holes. The hole allows water to escape so that it doesn’t build up inside the lock.
A padlock hole has another purpose, as well. If a lock does, for some reason, become rusty, you can insert lubricating oils through the hole! Who knew? Padlocks have been around for a long time. The first people to use them were the Romans!
Amazing things are all around us, but many go unnoticed
You’ve probably seen the loops on shirts, tiny holes in padlocks and pockets in the crotches of underwear 1,000 times. You may have even wondered why the items were designed that way. Now, you know the answers! Take note of everyday items around your house. If you notice a feature that is always there but doesn’t seem to have a purpose. Chances are, it probably does, and you just don’t know what it is!
If you enjoyed this post about weird facts, you might also like to read this post from our “random stuff” archives. It tells all about the things that kangaroos and elephants have in common! Again — who knew?
