Hypercolor T-shirts that change color with sweat: what was that all about?

What could be more attractive than changing the color of your clothes every time you sweat? This style was fashionable — literally — for millions of kids and teens in 1991, when Hypercolor T-shirts were officially cool — but it was a lot less funny than the TV commercials.

It was an era Bart Simpson releasing music, MC Hammer in big pants and everyone wears very eye-catching fashion. The bright, bold color palette of the 1980s crossed dangerously with demented, futuristic ideas as we all became overly excited about the arrival of the 21st century – at least until grunge took hold and excitement became uncool.

Hypercolor made a huge splash in 1991, selling $50 million worth of color-changing gadgets worldwide (in fact, outside the United States, the company was known as “Global Hypercolor”) before quickly going bankrupt the following year because it couldn’t keep up with demand for their revolutionary color changing clothing. Yes, we definitely touched on some absurd stuff. What was that all about?

For a year or two, T-shirts featuring (here’s a fun fact!) thermochromic dye that changes with temperature changes were a must-have for the generation now rewatching Gilmore Girls Googles perimenopausal symptoms for the fourth time and mindlessly reposts false information about data breaches on Instagram.

The brand also released a few other products, like Hypercolor shorts and baseball caps, but it was really all about the tee (and not just because who wants a color-changing crotch?). In theory, the idea of ​​wearing clothes that change before your eyes is revolutionary. Who wouldn’t want their outfit to reflect changing weather conditions or the fact that someone with a wet hand just slapped you on the back?

The problem was that if someone was prone to sweating or terrible streaks, it wasn’t a very flattering look at all. And there was plenty to make you sweat in 1991. Your teacher openly raved about your essay on the topic The scarlet letter in front of your crush. Your mother calls you in front of friends by your full name, not a nickname. Joey McIntyre you suddenly looked at the camera as you watched music videos with your dad in the same room. Yes, life was truly humiliating, and your Hypercolor (pink and purple, natch) T-shirt only served to highlight every embarrassing moment for everyone to see and giggle.

Until it happened. Because after a few washes, this fabulous pink and purple colorway turned disappointingly brown. Nobody has the patience to wash a T-shirt by hand, so after a while the technology couldn’t cope with the water temperature and you were left with a sad, ugly, useless rag.

But for a (hot) minute, it seemed like Hypercolor was the ultimate blend of style and science. Science happened to be more of a middle school chemistry project than a Fashion cover. But if you’re somehow nostalgic for that bizarre and thankfully brief moment in fashion history when our clothes were intended to leave us the hot mess we were, a quick internet search can reconnect you to one of your favorite stores.

Will this still work? We have no idea. But if that happens, you may be one flash of hotness or fury away from having your kids take a moment to look at YouTube and marvel at the timelessly amazing color-changing technology before them.