The term "blue collar" originated in the early 20th century, specifically appearing in print regularly by the mid-1920s. It refers to workers who typically performed manual labor and wore durable clothing that showed less dirt, commonly blue denim or chambray work shirts. This contrasted with "white collar" workers, who usually worked in office environments and wore white dress shirts. The blue color was practical because it concealed dirt and grease, and the shirts became a visual marker for industrial and manual workers. The term was first used in the 1920s in American contexts to distinguish these workers by the color of their work shirts versus the white collars of office workers.
To summarize:
- "Blue collar" refers to manual laborers wearing durable blue shirts.
- The term started in print in the mid-1920s.
- Blue shirts were practical for hiding dirt and oil from industrial work.
- It contrasts with white-collar office workers wearing white dress shirts.
