Screen-printed tees have come a long way since the days of "I'm with stupid."

With catchy sayings and unusual designs, this simple, usually cotton apparel has not only become an outlet for self-expression, but a wearable form of art.

Toe-tapping into the screen-printing market, People's Nation recently opened at 126 E. College Ave. The store allows customers to choose from already printed items or custom designs of almost anything in the store, from T-shirts to underwear.

Owner and founder Art Fine named the store after a short-lived store in State College back in 1970. The original People's Nation was a kind of "hippie shopping center," with individuals selling handmade goods, playing music and even a head shop in the back, Fine said.

"It really was a store of its time," Fine said.

Fine said he draws parallels from the 1970s spirit of student unrest and political activism to today's society.

"A T-shirt is the voice of today's generation," he said.

But for those who are looking to make a lighter statement, there are many ready-made designs to choose from, including classic band logos, nostalgic 1980s designs, local bar names and the ever-popular "Everybody Loves a (insert adjective) Girl."

When people see these shirts in the store, they get very excited, said Sarah Evans (junior-graphic design), an employee at Metro, 324 E. College Ave.

"They think it's just for them," she said.

Evans also designs some of the shirts for Fine's stores, including Metro and People's Nation.

"My art is going across the chests of people all over State College; it's great publicity," Evans said.

She added that, at a large university like Penn State, the T-shirts allow a person to get an inside look at who someone is.

"You only get to make a first impression once," she said.

Students looking for real retro apparel can also browse through vintage tees or sell their own as part of the "People's Exchange," if they're strapped for cash.

With custom lettering and a variety of designs and patterns, many students like the opportunity to be part of the design process.

"A lot of people come in with inside jokes," said Dana Otto, a People's Nation employee. "It's not only in style, but it represents your personality."

Jenny Sha (freshmen-electrical engineering) said she had to look online for custom tees before she came to Penn State.

With their popularity increasing, screen-printed items allow up-and-coming graphic design artists to showcase their work.

Evans said she is excited that people are into the growing community of T-shirt design.

"The more art that's out there, the more inspiration there is to other artists," she said.

Graphic design and integrative arts professor Kristin Sommese encourages her students to use apparel as a jumping-off point and a medium for their work. Many of her students do freelance design, especially on the Internet.

"It's a form of self expression rather than blindly following a team or brand," Sommese said.

Many retailers are making the shift from corporate logos and walking billboards to more artistic designs.

"You can take something you would hang on your wall and wear it to class or a bar," Evans said.