Wear a piece of Singapore history with the launch of a new collection of T-shirts by The Straits Times as part of the paper's 170th anniversary celebrations.

Front pages of the newspaper's coverage of significant events will be printed on the comfortable classic tees, which will be sold to raise funds for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF).

Take your pick of 30 designs, including news such as "Singapore is out", published in the paper on Aug 10, 1965, when Singapore gained independence from Malaysia; and "Chewing gum to be banned", when gum was banned in Singapore in 1991.

The T-shirts cost between $30 and $32 each and will be available online at www.1845wearyourhistory.com. Shipping is free.

SPMF will use the proceeds to help provide 14,000 children from low-income families with more pocket money for transport and food, said SPMF general manager Tan Bee Heong, 50.

Straits Times deputy editor Ignatius Low, 43, said the T-shirt designs chosen highlight not just national milestones, but also some of Singapore's more unconventional history. "Some of the cheekier headlines were picked by some of the younger journalists as they would look good on a shirt."

Some of these tongue-in-cheek headlines that were incorporated are "Schoolgirls at pot parties", which ran in 1971, and "GET HITCHED! ...and don't stop at one", which was published in 1983.

Mr Low added: "The designs are meant to not only remind people of the nation's heritage, but also show how The Straits Times was heavily involved in Singapore's history over the years."

Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez, 49, chose the first front page of The Straits Times on July 15, 1845, which spelt out the paper's mission. He said: "Right from the start, the editor of ST declared that the paper would uphold the interests of Singapore.

"Some things don't change - that remains our mission to this day.

"These gems from our archives make great Christmas gifts. After all, it's for a good cause."