Replicas of a dated T-shirt that was on sale in Bermuda 27 years ago for a couple of dollars are being sold at $40 a time by an enterprising US-based internet company Worn Free.

Colourful disco-style wording on the otherwise plain T-shirt bears the name Bermuda. Its claim to fame is that former Beatle John Lennon bought one during his two-month holiday in Bermuda in 1980, as he was writing his final album, and later that year was pictured wearing it in New York city in the days before he was shot dead outside his Manhattan apartment.

Versions of the T-shirt, which have been specially replicated to appear dated and distressed to enhance their authentic appearance, have been manufactured by Worn Free and sell on various internet web sites at $40 each.

Worn Free has created a niche market selling replica vintage and retro T-shirts that were famously worn by rock and music legends such as Lennon, Joey and Johnny Ramone, The Doors, Frank Zappa, Debbie Harry from Blondie, Gram Parsons and Joan Jett amongst others.

Pictures of the famous wearing the T-shirts are shown alongside the products and today's stars appear to be amongst the fans of the retro clothing linked to bygone legends.

Present day stars including former Friends' actress Jennifer Aniston, Superman Returns' actor Brandon Routh, Chicago rapper Common, and band members of Kaiser Chiefs have all been photographed in public wearing retro Worn Free items.

Steve, of Worn Free, explains: "I spend my life finding great T-shirt designs as worn by my favourite musicians of yesteryear. I license the design, picture and artist so everything is above board.

"I print the t-shirts and find out their history so that the fan will get something endorsed, authentic and genuine with great story behind it's genesis. In most cases I uncover something no-one outside the artist's immediate friends or family knows about."

The Worn Free website is at www.wornfree.com