The Life Cycle of Your T-Shirt
Ever stop to wonder how your favorite plain white tee came to be?
Behind every plain T-shirt lies a complex and often hidden story. While it may seem like a simple piece of clothing, its journey from sourcing to shelf involves countless steps, workers, and environmental impacts. In this post, we’ll trace the life cycle of a T-shirt from start to finish. We will highlight where the biggest environmental and ethical concerns lie in production, and what we as consumers can do differently.
T-shirts, like many basic garments, are typically made from cotton, a crop grown in over 80 countries worldwide. But despite its widespread use, cotton has a high environmental cost. Producing just one cotton T-shirt can require up to 2,700 liters of water. Even worse, cotton accounts for 16% of global insecticide use and 6% of all pesticide use, even though it occupies only 2.5% of the world’s agricultural land.
That being said, there are plenty more sustainable options. Organic cotton can use up to 91% less water than conventional cotton, and recycled cotton can eliminate the need for virgin resources altogether. Some brands in the fashion industry are also turning to hemp, a low impact textile that requires 50% less water than cotton and can be grown without pesticides. Brands such as Pact and Kotn offer basics made from organic and recycled cotton while companies such as Jungmaven and Valani specialise in hemp made basics.
Moving past farming, the next phase in a T-shirt’s journey is fabric production, which includes turning cotton into fiber, spinning it into yarn, weaving it into fabric, and finally dyeing it. Textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of clean water globally. In fact, around 20% of global wastewater is linked to fabric dyeing and treatment. When shopping for T-shirts, look for brands that use natural or low-impact dyes. Some brands even use plant-based dyes to reduce chemical pollution. It's also helpful to choose garments certified by standards like OEKO-TEX, Bluesign, or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), which ensure safer chemicals and more environmentally responsible production processes.
Up next is the process of garment construction, sewing, and assembly. Once the fabric is ready, your T-shirt is likely sewn in a garment factory in countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, or India where labor is cheap and fast fashion is prevalent. In Bangladesh, for example, the average garment worker earns less than $100 per month which is far below a living wage. According to Fashion Checker, 93% of fashion brands don’t pay all their workers a living wage. Globally, over 75 million garment workers endure long hours, low pay, and unsafe working conditions. To support more ethical production, look for brands that are Fair Trade Certified, B Corp, or part of the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI). Brands that are transparent about their factories and wage practices are also a good sign. Better yet, consider supporting local or small-batch garment makers, such as Tonlé or Known Supply, who prioritize fair wages and responsible production.
After it's sewn, your T-shirt is packed and shipped to warehouses or retail stores, sometimes traveling over 20,000 kilometers before it reaches the end consumer. The fashion industry’s global supply chains are responsible for 1.2 billion tons of CO₂ emissions each year. Even a single online clothing order can generate around 1 kilogram of CO₂. To reduce your impact, consider buying from local or nearshore brands that shorten the supply chain. Look for companies that offer carbon-neutral shipping or use biodegradable/ plastic-free packaging. Brands such as Patagonia and Tentree offer carbon neutral shipping and use recycled packaging. Additionally brands like Reformation and Girlfriend Collective use 100% recycled mailers and offset shipping emissions.
The journey of a basic garment is often far longer and more complex than it seems. At every stage, there are hidden environmental and social costs, but also opportunities to make better choices. While most T-shirts end up tossed because they are worn out, stained, or “out of style,” there are more ways to extend their lives and reduce their impact. Whether it’s donating, reselling, or supporting brands with repair, recycling/ take-back programs, we all have a role to play in shifting fashion toward a cleaner future.
The next time you reach for a T-shirt, consider not just how it looks but where it came from, and where it’s going.