Meanwhile Boutique offers a selection of “ethical” t-shirts, designed to combine style, quality, and commitment. But one question often comes up: why does an “ethical” t-shirt cost more than a 15-euro model?
Behind this everyday basic are several factors: the materials used, the manufacturing conditions, and the production choices. Factors that directly influence the price, but also the garment’s impact.
After Customiser ses basiques : renouveler son look, discover our tips for choosing the right t-shirt.
The t-shirt: the must-have
An essential in our wardrobes, a universal basic adopted by all generations, the t-shirt has nothing left to prove. V-neck or crew-neck, plain or patterned, oversized or fitted, it is everywhere.
Originally a simple undergarment worn by workers, it has today become a real playground for designers: new cuts, new materials, anything is possible.
The t-shirt remains timeless for three simple reasons. It is versatile: it adapts to all seasons and all styles. It is comfortable, lightweight, and pleasant to wear every day. Finally, it is accessible, available at all price points, from basic to luxury, making it a universal garment.
The result: nearly 2 billion t-shirts are sold every year worldwide*.
The different materials used in the manufacturing of t-shirts
Even before talking about its impact, it is important to understand that everything depends on the materials used. Composition is essential: it influences the comfort and quality of the garment, but also its environmental footprint.
Cotton is the most widely used fiber. Soft and breathable, it remains a classic. But not all cotton is the same: conventional cotton is the most widespread but also the most resource-intensive, while organic cotton is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, making it more environmentally friendly and better for workers. There are also higher-quality cottons, such as combed cotton or Pima cotton, which are softer and more durable.
Other natural materials are also used, such as linen or hemp. Linen is lightweight and ideal for warm seasons, while hemp is very durable and considered one of the most eco-friendly fibers. However, these materials are sometimes used less often because they are more expensive or more difficult to process.
Finally, synthetic materials such as polyester are very common in the textile industry. Inexpensive and durable, they are often used for mass production. However, they are much less eco-friendly.
Behind a t-shirt: production that can cost the planet dearly
First, it is important to understand that manufacturing a single t-shirt already uses a huge amount of resources. It takes about 300 g of yarn to produce it, or nearly 1.3 kg of cotton. This cotton comes from about 400 capsules (the cotton plant's fruit containing the fibers), harvested from around twenty shrubs grown on about 14 m² of land. Added to this is a water consumption of about 2,500 liters for a single t-shirt. An impressive amount for an everyday garment.
Added to these impacts is another major factor: the offshoring of production. Garments travel thousands of kilometers before arriving in stores, which greatly increases CO₂ emissions. In some countries, weaker environmental standards also lead to greater air, water, and soil pollution.
The offshoring of production also raises important social issues. In some countries where clothing is manufactured, workers sometimes work in difficult conditions: very high production rates, unsafe environments, and constant pressure to reduce costs. Added to this are often very low wages, which do not always allow them to meet their basic daily needs.
Ultimately, because it is produced in very large quantities, the t-shirt is also one of the garments that is replaced most quickly. It is a piece that is easily accumulated, rarely worn, and often forgotten at the bottom of a closet, even though its manufacturing represents a real and significant cost to the planet.
The choice to buy “ethical”…
Ethical t-shirt: environmental and social impact
So-called “ethical” brands are brands that seek to limit their environmental and social impact at every stage of production. This starts with the choice of materials: they favor more responsible fibers, such as organic cotton, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This type of cotton costs on average 3 to 4 times more than conventional cotton, because it requires more time, more control, and often lower yields.
But this choice has a direct impact on the environment: it helps preserve soils, limit water pollution, and reduce agricultural workers' exposure to toxic products. Some brands go further by using recycled materials or local natural fibers to further reduce the garment's overall footprint.
Beyond materials, manufacturing quality also plays an important role. An ethical garment is often designed to last: reinforced seams, more careful finishing, stricter production control. The result: it wears out more slowly and can be worn for longer, which limits wardrobe turnover. This is also why these pieces are designed differently, with a focus on durability rather than volume.
Meanwhile Boutique also offers a complete guide to caring for these ethical pieces: Caring for ethical ready-to-wear: the complete guide
Ethical t-shirt: the right price
The higher price of an ethical t-shirt can also be explained by how it is manufactured and by the distribution of costs throughout the production chain.
Unlike fast fashion, a larger portion of the price here goes to the people who actually make the garment: cotton producers, garment workshops, artisans. Ethical brands also incorporate higher costs related to regulated working conditions, fairer wages, and stricter safety standards.
Added to this are the costs related to more responsible production: higher-quality raw materials, supplier traceability, environmental certifications, and even production in smaller quantities to avoid overproduction.
Concretely, the price of a t-shirt is therefore divided between:
- textile and production workers
- raw materials and their environmental impact
- manufacturing and quality control costs
- the brand and its structure
A low-priced t-shirt may seem advantageous, but it often hides invisible costs: pollution, resource depletion, or poor working conditions. Conversely, an ethical t-shirt incorporates these realities into its price and seeks to reduce them.
Meanwhile Boutique, a selection of committed brands
“Meanwhile Boutique works with brands whose creators are working towards more responsible and committed consumption. Unlike polluting industries, these small businesses favor sustainable materials and environmentally friendly practices.” *
At Meanwhile Boutique, all the eco-responsible brands meet at least 4 of the 17 values of the charter: organic/bio, made in France, certifications, short supply chains… You thus know what you are buying, you support committed creators, and you participate in a more ecological transition.
So, why not try our “ethical” t-shirts?
Ethical t-shirts: the TOP 5
The Unisex Chakra T-shirt, 100% organic cotton- €79
The Organic Cotton T-shirt - Piment , GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified organic cotton- €45
Cotton t-shirt, handmade - 13h15. Screen-printed and flocked in France, in a workshop in Marseille- €45
Beige organic cotton t-shirt - Dromamour -€76.85
“Ecofriendly & Happy” T-shirt, exclusive to Meanwhile Boutique, designed in Montpellier, organic cotton and GOTS certified- €39
An “ethical” t-shirt therefore costs more, because its price takes into account its entire production chain: more responsible materials, better-regulated manufacturing, and better working conditions. The price does not only reflect the garment itself, but also the values and commitments that make it more durable and more respectful of the environment and the people who make it.
And what about you, what influences you the most today in choosing a t-shirt: the price, the style, or what it represents?
Article written by Edeline.
Sources:
*T-Shirt Blues: The Environmental Impact of a T-Shirt". HuffPost.
* https://meanwhile.boutique/pages/charte-de-selection-achats-eco-responsable
