The True Cost of a £5 T-Shirt

Self expression is new liberation, and what a person wears can tell us lot about their personality, style and character. Now, it is easier than ever to wear clothes that align with your identity.

With a simple click of a button, you can get an outfit for as little a £30 or less now, in store or online. We’ve heard the rising concerns of sustainability in fashion but, how can we do our part and what should we be mindful of when picking up that top with too good of a bargain to let go?

Conscious Consumers (and the Contradiction)

Over the last decade the truth of what the fashion industry does to our planet, and the workers making each garment, has been broadcasted on an international scale; pushing leading clothing companies, like H&M, Nike and Zara, to pledge to be more conscious of how they make their clothes.

A noticeable factor as to why sustainability is moving to the forefront of companies is because of Gen Z. It is recorded that 58% of the Gen Z consumer demographic want to buy more sustainably sourced garments.

However, on the other hand, Gen Z are one of the largest consumers for fast fashion companies, these include the likes of: Shein, H&M and Zara, feeding an endless cycle of the consistent production of clothes.

Social Media and the Micro-Trend Machine

Social media is the one of the biggest reasons why our fashion market is the way it is today. As a result of tactical marketing and paid sponsorship hauls, the online world is festered with paid and unpaid advertisements that are almost always trying to sell the next best thing.

With TikTok and Instagram reels showing ‘What’s new in ______ this season’, to seasonal hauls that may be unconsciously promoting over consumption.

Gen Z is often the main target audience for these brands to secure quick money by exploiting those trying to find their identity that are being targeted by the over production of ‘micro trendy’ garments.

What’s Really Behind a £5 T-Shirt?

Usually the likelihood of a cheap garment is obvious as its low price tag already raises questions as to how it was made. A lot goes into the process of making garments so it’s always useful to question how can a company manage to pay for the fabric, labour, distribution, travel and marketing costs when each individual piece is priced so low.

Some companies, like H&M, use green labels to present a garment as being more sustainable. But it is important to note these companies are trying to sell to consumers of a certain demographic, and with the international awareness of the negative impacts the fashion industry has on the world, they need to ensure that they get your trust.

And by adding a simple label stating they use recycled materials, it covers their back for the short term and blindsights the buyer of the truth of the garment.

The Truth About “Recycled” Fashion

The reality is that these recycled materials, are not coming from recycled garments, but from plastic instead. 98% of recycled polyester comes from, not textile waste, but, plastic bottles. It was also found that ‘less than 1% of material used to make garments is recycled into new clothing’.

The impact that this has on our climate and our bodies is growing an increasing concern. As although these brands are stating they are using recycled material, and shining light on this in a good way, the reality is that this material doesn’t withhold the test of time and when its usage is over, its disposal is even worse for the environment than we could realise.

These ‘garments shed microplastics that cannot be effectively recycled again, ultimately ending up in landfills or incinerators’. This dangerously emits high carbon emissions contributing to global warming and with the unknown consequences of what microplastics do to our body, it leaves concerns of the health implications of what buying such cheaply made garments really does to our bodies.

The Hidden Human Cost

Not only are there environmental and health concerns as a result of companies selling such cheap clothes but there are also ethical ones. In warehouses made to produce these clothes there are ethical concerns on the safety of workers and the fairness of their labour. Many workers who make these cheap garments are in unstable work environments, and may even be in sweat shops (illegal work places that do not consider the implications of workers).

With the focus of many businesses being on revenue, a lot of workers get swept into unfair, unsafe working conditions to make clothes that are barely supporting themselves or their families, with some making only £2.30 a day. Companies in Britain, and across the world, state they are trying to work with better manufacturers but, with the lack of clarity and transparency from everyone involved in the process of making these clothes, the only real indicator of this being truthful is the price of a garment. So, next time you come across a £5 bargain or something that seems too good to be true, take this article in as food for thought.

Rethinking the Way We Shop

There are many alternatives to shopping with companies that raise concerns with their ethical and environmental implications such as, charity shopping. A £5 T-shirt in a charity shop is often a casual find and a lot more sustainable than buying new. This is because it promotes reusing old clothes, and even stops clothes from being thrown away in landfill.

Not only do you get to find unique pieces but you also support a charity local to you. Another alternative may be choosing to pick up a hobby and learn the skill of sewing so you can repurpose, rework and design your own clothes. Websites such as ‘Good On You’ looks at sustainability in big fashion companies and helps redirect you to more sustainable options. It is also an app that rates your favourite brands on how ethical their production is and helps you discover better alternatives.

Final Thoughts: Choosing Value Over Price

It is important to be mindful when choosing what you put on your body and what businesses you support. Be de- influenced by mass media and allow yourself to find your identity through individuality, creativity and time. There’s nothing better than a hand picked, long lasting wardrobe of clothes that just speak to you. Next time you see a £5 T-Shirt, keep this in mind.

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Guest Writer Bio

This article was written by Sumayyah Shariff, a volunteer contributor as part of a monthly guest blog series exploring sustainable fashion, identity and creativity.

Sumayyah is a creative designer with a passion for ethical and conscious ways of life. Exploring how identity, media, and consumer habits shape the way we live. Her work focuses on making sustainability more accessible, relatable, and actionable for the next generation.