Why is Sustainable Apparel So Expensive? 

Sustainable Apparel vs Normal Apparel: What’s the Difference?

Sustainable apparel and fashion tend to be so much more expensive than standard apparel. Plus, it’s only apparel; how bad can it be for the environment? Actually, the fashion and apparel industry is extremely harmful to the environment and our planet:

It takes 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton t-shirt and fabric dyeing is the world’s second largest water polluter. Plus, the fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions. Our about page covers a few other frightening facts about the apparel industry.

So, why is sustainable apparel so expensive? It boils down to three main things: Ethical labor is more expensive, sustainable materials are much more expensive, and sustainable apparel doesn’t benefit from the same economies of scale as standard apparel.

Labor for Sustainable Apparel

Sustainable apparel is often ethically produced meaning workers producing sustainable apparel receive a fair wage and working conditions. Fast fashion does everything as quickly and cheaply as possible. Unfortunately, that includes low wages and sometimes poor working conditions for apparel producers.

Sustainable Materials 

Sustainable materials come in a few different formats. It could be fabric made from recycled plastic, also known as RPET. It could also be recycled fabric.

What is RPET?

RPET stands for recycled polyethylene tetraphyte. PET or polyethylene tetraphyte is a form of plastic. RPET uses plastic that’s already been created, like plastic water bottles, and chops it into flakes. The flakes are then melted down and stretched into a polyester like fabric. It’s a great way to turn old plastic bottles into awesome apparel! In fact, our Make Earth Cool Again hat is made from 100% RPET recycled plastic!

What is recycled fabric?

Recycled fabric is exactly what it sounds like: It’s existing fabric that has been repurposed. There are two forms of recycled fabric: post-consumer recycled fabric and pre-consumer recycled fabric.

What’s the difference between post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled fabric? Post-consumer includes garments and other forms of fabric that have already been used. Pre-consumer recycled fabric is often scrap and byproducts from the fabric manufacturing process. Converting these recycled fabrics into apparel is much better than tossing it in a landfill. Many of our men’s, ladies, and youth sustainable shirts are made from 100% recycled fabric.

Both RPET and recycled fabric are much more expensive than standard apparel materials. Despite being more expensive, they actually require less energy and less materials to produce.

Sustainable Apparel Production Volume

Standard apparel and fast fashion are being produced at record speed. Each year, 2 billion t-shirts are sold globally! Clearly apparel manufacturers benefit from some insane volume discounts. Unfortunately, sustainable apparel producers don’t experience the same demand. Until consumers start to change the way they spend and brands decide to produce apparel sustainably, the harmful way of apparel production is going to benefit from the greatest economies of scale.

The Solution: Buy Less and Buy Sustainable Apparel

If you buy less apparel, you might be able to afford a little more next time you're looking to upgrade your style. Use that extra budget to only buy sustainable apparel for a true win-win. Or go for the trifecta with Planet Legacy: not only do we sell sustainable apparel, we plant a tree for every item sold. You can even choose where you'd like your tree planted. Shop our sustainable styles  to get started.