The word “steal” might immediately come to your mind when you see a $5 T-Shirt. In an era where affordability trumps quality, a bargain like this might feel irresistible.

But behind that rock-bottom price (and I’ve even seen lower than $5), there’s a deeply flawed system. If you’ve been reading my blog, you might know enough already. This article will give an overview of the real cost of a $5 T-Shirt. You can also check this article for an even more deep dive.

A typical T-Shirt begins its lifecycle as raw cotton or polyester. Although cotton is sometimes marketed as a natural, breathable fibre, in reality, growing cotton for just one T-Shirt requires about 2,700 litres of water. That’s enough to sustain one person for over two years! Countries like India or Pakistan, which are major cotton-producers, are already grappling with water scarcity, yet the demand for cheap textiles continues to rise. Polyester presents its own challenges. Derived from petroleum, polyester production emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming. Worse, it sheds microplastics every wash, polluting waterways and harming marine life.

Beyond the materials, to produce garments at such a low cost, fast fashion heavily relies on cheap labour. In countries with minimal labour protection, workers work in unsafe conditions earning as little as $1 or $2 a day. These wages barely cover basic living expenses, let alone provide financial stability. Considering the gruelling hours and working standards, it becomes clear that the human cost of the $5 T-Shirt far outweighs its price. Read my article on The Rana Plaza disaster: The epitome of unsafe working conditions to witness the real-life dangers of the industry.

After production, the T-Shirt is subjected to transportation. From a factory in Dhaka to a distribution centre in the US or Europe, the shirt racks of thousands of miles. The cumulative impact of these emissions, multiplied by billions of garments produced each year, makes fast fashion a significant contributor to global climate change.

For many, a $5 T-shirt represents convenience and accessibility. But fast fashion feeds into a cycle of overconsumption. Cheap prices encourage people to buy more than they need, leading to wardrobes overflowing with unworn items. When these clothes inevitably lose their appeal or fall apart, they’re discarded: 85% of which ends up in landfills or incinerators.

The next time you’re tempted by a $5 T-shirt, ask yourself: who really pays the price? Behind the bargain lies a complex web of exploitation and environmental degradation. By choosing to invest in sustainable options, you’re not just buying a shirt—you’re advocating for a fairer, greener future.