The Life Story of Your T-Shirt: Production

Updated Wednesday, 14 October 2015

What goes into a t-shirt? How are they made and what impact does ethics and sustainability have on the supply chain? Get the inside perspective.

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The production of a t-shirt is surprisingly complex, with lots of different stages all with implications for the social and environmental sustainability of a t-shirt. The supply chain includes many people, such as designers and retailers in the global north and in the developing south, cotton and yarn producers, fabric knitters and dyers, cutters and sewers, label producers, packers, shippers and so on.

In this section we show you some of the issues that can influence the sustainability of a t-shirt through its lifecycle. You also have the opportunity to explore the journey of a t-shirt around the world through the different stages of its lifecycle and see the many miles that a humble t-shirt can travel. Mouse over or tap the circular icons to find out more about each stage.

Colour fastness

What does a t shirt have to put up with in daily life and how do colours survive the wash? Andrew Filarowski, Deputy Chief Executive of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, takes a look at colour fastness.

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Preparation dyeing and finishing

The look and feel of a t-shirt is important to consumers, and there are some key methods used to ensure that they are appealing. Andrew Filarowski explains what these entail.

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Standards for better cotton

The Better Cotton Initiative, BCI, is an organization looking at global cotton-production standards. Ruchira Joshi, one of the Programme Directors at BCI, explains what they do.

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Article
UK clothing manufacturing booms, but workers' rights lag behind

While the clothing industry in the UK has seen a leap forward in recent years, but the working conditions have yet to improve.

Read now to access more details of UK clothing manufacturing booms, but workers' rights lag behind

Article
Tackling systemic human and workers’ rights issues in garment supply chains

Martin Buttle, Apparel & Textiles Category Lead at ETI - The Ethical Trading initiative - talks about some of the things that ETI is doing to promote ethical dealing in the supply chain of garments.

Read now to access more details of Tackling systemic human and workers’ rights issues in garment supply chains

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The Life Story of Your T-Shirt: Production

Colour fastness

Preparation dyeing and finishing

Standards for better cotton

UK clothing manufacturing booms, but workers' rights lag behind

Tackling systemic human and workers’ rights issues in garment supply chains