We all own t-shirts in different colours, styles and fabrics. Some are old favourites we have had for years, some we have recently bought. T-shirts tend to be cheap and because of this we probably don’t think too much about the stories behind their production, the journeys that they make and the implication of these for social and environmental sustainability.
What we would like to do is to tell you a bit more about the story of your t-shirt from design through to end of life and give you the opportunity to share stories of your own t-shirts. Select each part of the image below to visit different areas of the site.
We hope you enjoy exploring the story of a t-shirt and learning a little more about the social and environmental sustainability issues through the life of a t-shirt. The whole process from design to your home can be as long as 6 months and that does not include the 6 months it takes to produce the cotton from seed to the harvest of the cotton boll. Something to consider next time you put on a t-shirt! If you have any difficulties with the navigation above, try using the links below instead.
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The Life Story of Your T-shirt: Submit Your T-shirt Story
What's the story of your favourite T-shirt? Where did it come from? Why did you buy it? Did you buy it, or was it a present? Share your stories here.
Take part nowThe Life Story of Your T-shirt: Submit Your T-shirt Story
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The Life Story of Your T-Shirt: Production
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.
Read nowThe Life Story of Your T-Shirt: ProductionLevel: 1 Introductory
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The Life Story of Your T-Shirt: Retail
Think about what influences you when you buy a t-shirt. What factors are important to you? Do you know or care how sustainable the t-shirt that you're buying is?
Read nowThe Life Story of Your T-Shirt: RetailLevel: 1 Introductory
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The Life Story of Your T-Shirt: Consumers
Your t-shirt goes through a lot when you're wearing it. What's the story of yours? What happens to your t-shirts when you're done with them?
Read nowThe Life Story of Your T-Shirt: ConsumersLevel: 1 Introductory
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The Life Story of your T-shirt: Spotting Sustainability
Can you work out which of these t-shirts is the most sustainable based on their labels? Let's find out.
Take part nowThe Life Story of your T-shirt: Spotting Sustainability
This online event has been created in support of the Economic and Social Research Council's Festival of Social Science, for more information and events, visit the ESRC website. To share your comments and insights into the event with the ESRC, complete this short survey.
Our research
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OU Research - International development
Decades of top-down aid and development policies have failed to address global inequity and grinding poverty for billions of world citizens. Our international development research is pioneering a different approach which we call ‘inclusive innovation’. We are involving poor and marginalised people in developing their own solutions, and working with them to bring about a fairer and sustainable world.
Read moreOU Research - International development -
OU Research - Sustainable clothing
Research in the Institute for Social Marketing (ISM-Open) has focussed on developing this deeper understanding of the issues facing consumers and the industry. To help develop this understanding, the team in ISM-Open has undertaken a wide-range of research activities. Read about them here.
Read moreOU Research - Sustainable clothing
Take your interest further
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Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century
This online module will change your way of seeing and solving complex problems for ever. Through a mix of academic and practical work, you'll develop an understanding of design, acquire new design skills, and build a portfolio of design projects as a strong foundation for future study or work experience. It looks at common principles of design and thinking that lead to creative ideas and solutions in all design disciplines. Within a specially created online design studio, you'll complete practical activities and interact with tutors and other students, experiencing a completely different way of learning.
Learn moreDesign thinking: creativity for the 21st centuryLevel: 1 Introductory
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Take part in the wardrobe audit
Understand more about clothing ownership and how this behaviour can be changed by taking part in our interactive wardrobe audit.
Take part nowTake part in the wardrobe audit -
OU on Youtube: Why we should stop buying clothes we never wear
30% of clothes bought in the UK are never worn, says Helen Roby, Research Fellow at the Open University Business School. The research she and her colleagues are conducting is aimed at helping consumers and the industry to develop more sustainable behaviour and reversing the current tide of 'fast fashion'.
Read moreOU on Youtube: Why we should stop buying clothes we never wear
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