RESOURCES | why sustainable fashion can cost moreWhy Eco-Friendly Clothing Can Cost More
Understanding what goes into your clothes—and why making them responsibly isn’t cheap
Ethically-made children’s clothing looks and feels different because it is different—right down to how it’s made. Sustainable fashion costs more because each step—from sourcing fibers to fair factory wages—requires extra care, investment, and intention. Here’s a closer look at why—and how supporting these efforts contributes to real change.
1) Eco-friendly fabrics are more costly
Sustainable textiles often cost more because they require cleaner methods and smaller-scale production.
Organic cotton is costlier to grow: Left to nature, organic cotton and hemp comes with lower yields and higher farming costs than conventional crops.
Low-impact dyes demand safer water practices: Meeting standards like OEKO-TEX involves clean processing, extra testing, and wastewater treatment.
Specialty materials are rarer Materials like TENCEL™ or recycled blends often come from smaller, certified mills—without bulk discounts.
2) Ethical factories are also more costly
Ethical manufacturing builds in costs for labor and safety
Organic cotton is costlier to grow: Left to nature, organic cotton and hemp comes with lower yields and higher farming costs than conventional crops.
Low-impact dyes demand safer water practices: Meeting standards like OEKO-TEX involves clean processing, extra testing, and wastewater treatment.
Specialty materials are rarer Materials like TENCEL™ or recycled blends often come from smaller, certified mills—without bulk discounts.
Sources:
European Parliament: The impact of textile production and waste on the environment
Changing Markets Foundation: Dirty Fashion
Environmental Health Perspectives: Toxic Threads
Silk & Willow: The Hidden Cost of Color
Springer Environmemental Science and Pollution Research (2024): A Review of Environmental Impact of Azo Dyes