1. Cost of Materials: Sustainable clothing brands often use organic or eco-friendly materials, which can be more expensive to produce compared to conventional materials.
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2. Production Practices: Sustainable clothing brands prioritise ethical manufacturing processes, which can incur higher labour costs. This includes paying fair wages, providing safe working conditions, and investing in environmentally friendly production methods. Using local and micro factories where possible to reduce carbon footprint.
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3. Certifications and Standards: Obtaining certifications for organic, Fair Trade, or other sustainable practices often involves additional costs for audits, inspections, and compliance with standards.
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4. Limited Scale: Many sustainable clothing brands operate on a smaller scale and pre-order systems compared to fast fashion giants. Limited production quantities can lead to higher costs per unit.
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5. Innovative Technologies: Some sustainable brands invest in innovative technologies and processes to reduce environmental impact, such as water-saving dyeing techniques or recycling materials. These technologies may have higher upfront costs, which are reflected in the final price of the garments.
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6. Transparency and Traceability: Sustainable clothing brands may invest in transparency and traceability initiatives to provide information about their supply chain and production processes. These efforts require resources and contribute to higher prices.
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While sustainable clothing brands may have higher upfront costs. Additionally, the higher price point may reflect the true cost of production, including factors such as fair wages. Exceptionally low prices on clothing or other products, it’s important to consider the true cost behind that bargain. In many cases, these low prices come at the expense of workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
