Me When They Ask If I Pay the Workers a Fair Wage — They Want a $3 T-Shirt(Start a Clothing Brand, They Said…)

You’ve just quoted a unit cost.

Let’s say it’s $6. Maybe $7.

It includes fair wages, decent fabric, quality stitching, and a little breathing room for things like… I don’t know, profit.

And they come back with that look.

“Hmm… I was kinda hoping for more like… three dollars?”

Then — with no trace of irony — they ask:

“But you do pay the workers fairly, right?”

This is the spiritual cousin of the “Are your products sustainable?” question, typically asked while someone is trying to launch a clothing brand with 100% custom designs, zero production knowledge, and a spreadsheet that says they’ll sell each tee for $45.

Oh yes — and they want it printed, packed, and landed for the price of a breakfast sandwich.

If that hit you in the stomach (or made you mutter “I’ve heard that exact sentence”), I built Garment Sourcing 101 for you.

Not to roast — but to rescue.

To teach people how to actually start a clothing brand that’s ethical, scalable, and based in reality — not vibes and lowball quotes.

Because here’s the thing: you cannot ask for fair wages, ethical treatment, and good working conditions… and then flinch at anything over $3 a unit.

That math doesn’t math.

Let’s break it down — because I’ve been in this game for 15+ years, and I’ve seen what goes into that “simple” t-shirt.

You want:

• Pre-washed 100% cotton

• DTG or screen-printed branding

• Neatly packed in biodegradable bags

• Shipped on time

• And made by workers who aren’t overworked, underpaid, or coughing over the production line

You should want that. That’s the goal.

But you also have to understand the actual cost of making that happen.

Spoiler: it’s not $3.

At $3, someone is losing.

And spoiler #2: it’s not you.

It’s the workers at the sewing line.

It’s the cutting unit that gets pushed to skip QC.

It’s the guy sourcing fabric who now has to settle for scratchy blends that’ll pill after three washes.

It’s not personal — it’s structural.

Factories don’t magically survive on good vibes and ethical intentions. They survive on margins. On predictability. On clients who don’t treat every quote like a negotiation on a garage sale toaster.

And here’s what makes it even trickier:

Sometimes, you don’t even realize you’re lowballing.

You just asked for a quote. You didn’t say, “Please underpay your workers.”

You didn’t think you were the problem. You’re a good person. You recycle. You bought those bamboo socks once.

But without education, your good intentions won’t matter — your sourcing behavior will still produce the same results.

That’s why I built Garment Sourcing 101.

To bridge the gap between “I want to do this right” and “I actually know how to do this right.”

It’s not just about finding factories.

It’s about building sourcing systems that align with your values and your budget — without sacrificing the actual people making your products.

Because if you want your production partners to respect you — show them respect.

In clarity. In timelines. In pricing.

When a founder sends over a vague design and says “can I get this done for $3?” — they’re not seen as visionary. They’re seen as a time-sink.

But the ones who come in with:

• A tech pack

• A clear MOQ

• A realistic budget

• And a basic grasp of labor costs?

They’re the ones who build brands.

They get honest replies. Faster samples. Better long-term supplier relationships.

And yes — they get to sleep at night knowing their clothes weren’t made under a flickering lightbulb for $0.60/hour.

So next time someone says,

“Do you pay the workers fairly?”

and then sends you a $3 target price…

Just breathe.

Then consider forwarding them this blog. Or enrolling in Garment Sourcing 101 yourself so you never have to be that person.

Because the world doesn’t need more cheap t-shirts.

It needs more founders who actually understand how things are made — and why pricing matters.

You want ethical production? Great.

Now back it up.

Not just with your words — with your margins.