Tracing the global journey of a single T-shirt from cotton to finished garment
NPR's Planet Money team produced their own T-shirt to uncover the hidden human labor behind everyday clothing. By tracking every stage of production, they highlight the essential role of garment workers like Jasmine in Bangladesh, revealing the complex reality of the global textile industry.
The project follows the lifecycle of a T-shirt to demystify how mass-produced apparel is actually manufactured. By documenting the entire supply chain, the team provides a granular look at the industrial processes and the individuals whose work sustains the global market for basic clothing.
Central to this exploration is the perspective of workers in Bangladesh, such as Jasmine, who participated in the assembly of these specific shirts. This investigation serves as a case study in modern manufacturing, illustrating the interconnected nature of international trade and the human effort required to create a simple consumer item.
