Cotton is one of the world’s most familiar materials, worn daily and found in everything from shirts to bed sheets. But behind this comfort lies a high environmental cost, as producing just 1 kilogram of cotton requires about 10,000 litres of water.

When you pick up a simple cotton T-shirt, you probably don’t think about water. But behind that soft, everyday fabric is surprisingly 2,700 litres of fresh water.

The global clothing industry in 2025 paints a picture of divergence, where brand value, market capitalisation, and projected sales do not always align.