The True Cost

The True Cost is a documentary about the global clothing industry and the gulf between the low prices shoppers pay and the conditions under which those garments are made. Directed by Andrew Morgan, who also wrote the screenplay, it moves between the fashion shows of major cities and the poorer regions where much of the world's clothing is produced, examining how pressure for cheap, fast fashion affects the people who make it and the environment. Among those appearing as themselves are designer Stella McCartney, environmental activist Vandana Shiva, economist Richard Wolff, and television hosts Stephen Colbert and John Oliver. Michael Ross produced, and the film was made with support raised through crowdfunding, drawing on more than nine hundred backers.

The film was released in 2015 and runs 92 minutes. It is Morgan's first feature, followed chronologically by Bleeding Hearts in 2026. On IMDb it holds a rating of 7.7 from roughly 7,500 votes, and on TMDB a rating of 7.5 from about 243 votes, indicating a favourable response from those who have seen it, though the audience samples differ greatly in size. Produced in the United States by Life Is My Movie Entertainment Company and Untold Creative, it belongs to a wave of documentaries that trace the supply chains behind everyday consumer goods.