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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to really dislike Primark?

437 replies

Nomoet · 24/03/2018 01:19

Tbh i tend to steer away from these discussions with my friends as I'm very much in the minority and well if people want to do what they want to do and you're not going to change their mind then what's the point?

But I was having a chat with a friend this evening about Primark who loves it and it's made me feel so uncomfortable. I think the main reason I dislike it so much is because it's ultra cheap fashion and I just don't buy that you can get stuff made that cheaply without huge compromises on standards of how people are treated in factories - whether it's child labour or working hours and working conditions or pay.

And what makes me feel cross is how many people buy willy nilly stuff from there all the time just because they can just because it's cheap when really they could go without it or get it from somewhere else and it wouldn't hurt them or certainly not as much as the person making their clothes is being hurt by these practises.

OP posts:
Bananalanacake · 24/03/2018 11:31

This is an interesting discussion with lots of good points. I don't think Primark is in Germany though I haven't shopped there for years. I'm doing the not buying clothes for a year challenge. I've got enough and other people give me their cast offs.Smile

AlonsoTigerHeart · 24/03/2018 11:31

I shop in charity shops as well as Primark, the two are not mutually exclusive.
This
I buy most of my clothes from primark, the kids stuff too.
I also:
recycle eveything I can
Only buy food in season and grow my own
Don't buy single use stuff (clingfilm,paper plate,straw.)
Don't use a car
Don't use aerosols
Use natural cleaning stuff

I'm not unethical, just poorish.

Also what is this primark stuff that fall apart when it's looked at bollocks?!

Bluelady · 24/03/2018 11:31

I like the shapes and anti fashion look of COS but the fabrics are terrible. Apart from the odd cotton items in the summer.

Bluelady · 24/03/2018 11:32

Incidentally COS is owned by the same company as H&M so probably made in the same factories but with a much bigger mark up.

SpringHen · 24/03/2018 11:35

Bedding is another biggie these days

Used to be that you used the same duvet cover all year but changed the inner duvet for seasons.

Now its all cheap christmas sets, valentines sets, this years trends (pineapples, cactus, pugs) and this years novely characters. Trying to make you replace it all the time

Its hard to avoid. When I moved in with DH I decided to spend a bit more on "forever" linen & towels. Like my parents had and still use. I went to JL & M&S and bought their better ranges. They didnt wash well. Faded. Got bobbly and bare.

MIL bought us a cheap towel set when our expensive "forever" towels were dying & those cheap towels still look and feel great

So...??????? What to do??

SpringHen · 24/03/2018 11:38

Also what is this primark stuff that fall apart when it's looked at bollocks?!

Their shoes are put together with water soluble glue. As in you cant actually wear them outside, through damp grass or a light shower.

I have bought them in the past not expecting to get years out of them, but they are worse than most in that they really do seem to be single use!

crazycatgal · 24/03/2018 11:48

I currently can't afford to buy my clothes from elsewhere, lots of people shop in Primark because they can't afford to spend more money.

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 24/03/2018 11:53

I hate the idea of cheap, disposable fashion. We need to buy less stuff for own finances and for environmental reasons.

Original poster
Nomoet · 24/03/2018 11:54

When people say they can't afford to buy their clothes do you have no other clothes to wear at all?

OP posts:
BadLad · 24/03/2018 11:54

Uniglo and its kin hold no joy for me.

Grin

Fair enough. Uniqlo doesn't exactly hold a barrel of fun for me, but I find their clothes more durable and better to look at than the shite sold in Primark. I buy them for functional clothes, rather than to cheer myself up. I'd never buy clothes to cheer myself up, and certainly not from Primark, which I think would just depress me.

fantasmasgoria1 · 24/03/2018 11:55

The majority of items I have bought from primark have been great and have had them for years. They have washed and worn well. They have some nice stuff! Some stuff is tat but I avoid it.

DullAndOld · 24/03/2018 11:58

" I don't think Primark is in Germany though I haven't shopped there for years."

I think there may be a branch in Berlin, not sure.

AlonsoTigerHeart · 24/03/2018 12:00

There's quite a few in Germany according to google

DullAndOld · 24/03/2018 12:01

yes because the lack of cheap clothes in Poland means that people can now take the train to Germany on a Saturday morning and shop at Primark to their hearts' content..

goose1964 · 24/03/2018 12:14

Not all of Primark clothes are poor quality. Their t-shirts last for years.

ghostyslovesheets · 24/03/2018 12:29

Oh OP I'm still waiting for you to enlighten us on where we should all be shopping ...

I am a lone parent on a fairly tight budget with 3 kids including 2 teens - I'd love you to sit them down and tell them that they can ONLY have one pair of jeans every 3 years and they have to come from a charity shop Grin

We do our summer holiday shop mainly in Primark - they wear the clothes all summer - then it gets bagged up and handed down - the stuff that no longer fits the youngest is either - shockingly - donated to charity or given away on our local 'free to collect'

You might think it's throw away fashion - but most of can't afford to throw stuff away - I buy their stuff because it's cheap, wears well and they like it. Ethically there are worse shops to chose from.

noeffingidea · 24/03/2018 12:41

when people say they can't afford to buy their clothes do you have no other clothes at all?
WTF? Do you think people should wait until they only have one outfit before they buy anything new?
I have very few clothes, personally, and the same was true of my children when they were growing up. My mum taught me to buy 3 outfits per person (one to wear, one in the wash, one on the line). The PP who said that poor people used to buy their clothes at jumble sales was correct, and they always looked shite. Heaven forbid poor people should be able to afford nice clothes for their families.

MiaowTheCat · 24/03/2018 12:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noeffingidea · 24/03/2018 12:43

Springhen it's actually really easy to avoid. I just look at things that I don't need (eg bedding) and think 'that's nice' and move on.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 24/03/2018 12:49

and so what if you can afford to spend more but you chose not to?
I have expensive suits for work, but I still managed to find a couple of £12 (£12!) in Primark - and they have lasted quite well so far, they are not shiny or cheap looking.

The problem with Primark is that it's luck, and for that it's a false economy. You can find great quality things that last for years, I have them, or utter rubbish that needs to be binned after the first wash. I can afford to bin the clothes if they don't last, but it's harder if you don't have much money. You are also more lucky if you are not looking for anything specific.

Unfortunately, more expensive brands are a not synonym of quality.

SpringHen · 24/03/2018 12:56

Springhen it's actually really easy to avoid. I just look at things that I don't need (eg bedding) and think 'that's nice' and move on

Try reading to the ends of peoples posts maybe....

LimonViola · 24/03/2018 12:57

Eg If I want a warm cardie I want one I can wear any season, dress up or down, and keep wearing until it dies basically. If I go to primark itll have this seasons cut out, a seasonal pattern or some novely harrypotter/disney shite on it so I couldnt dress it up or down.

Do people really fanny around taking notice of what's 'in' and the 'seasonal cut' and all that malarkey? I don't actually know anybody who's bothered about all of that. If I buy something it's because it looks nice on me and suits me, it doesn't remotely matter whether it's considered 'in fashion' or not, style is a different thing to fashion and if something looks good this week it'll look good in six months time even if the artificial world of fashion has moved on.

Would you really not wear a cold shoulder top in summer just because it became popular this winter just gone??

GriefLeavesItsMark · 24/03/2018 12:58

Yes, Limonviola, they do.

SpringHen · 24/03/2018 12:59

Would you really not wear a cold shoulder top in summer just because it became popular this winter just gone??

I dont wear cut-out anything.
Im not into fashion, I like plain classics that mix'n'match well. And cardies with slieves that keep you WHOLE arm warm Wink

Original poster
Nomoet · 24/03/2018 12:59

The fact is noeffing is that most people mindlessly and needlessly buy clothes and Primark is one of the worst for facilitating it. And the excuse often trotted out is that it's because they would be going in rags otherwise. That may be true for some but if you have read my previous posts it's certainly not true for most people shopping there. They just need to change their mind sets. They don't need more clothes and can make do with what they have.

OP posts:
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