Aibu to really dislike Primark?

[Nomoet]

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.

You felt uncomfortable because your friend said she liked primark. I wish that was all I had to feel uncomfortable about, where someone choses to shop. I think you need to emerge from your ivory tower and get out more. If you want her dressed in designer wear. You put your hand in your pocket. Some people have no choice than to go to cheap shops. You might be there yourself one day, never say never

well, sure Mrs DV, this is true, she knew she wouldn't have been going naked...:)

Yes I don't quite get the argument that buying second hand is just as bad. It doesn't absolve you entirely from fuelling the market for this stuff but it does stop it going to landfill and more resources being used to make the same thing again.

The argument being that it is quite circular, for you to be able to get your second hand clothes and reconditions tech gear you are more often than not relying on others being early adopters or being into quick fashion. If it wasn't for those at which ethics apparently do not come into play you would not have the opportunity to purchase said second hand products.

Oh and keeping a needle & thread handy and teachinv everyone in your house how to use them helps you stay more ethical in terms of clothes, and not putting things in the bin when they can be fixed just because its so easy to pick up new clothes cheaply.

Repurpose completely warn/useless clothes into rags.

Wherever you buy from, if you get as much life/use out of something as possible you are making it more ethical.

If you buy ethically but have a wardrobe full of stuff you never wear & keep buying more its kinda not so ethical any more

I was at Westfields yesterday.
I went into Uniglo

My God but it was dull! And it wasn't cheap. Some stuff on sale was around the 20 quid mark but most stuff was far more expensive.
I tried on a pair of wide leg jersey trousers at the relatively cheap price of £19.90
They were exactly what you would expect from a pair of twenty quid trousers.
Badly cut and weird.

At least Primark has a bit of oomph about it. Someone with a crap life can cheer themselves up with a bright frock or glittery teeshirt.
Uniglo and its kin hold no joy for me.

I reckon that is why COS is so successful. If you wear one of their bafflingly unflattering garments no one is going to think you are common enough to go to Primark.

Charity shops are full of barely worn COS.
There is a good reason for that.

Justanotherlurker - I see your point but really you can't say it's the same. As I said before charity shops would still exist without Primark. And unless you're suggesting nobody buys anything and simply makes heir own clothes your point is just redundant. There is a hierarchy of blame and Primark encouraging disposable throwaway fashion is right up there

Oh and keeping a needle & thread handy and teachinv everyone in your house how to use them helps you stay more ethical in terms of clothes, and not putting things in the bin when they can be fixed just because its so easy to pick up new clothes cheaply. That is very true. Few minutes with a needle and thread can do wonders and I say that as someone who isn't that greatest needlewoman in the world.

I shop in charity shops as well as Primark, the two are not mutually exclusive.

Who is COS?

The argument being that it is quite circular, for you to be able to get your second hand clothes and reconditions tech gear you are more often than not relying on others being early adopters or being into quick fashion. If it wasn't for those at which ethics apparently do not come into play you would not have the opportunity to purchase said second hand products.

Thats not really true. A lot of charity shop donations are house clearances. I.e. the previous owner is dead. I take stuff to the charity shop if it no longer fits me, not because Im clearing my wardrobe for a new season look.

Charity shops & flea markets were around before the fast fashion movement.

Second hand tech does rely on people selling usable goods, but I only replace my repurposed phones when they completely die. Which they do. In built obsolescence is a big issue, not just with tech but also modern white goods and cars. People HAVE to replace them as theyre not built to be fixable.

So youre left with a choice: sell it while you still can before it becomes worthless, or keep it till it is unfixable, which wont be long, then try to scratch together the money for a new one

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

So all Primark cardies have seasonal patterns on them? not true.

nomoet I have spent my adult life trying to make ends meet and I had parents who were absolutely appalling at budgeting and prioritising.
I know this is why I am pretty obsessed with clothes.
I have been using charity shops for about 35 years .

I can tell you that before introduction of cheap clothing on the high street they were mostly full of things you would not wear.
I was a punk so buying old ladies coats and 60s stuff was great. Utterly useless if you were trying to clothe a family or look ok for work.
Charity shops don't sell a lot of children's clothing and some don't bother with it. Their is very rarely anything for kids over 3-4.

Besides that, as my area is getting gentrified the stuff in the charity shops is getting better BUT the prices have tripled.

£30 for a dress from a high street chain with worse or similar ethics to Primark. Why would you?

Primark have a small selection of patterned cardis. They patterns are not seasonal. They have a large selection of plain ones. I buy them. My black one has lasted years and I can also wear it back to front as a slash neck jumper.

I think if you want to buy second hand clothes for children your best bet nowadays is Facebook selling sites or gumtree.

Charity shops nowadays are very overpriced. I've seen Primark clothes in charity shops that have been priced higher than they were originally sold for!

I’m with MrsDV

It’s easy to boycott shops you wouldn’t deign to shop in anyway.

I’m sorry OP, your concerns about disposable clothing are valid. But that’s not the real reason you look down on people who shop in Primark. Is it?

Not fair to single out one company when there are so many others doing the same, producing cheap rubbish which is almost disposable. As long as folks will buy this stuff, they will make it. It's people that need to change their ideas and buy decent stuff that lasts. Nothing to do with class or money really - I would think you can end up spending the same amount - eg 1 decent pair of good shoes that lasts a few years, vs 4 pairs crappy plastic ones that you chuck and replace.

So all Primark cardies have seasonal patterns on them? hmm not true.

If they dont they have a fashioney shape or this seasons colour or whatever.

Primark is not about plain mixable classics.

They have some plain tees and stuff but theyre all plastic!

Nothing to do with class or money really - I would think you can end up spending the same amount - eg 1 decent pair of good shoes that lasts a few years, vs 4 pairs crappy plastic ones that you chuck and replace

But these days if you pay 4 times as much you get the same crap disposable quality!

I have a pair of boots I bought in shoe zone that have done two winters so far and still look new

I paid more for a decent pair of pumps from a brand that USED to last. They fell apart. I took them to Timpsons to get them fixed and they guy said that the way theyre made cant be fixed.
He did re-heel my other pair for me: the £20 pair that werent from a fancy shop

Oh God I hate COS. The colours can be nice, but the clothes are such weird shapes, and mostly polyester anyway.

Ahhh buttered you're right and how you've seen right through me. No that's the not real reason. It's not about the cheap disposable culture that people get sucked into and their flagrant disregard for what each piece of clothing means in human terms. It's not because of their stores and prices that blatantly encourage and urge for you to buy with no regard. No it's just because you unlike anyone else has managed to see right into me to know that I just have utter hatred for the people that shop there. This is class warfare. Clearly.

But these days if you pay 4 times as much you get the same crap disposable quality! And with shoes. when mine were kids you got Clarks or StartRite and they were so much better than the cheap shops, now it isn't so straightforward, some cheap shoes are rubbish but some are as good or better than the big brands.

I dont for one second think that primark is unique on the high street in terms of production. The naicer high street stores are just as bad

But with Primark its two fold. Its not just their production, their DESIGNS are the worst for being novelty and seasonal and trendy. Which means they date FAST.

Most high street shops make clothes in the same way . Some mark them up more to make them seem better quality . Don't be fooled by prinark . Their plan is to make you fill a basket because it's cheap rather than buying one item . Is a genius shopping model most of us fall for . 🤷‍♀️

Ahhh buttered you're right and how you've seen right through me. No that's the not real reason. It's not about the cheap disposable culture that people get sucked into and their flagrant disregard for what each piece of clothing means in human terms. It's not because of their stores and prices that blatantly encourage and urge for you to buy with no regard. No it's just because you unlike anyone else has managed to see right into me to know that I just have utter hatred for the people that shop there. This is class warfare. Clearly

So why have you singled a Primark out, when most of the High Street are no different?