To think that clothes are such poor quality now?

[Pythone]

(And other products too, really!)

I saw this tweet which summed it up: twitter.com/lingerie_addict/status/1494349028296900613?s=24

I've been thinking this for months - the difference between newer things and things I bought pre about 2017 is so stark. E.g. a nightdress from John Lewis which looked nice on the website, but then in real life the material is so thin and is only printed on one side, so the other side is just white with the design sort of showing through. Everything from mid-level shops seems to feel like the "cheapest of the cheap" from a decade or two ago, sometimes even like a fancy dress costume level. Thin fabric, weak construction, terrible finishing, strong chemical smells when you open the bag, and looking bad after a few washes. I bought a dressing gown from M&S and the pockets are just coming away at the sides even without being used.

In the mid-2000s I'd buy cheap things, often as part of a costume for a party or for a one-off outfit, and they'd just end up as part of my regular wardrobe for years. These days it's hard to imagine anything lasting that long, never mind things that weren't really expensive to start with.

Has anyone else noticed this?

@Pythone thanks a lot, I am happy to share the knowledge

I just feel like there is no choice at all on the high street or online. I recently risked and bought something from this brand called “nasty gal” (they flood the market alongside boohoo, etc.). The garment was disgusting. The fabric was cheap, printed on one side only, it was made for a shorter bigger person. I literally didn’t like handling it as I stuck it back in the mail bag.

What is going on with socks too? They are in holes after the first wash!

Yep, I bought quite a few t-shirts and vests last year from Primark! Why spend £10 in M&S when I can spend £2.50 and it’ll last exactly the same. A year on and I’m still happy with my decision.

@MrsBlaue Nastygal is owned by the same people who own Boohoo. Exactly the same market, product and supply chain.

Also, party clothes used to be from the likes of Kookai & Morgan. And they were pricier in than Oasis / Topshop but I’d get them in the sales. But they were nice! Not the revealing rags on offer now from BooHoo or PLT...

Another important thing happened when Zara started being very successful. Do you guys remember that there used to be different shops with their own signature products? So there was Jane Norman, with all their cute dresses, then Miss Selfridge used to sell viscose check shirts. Those shirts were massive by the way. Everything changed one day when they all decided to become Zara. I had an identical meeting with the buyers from Jane Norman and Miss Selfridge, they came in and said "we want to change the styling to look more like Zara". And that is how they lost their core customers, because no one needs another Zara. Zara has a vertical system of supply chain, which means they own the majority of their factories, so it's impossible to beat them in terms of speed.

Where do people buy pants and socks these days? I want pure cotton as I think it's quite gross to have polyester on your skin like that. But it seems hard to find now. I used to just pop into marks and pick a packet up. I generally hate shopping now as I know its money down the drain as it'll look dreadful after it's washed.

@Acidburn you are totally right. Work in Supply chain( not fashion though ) and see similar to what you are seeing
Op - i agree with you totally, i think though the drive has come from consumers, they do not want spend money, the retailers in turn don't want to raise prices and then look to makes cuts. You mention brands karen millen Debenhams Oasis and Warehouse, these are all now owned by Boohoo so hence the standards have gone down big time. During Covid i look to a few of my local boutiques instead of online ( mainly to support local) and discovered a few Danish brands, Second Female, Mos Mosh and Marc OPolo to name a few. Got a beautiful dress from Exquise aswell for a wedding . Yes they are a little bit more expensive but good quality. I also follow a few bloggers on sustainable now on Insta - one i cant find her name though is very good ,she goes around to all shops - high end to low end examine clothes and showing you what to look out for weather they are going last or not and good quality . I have also culled my shopping and realized i don't need to buy new all the time. Keep looking in my wardrobe.
@Cognoscenti for non see through good quality leggings try spanx ( recommend the active booty ones) or sweety Betty

@Franca123 try Uniqlo

Also meant to add now when i buy something online i examine it with a fine tooth comb, try it onw, if its bad quality or doesn't fit at all it goes back. If something that i currently have in my wardrobe doesn't fit but still love it i get it tailored

This is so true. In the 1980s I used to live in Leicester and there was a factory shop selling Jeager seconds. I still have a jumper I bought there in about 1985 which is thick and warm and its almost as good as new.

If someone is looking to buy good quality everyday clothes - I urge you to go to Germany and visit Peek & Cloppenburg. It is a department store, similar to what Debenhams used to be price wise and quality wise before it went all wrong. If you are looking for good quality everyday type of blouses, dresses, jeans, made in proper natural fabrics and not costing ££££ - that is the right pace to shop. Or at least it waa before Covid - I haven't been since 2019.

I agree on the whole, but also it depends where you shop.

I get a lot from Cos, Arket, Other Stories. Their stuff is fine. Mainly natural fabrics. Currently wearing a really thick well made cotton sweatshirt. It washes fine and isn’t falling apart. It just feels ‘substantial’

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow the brands you mentioned are good quality, I agree. But they are a bit pricey for people who don't earn London salaries, isn't it?

It’s not that expensive. Not like jigsaw or Whistles.

I just bought this. It’s really thick and cosy. Washes like a dream. How much would a Superdry one cost?

And it’ll last for ages. Not like some rat from Boo hoo

Whistles used to be fab. But the jumper I bought there this winter bobbled dreadfully on first wear and now looks a complete state despite costing over a £100. Jigsaw remains decent quality but you pay for it. Personally I pay for it as I'd rather have less but all of it good quality. Hush is a swindle - they sell rags.

I bought a skirt from "Other Stories". It wasn't cheap but I wouldn't have paid £5 for it from a market stall. It arrived crumpled and looked like an old petticoat.

I've had better quality from H&M ( which it is really ; only more expensive)

Hush is awful. Their stuff couldn’t be any thinner with smaller seams if they tried.

Wool dress bobbled so much after one wash l sent it back. Honestly bobbles the size of Pom poms!

I agree Orher Stories isn’t always fantastic. But their knitwear is good.

@Franca123 M&S for these bits, all the way.

Acidburn, I did a degree in fashion then worked as a designer for about 10 years,

It’s a bloody awful brutal industry. Got made redundant twice. Left without a backward glance when l was 30.

So where do we get our clothes from then?

I recently started my first 'corporate' job and was looking forward to getting some nice mid range officewear but it just doesn't seem to exist?? I'm plus size too at 16/18/20 (depending on shop) which adds a fun little extra to finding wearable clothes.
I ordered a pair of cord trousers from white stuff that were see though, how did they manage to make corduroy so poor quality you could see through it.