Is it me, or is Zara really poor quality?

[carlajean]

I went in this weekend, to check out a dress that was featured in the weekend Guardian. The shop assistants were useless but, after looking at the rest of the stuff, I wasn't all that bothered, as it all seemed to be such poor quality - about Primart standard. Have I missed a trick here, and missed some good stuff in with the bad?

[AnnieSnap]

@Thedogshow I have recently bought from H&M for the first time - from their ‘conscious’ (sustainable) range. I don’t know what their other stuff is like, but the several items I bought are stylish and excellent quality!

[BoomChicka]

I know this is a zombie thread but I agree that H&M is much better quality than Zara now, I get lots of casual stuff from there and the odd nice dress or pair of shorts. Dd likes their stuff too.

[Thedogshow]

I have stopped buying from Zara because the quality is so bad these days. It used to be excellent a few years ago. I’d say lots of the clothes are worse quality than H&M, and on a par with really cheap shops.

[Themeparklover]

Yes I agree, and speaking of primark I had one of those 'all4one' gift cards left over from christmas with about 30 pounds on it so went to look at primark, thought the clothing was truly awful this year, bland ill fitting etc so left and went to m&s instead 30 pounds for a holly wiloughby jumper and some underwear but much better quality

[AnnieSnap]

I had only checked them this year (after losing a lot of weight). I walked into their shop keen to see what all the fuss was about. I walked in, around and straight out. I didn’t even touch anything, it just all looked really crappy! 😮

[NatriumChloride]

I’m glad to see so many others with the same opinion as me and the fact that this has been going on for years! Could never understand the hype. Every time I’ve gone in to look at something I’ve seen online, I’ve been shocked at the poor quality of the material and the awful workmanship. Threads loose, buttons coming off, snagged threads… and all with a higher end price tag. Totally overrated IMO. And YY to clothes hanging oddly on your frame and not being well cut!

[scruffyonion]

just like to say, went in to 'zara' today and i have to say I am shcocked of he paucity of the clothes, and the styes Zara used to b brilliant the quality and the styles and of course their once beautiful dresses to die for.... omg what has happened I think now saving money is the key so i think now they are churning out any old S..T sadly iv stopped now shopping i there sadly it was round breaking for us ladies but it was a matter of time they put profit before anything else aka cheap crap

[goingtotown]

Zara & Next both bad quality.

[BigButtons]

I think it is very expensive for the fabrics used. I am sometimes tempted to buy in the sale but am always very disappointed by how the clothes wash- they become almost u wearable after a couple of washes.
It’s shite and cheaply made.

[ZaraW]

I used to buy white cotton shirts there 15 years ago. The designs were better than most of the hight street and quality was good. I rarely shop there but the jackets and coats can still be good quality. Zara Home bedding is also not as good as it once was. It's pretty crap.

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

I have never bought anything from them as I shop online and the website is awful!

[Sunshine1235]

I know this is an old thread but I was just thinking this yesterday. All the kids tops I got from Zara have holes in after a short amount of time snd have lost their shape. Conversely I have a Zara t shirt for me from about 8 years ago which is still going strong so maybe quality has declined

[shallIswim]

always felt Zara was overrated. In the days when I shopped in person I felt the stuff and it was all kind of synthetic. Now I go online and can't cope with they display their products - all weird model poses. Does my middle aged brain in!

[BarbaraofSeville]

@SuperSketchy

This thread is five years old, however, yes I also find Zara horrible. Hate their website, hate their use of acrylic in knitwear. They also used to not be very 'size inclusive', which as a tall 18 really bothered me. Think they're a little better for that now though.

I tried on some shoes and a jumper there recently and both looked lovely from afar as a pp said, but awful close up. Did not buy, obviously.

Ha ha. I hadn't noticed until you said that, but I was confused by the comments that I now see were in 2016 about how it's got worse in the last 2-3 years as I was thinking 'it's a lot longer than that, I bought a top there years ago, it wasn't cheap and it was like a dishrag after one wash'.

I admit to throwing it away because it looked awful and I'm one of those people who buys clothes and wears them for years so I never normally do that. I have supermarket clothes that are years old, but to me, Zara just seems like Primark quality at M&S/Top Shop/Monsoon prices, which is ridiculous and a disgusting waste.

[SeaRabbit]

About 15 years ago I bought a dark grey flecked Zara pencil skirt that I ended up loving. It looked like it came from Hugo Boss, and was file wool, but being polyester it didn't crease. It died after 14 years and having been worn at least once a week except at the height of summer, and I was sad.

And I have a favourite Zara scarf that's huge, made of raw silk, with a gorgeous coloured pattern, again about 15 years old.

I recently bought some superb black cotton trousers that look very much more expensive than £35.00.

But mostly I agree it's fairly rubbish. You have to keep popping in and being very selective.

[BPdanny]

@TheMightyMing

Agree 100% , the only decent thing I have from there is a faux leather mini from this year. I usually walk in, it looks great till you get close up and there's raw edges, split seams, terrible stiching and in any case the size is all to cock. I'm a slim size 10-12 and feel a bit peeved buying a large!

I would rather buy quality in the sales.

I'm the same - I get annoyed they consider my slim-average body a 'Large' I am at the lower end of my bmi and small framed

[Susannahmoody]

Very poor quality and design.

[VenusClapTrap]

Funny, I was in Zara this week and found trousers that fit nicely and flatter me for the first time in ages. Also a really nice satin shirt, which hangs beautifully. Bought quite a few bits for the dc too, which they are happy with and seem decent quality. I tend to stick to basics though, rather than dressy stuff.

[LittleMowf]

The sizing is whack too. I’m a bog standard 12 in most places and haven’t been back since I tried a few jumpers in there, and the XL ones were too small. Not very inclusive

[GarethBalesManBun]

actual

[GarethBalesManBun]

I’ve never understood why people love Zara. Very poorly made, horrible fabrics, weirdly cut. I think they do a good job of styling and merchandising to make it look more high end than it is. The actually clothes are like the worst quality items at H&M.

[OlivesTree]

I have some Zara shirts that I bought about 10 years ago that are still going strong - nice cuts and fabric. Now, it’s mostly shite, with the very occasional ok item thrown in.
I’ve returned several things that have shrunk or fallen apart after a wash and they always refund with barely a look at it. I suspect it’s because they expect returns die to the appalling quality.

[newnortherner111]

Used to be quite good, had a coat from them worn every day to the office (pre Covid) that has lasted over 10 years. Wasn't impressed last time I was in there though.

[PersephoneJames]

Ohh that makes sense. I go to the Spanish flagship and it’s been given a tech makeover with robot arms and “smart shopping” etc.

[SuperSketchy]

No way @LaBrujaPiruja! That's really interesting! This is why I love Mumsnet.