Which brands do you think still make quality clothes?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Inspired a little by the British (un)style thread. It's really hard to look stylish when you have paid sixty quid for what is essentially hankie fabric with holes (I'm looking at you Hush) or an item that gives a mild static shock if you move too much (Next, and doubly sad when I compare it with the lovely cashmere cardi I got there seventeen years ago, still going strong).

Pottering along the high street of an unremarkable French provincial town was a very different story. I expensively updated my knicker collection and the quality and level of service were a joy!

Are there any UK (or available in the UK) brands that you think still make quality clothes? I am sure that there are lots of us who would rather wear classic, stylish clothes, even if they are not the height of fashion

I think that Hobbs is still pretty reliable for quality, although I'm sure it's very un-cool. I've also been impressed with Cos and got some nice cotton summer clothes (shorts, pima cotton t-shirts) from Fat Face this year. I also have some nice items by Jigsaw, including a lovely coat.

Any thoughts?

I love Cos, and also Massimo Dutti. Whistles quality is also pretty good too, I've found.

Cos
Toast
John Lewis own brands

TBH I get a lot on eBay nowadays so I can be more selective about fabrics and get things that are vintage or at least a bit older when quality was better.

Whistles
Jigsaw
Arket
Jaeger
Brora
& the occasional thing at M&S.The silk v neck tops being one example.

Celtic and Co knitwear is lovely.

I went shopping recently (I normally shop online) and was really depressed by the dreadful quality on the high street, especially in Zara - I’ve never seen so much overrated, ill-fitting, cheaply-made looking shite in all my life (with the possible exception of Primark). The only shop that stood out to me as having beautiful quality, well-cut clothes was Cos. All Saints was a poor runner up.

Online I buy from Arket (LOVE) as well as Cos. Oliver Bonas do some nice quality clothes, as does Toast, and Uniqlo. H&M’s premium range is pretty good value for money. &Other Stories is OK. Me and Em lovely but expensive. Unfortunately where I live I have to shop online to access all the above apartment from Toast and Cos ☹️

Apart not apartment FFS

Cos, toast, and some of those who specialise such as dr martens for boots, etc.

I would once have included joules but really can’t excuse their positive support for fox hunting.

I’m always shocked when people say &other stories.
Their stuff is very thin and creasy, and often odd;y put together. The leather bags seem too cheaply made for the prices and the knitwear is horrendous. I do love their fragrances and makeup though.
I guess it’s the image that convinces people of the so-called ‘luxe’.

There seems to be no middle ground left now, especially in towns and suburbs. We have a small arcade here in my town and the highest quality store is still m&s - and they’re closing it down!

That will leave us, unless we travel to manchester, with just next and new look for ‘quality’ goods!

I wonder why the middle ground is dying out?
People are perhaps so used to cut price clothing that the manufacturers think we won’t want to pay for more quality.

But hey, if you shop at Zara now, most of their £100+ coats are unlined ffs, it is insane, but will only stop when we, the consumers, quit buying shite.

Are there any UK (or available in the UK) brands that you think still make quality clothes?

But everything on the Internet is available in the UK! Ok, not everything, obviously, but you could shop every day for the rest of your life and never run out of clothes available to order on your phone/laptop. You really are not limited to the traditional British High St brands any more.

I mean, Poundland have released a clothing brand now, in our town.
How far can a race to the bottom actually go?

Nobody in this country should be poor enough to excuse this flock of vultures capitalising on those attempting to dress themselves whilst not being paid a living wave.

Fucking living wage, haaaa!

Echoing Cos - I buy a lot of my clothes there, and generally have been really impressed with the quality.

J Crew have also been good - I buy when in the US and there's sales or at the US outlets.

Liking the look of Arket, but when I've been in the shop (once or twice on flying London trips), I've found the shop too stark and panic. I quite like to be able to see something put together and want the whole ensemble.

I work with quite a lot of younger super-cool people, and they all seem to shop online exclusively - multiple ASOS packages arrive daily, plus other smaller online stores.

Whistles, Hobbs, J Crew, all saints for blazers, some french connection..
I have found Cos have really deteriorated in quality lately.

Agree re the French brands.

Zapa, One Step, Ikks, even NafNaf will all deliver to uk.

Don’t agree with Whistles. Popped in today for a looksy and virtually everything I picked up - including a very ordinary knitted jumper - had a tag proclaiming the fabric to be “extremely delicate and prone to snagging”. I bought a dress for a wedding earlier this year whose fabric bobbled where my arms hang by the end of the first wear.

Hobbs is pretty indestructible, as is Jigsaw and Arket. Gerard Darel is pricy but well made. If you like the style (I don’t) Toast is really well made. Jigsaw is generally pretty good for me as well. J Crew is good for jeans in particular.

Massimo Dutti is really hit and miss. I stopped buying cotton trousers there as two pairs in a row shrunk massively in the wash despite following the instructions. A pair of leather shoes peeled within a few wears. I do rate their blazers and coats though.

Whistles is unreliable. I have cotton t- shirts that have been great, but jumpers that bobbled instantly, looking as though I’d paid a tenner for them rather than ten times that.
Uniqlo knitwear is excellent. Levi jeans seem to fit well and last well. Stuff from Hobbs makes me look matronly and doesn’t have the right proportions for me.
I think I might do a dressmaking course

I've seen some nice stuff at Arket - but am very petite - size 6 and 5 foot tall - would it all be too big/long?

Yes to be fair most of my higher quality stuff (whistles, Hobbs, all saints) is second hand, so I wouldn't know if quality had deteriorated.
I am dismayed by quality for the price when shopping on the high street and find very little I like.

Other than basics from Hush (not the polyester shite) and the white company, I shop at J Crew (sales) and Sezane. And that's honestly it! Actually the odd thing from Boden eg boots or bikini.
I think I'm quite chic, dressed down rather than up, and I rarely deviate from these shops.
Shoes I get from Lotta, Birkenstock, superga, sometimes KG. It's a uniform of sorts but seems to suit me.
It's all about avoiding the cheap badly cut fabrics.
Ooh whistles I would say maybe the odd item. Again look for decent fabrics in sales.
Weirdly I find it easier than I used to by sticking to these shops.

Lots of similar as above:

Toast
Celtic & Co
Jigsaw
Me & Em
Lotta
Birkenstock
Converse
Uniqlo knitwear and heattech

I have often bought these things in the sale or secondhand, but they have all lasted well.

Levi's and Monki for denim
Camper for shoes

Arket is good quality for the price.
I also like Me & Em and Baukjen for jersey. Other than that I buy French brands. Used to like White Company but their quality has tanked.

Has anyone ever bought anything from Plumo? I got a catalogue (unsolicited ) through the post and I was surprised to see a couple of things I liked from there! I always thought they catered for older ladies. Any thoughts anyone?

baukjen too for jersey and jumpsuits, forgot about them.
Zara always promises so much but quality is dreadful. Clothes are so disposable. Love their kids stuff and homewards though, they seem to be far higher quality.
But yeah I think it's easier sticking to like 5 shops only. Still looking out for a good tailored blazer if anyone can help?

Yes to the odd plumo item too