Primark - what do I need?

[SheStoodInTheStorm]

I'm off to the big Primark tomorrow and wondering if there is anything I should be looking out for?!

I shop in Primark for me & my children, but i don't shop in a 'fast fashion' chucking things after one wear way. I shop there because I'm on a tight budget as a single mum. I regularly buy:

Cotton wool pads
Nail varnish
PJs
Vests
Toothbrushes
Hair elastics/bobbles/bobby pins
Socks & tights
Exercise stuff
Towels
Cotton bedding
Luggage & school bags
Flip flops
Woolly hats & gloves

I have a thin padded thigh length coat I've worn every day in winter for 3 years - looks as good as new after a wash & cost £12. If you look after your things, they last.

Plain long sleeve/short sleeve t-shirts in cotton/Lycra. They cost under £5 each and are indistinguishable from the Hobbs £30 equivalent. They do a great range of colours/stripes and they wash very well. They come up big though. I am a big boobed size 12/14 and have to buy the small as the medium is baggy on me. The £2 camisole vests are also very good as are socks, really any of their cotton Lycra stuff.

If you use cotton wool pads they are great value in Primark and yesterday I bought a very nice set of travel toiletry bottles for £1.

Very few retailers are sustainable and not in their entirety. And unfortunately although most of mumsnet seems to be fairly wealthy most of the time, not everybody else. There are plenty of ways to contribute to sustainability and a human rights effort that I'm quite certain a lot of those who stringently avoid primark as their contribution then fall short on. It is about contributing where you can not trying to make people feel shit about where they shop. Highly unlikely the phones we are using to respond in this thread are anything approaching sustainable or pro human rights re: their factory production and yet here we all are.

I used to work in retail business management. Most of it comes from the same set of factories; when you see a delivery distribution centre you will see them in the same boxes, factory name on the side. They are then either repackaged and sent to retailers, or sent as is and the retailer just unboxes and 'pre-retails' them for the shop floor with their own price label at whatever price point reflects their brands spend capability. Have seen the same vase in one colour go to matalan to be sold for £14 and in a different colourway off to debenhams etc to be sold for £25. It's from the same factory. Same level of employee care. You are paying for the fact that debenhams can command a higher price point than matalan. Unless something specifically claims to be fair trade etc or recycled I'd not delude yourself over it. Even then I'd check the %.

Anyway, the primark nail varnish is amazing- the £1 gel one. Better than high end and quick drying. Other than that all I buy in there really are cotton pants, cushions, and comfy house clothes. The odd top or dress over the years but their sizing is so often off that I end up returning.

Not that hard to get your head around

Sorry I thought your comment had been a response to mine earlier. Obviously not.

I'm Primark's biggest fan, I love it.

I but almost everything from there, jeans, coats, knitwear (the fine knit type), leggings, joggers, dresses, top, PJs, shoes, accessories and I'm sure there's loads more.
The only thing I don't buy there is anything I need in a petite size like skirts, smarter trousers etc

All the high street shops use the same factories as Primark.

Long line t-shirts... Im not overly tall but most t-shirts seem to barely reach my waist. Primark ones cover my bum.
PJs
Hair bobbles.

Men's Jeans... Only ones my DH doesn't rip within a month. They seem indestructible.

I get my bedding there see pic

Also like the vests, T-shirts, jeans, denim jackets, biker jackets, flip flops & shoes, towels, bags, dresses, skirts, knitwear, nail varnish, socks, tights, hoodies, nightwear etc etc etc

Basically I like the fact that if you are skint you can pick up a cheap & fashionable smart looking new outfit really easily.

Primark do the most comfiest thongs I've ever worn. Variety of colours, stretchy and cheap too.

I also buy their t shirts, scrappy vest tops, tights, pajamas, bras, hair bubbles, house coats, throws and costume jewelry!

Don'tgo, you say that it all comes from same factory's and clothing is hit or miss, how come when I shop at say m&s a size ten will fit every time. I buy the odd item in primark but the quality is never the same as m& s or other high street shops

Leggings
Tube skirts
T Shirts
Jammies
Kids clothes
Socks

Their sage and seasalt perfume - like Jo Malone's but it actually lasts - and for a fraction of the price ;-)

I find in any shop you can find both quality items and crap. The worst for washing were items from M&S - just because you pay 4 or 5 times the price it does not make it better quality. Items that I have chosen carefully in Primark have lasted brilliantly - eg a lovely red mohairy jumper I bought for £13 last year and practically lived in it and it still looks wonderful :-). I did also buy a black fluffy jumper as well did shrink and went funny when I washed it so I returned it for a refund as I would any other shop. So basically - I put it down to the ability of some to judge quality items whatever the price!

Some people are snotty (and snobby!!) about reasonably-priced clothes. I have been buying choice items from Lidl and they are really lovely and fabulous quality particularly their skinny jeans - a tenner and I feel a million dollars in them. I even managed to persuade cynical teen ds to wear some of their £7 linen bermudas this year!

I haven't read the whole thread but things I like from Primark include:

Gold tube mascara - brilliant stuff
Lipstick stays on much better than many more expensive brands
Plain vest tops and t shirts - seem to keep their colour pretty well
Pyjamas
The bedding is great
The mesh type trainer socks - they're called Sports Footies I think - the only ones I've tried that don't budge at all
I have a brilliant running belt that cost about £2. Not sure whether they have them all the time but it would be worth ten times that, it's so comfortable
I like their bras but I don't have that much needing support!

I love their jeggings

They do their blouses slightly longer so perfect if you are tall ditto for the Vest tops
Sometimes they have branded gifts in like Disney and Harry Potter so have been alive to get Xmas presents in there before also

Plain black short-sleeve t shirts.
Harry Potter stuff if you're into that sort of thing.
Socks.
Hair bands.
Reading glasses.

They are my go-to stuff anyway.

Most of it is poor quality tat and I rarely buy much from there anymore, having said that I've got a few bits that have lasted ages.

Some of the sleepwear is ok, as are socks and tights.

I've also had a lightweight Mac in a sac that has lasted a few years and I wear all the time

I can only wear primark thongs. No elastic just so so comfy and only £1 a pair. They're just amazing!

The slouch t-shirts are a flattering shape. They don't wash that well but I use them for yoga and lounge wear.

Duvet covers.

Tights.

I have pjs from Primark that I've been wearing for about 5 years and they are still in good condition. I wish they would wear out so I can buy new ones!!!

The lacy trainer socks by the till they are ace

All the high street shops use the same factories as Primark

They don't use the same materials though.

They do, the high street is riddled with sweaty nylon and polyester tat

Their leggings are also awesome.

Stuff lasts me from there because I steer away from the polyester throwaway bits! The three quarter sleeve slash neck tops I bought a ton of are on their third year now; socks last ages; my sons clothes are great; the pyjamas are awesome.

Honestly I have bought shirts from Next or Topshop or M and S and they have twisted seams and don’t sit right. My next jeans have twisted seams on the legs. It’s so annoying!

Primark buy in huge quantities and don’t advertise - probably saves them a mint.