Why is everything such shit quality!?

[gigipom]

even higher end brands.

I spent £150 on a dress from Massimo Dutti, which was machine washable 30 degrees. I hand washed cool to be extra safe and it shrunk.

my dresses from COS, Sezane all feel a bit naff after a few wears and have pulls in them. Knitwear bobbles so fast.

I went for a look around some shops today and I couldn’t believe how shit the quality was of everything. Everything is mixed with a synthetic fabric, but still charging an extortionate amount.

that and just the general styles coming in for autumn are 🤮 (looking at you, Zara).

That's fair, but here again the retailers are guilty. Aside from the 'haul' people, the reason most people order larger quantities and then return has to do with inadequate information provided by the retailer. Often it is just a size, so you have to estimate and may find that retailer's size S is not your conception of a size S, and even where a 'size guide' is provided it may not reflect all items or may provide only partial measurements. Tops often give bust only or bust/waist/hip, but for me, the crucial measurements are shoulder width and item length, because items are frequently too tight in the shoulders or plain too short. Trousers often don't give the length, which seems like an obvious omission.

Sometimes things just won't fit well or the colour in person won't suit the customer, or the customer may just not like the item in person, but a lot of returns would be cut down on if retailers provided more comprehensive information as to item measurements.

I really miss the days when French Connection and Oasis were actually good. I had a beautiful Oasis coat circa 2005, and an amazing FC embroidered skirt and cashmere jumper. Shopping there felt special. Oasis used to have a 'vintage' style range which had beautiful pieces.

I often wonder if the retailers of these crap clothes are at all embarrassed by what they're selling? Would they wear it for instance? I know the shop floor staff often have to which isnt the same.

I would say they could not give a stuff @LadyAstor as long as people are still spending.

@CapaciousHag

There’s a much smaller, independent designer whose clothes I adore - they sell internationally online but only have one UK shop, in Glasgow.

As a Weegie I would be very grateful if you would share which shop this is. I've just made a pot of tea and about to settle down and read the thread you recommended. Looks like it is going to be educational 😁
I'll be heading into Glasgow tomorrow and I'd love to find clothing that is good quality fabric and well made. I am at an age and stage in life where I am willing to pay for it!

Thank you 😊

Totally agree. So far my Cos stuff is the only gear that washes well but it's from a few years ago now and I agree recently the quantity everywhere has declined

Really interesting thread. Back in Tudor times, even relatively poor people would have clothes of good, lasting quality and they would get passed down to the next generation to be used- there’s wills with mentions of best clothes of linen and wool being bequeathed. I was brought up going to charity shops and jumble sales a lot and can spot cashmere from a distance! But current quality is not necessarily always brand dependent - I’ve a gorgeous, well made dress from Tesco, for example.

Yes, me too please @CapaciousHag . I’d love a link to this shop.

Oh dear - can you get to Edinburgh, @MorticiaAddamsIsMyStyleGuru?

The brand is La Fetiche - but I’m afraid I conflated a previous pop-up shop with a permanent shop, and they don’t actually have one of their own. So … They have archive pieces at Kelvin Apothecary in Glasgow, and things from their tiny current collection only at Frontiers in Edinburgh.

It’s a good thing I checked, as I’d been planning a Glasgow pilgrimage myself. I love Edinburgh but there isn’t enough stocked in that shop to be worth a journey for me.

@CapaciousHag I hope their clothes look better than their website!

Thank you @CardamomGarden

No, @DuesToTheDirt - every single item is hideous and anyone who enjoys both their clothes and their website is a pitiable fool wholly unworthy of your attention.

Sorry, I meant @CapaciousHag 😂

@CapaciousHag thank you 😊

For knitwear I've been buying secondhand Jack Wills jumpers on vinted and ebay. It's so cheap as the brand has fallen out of favour but really well made and nice materials. All the knitwear seems to be 100% wool or cotton with loads being 100% fine merino wool. If you're petite or like slim fitting knits then go for the women's knits as they are pretty much all a fitted style and only go up to a size 14. Or if you want an oversized look then the men's ones are really good (you might have to roll the sleeves up a bit).

Oh yes I do agree with this too. Customers ordering loads and sending back is mostly just because that's what is never in order to find something that works.
More measurement info would be a help as would showing the clothes on a range of models (this is starting to happen).

Great tip on the Jack Wills. Thank you. I’d love a thread on here with quality UK vintage brands to watch out for. I follow several US thrifters who give solid recommendations for buying quality - old school Ralph Lauren jeans etc - and I’d like a similar resource so I can keep my eyes peeled at UK charity shops and set alerts on Vinted. I’m in my 30s and not great with knowing quality labels as I don’t always remember them first time round.

I love vintage Jaeger knitwear myself - especially the 90s patterned jumpers with the 100% pure wool label. I bought two for £8 with original 90s tags on over the summer to add to my collection. My favourite trousers are vintage BHS and the quality is surprisingly great. I also like Fenn Wright Mason, who I’d vaguely heard of but don’t remember as a shop. I’ve had great success with Viyella too but I always check the labels as they do rather a lot of polyester!

https://www.lafetiche.com/shop/jojo Wtf? Really?

https://www.lafetiche.com/shop/edie-blue-green. 8 weeks? I could rattle those up in an evening. When we were young we had to wear knitted shorts and swimmers like this.

Are they having a laugh

They saw you coming so to speak

They will darn socks for you from 30 Pounds - I've obviously missed a trick here 😂

I wonder if the hand knitters even make minimum wage for that.

Went to a discount shopping area today in Portsmouth. I wasn't there to go shopping but as I was in the area I took a look. I went in the LK Bennett shop. Dresses at discounted rates £300 upwards - polyester and plastic fabrics. Original prices were over £500. They are taking the piss. Just floppy dresses, nothing special.

I think we have exactly what we've asked for as a species - we have asked for high turn over, in all things, so why should the quality be there if it's going to be landfill so soon. When I was getting my bathrooms done i wanted products that would see me through to the end of my days, but the reality is the manufacturers are geared towards the trend, which is that the bathrooms will be torn out and redone every 10 yrs or so. It's the same with all things.

I kept the avocado bathroom suite with cast iron - and very comfortable - bath because it was far higher quality than I could afford to buy new when I moved in to my present place - it’s much admired (genuinely).