Clothing Sales are down - No surprise

[TheSuggestedAmendment]

So the ONS data on retail is out. And sales of everything including food and leisure went up in December - except clothes.

Just a suggestion here but could it be because clothes have become wildly over priced at every level and consumers are just saying no?

Quality of cloth and construction is an issue, as well as drab design. Another factor is, if you buy on line, you can often find a voucher code, or it will be discounted, so why buy on the high street now, especially given the cost of parking and the issue of there being little or no choice on some high streets, unless you want to buy a coffee that is! Far more selection both new and second-hand on line now.

I can't get to the shops easily and when I try and buy anything online it's all so disappointing and has to go back.
It's all such a admin headache on top of everything else.
I'm also seriously downsizing my wardrobe and trying not to buy anything unless I love it, which is usually on vinted because it's it's not right for me I can just chuck it in the charity shop bag so I don't feel guilty for wasting money.

I spent 3 hours in a shopping mall thks week and everything was expensive plastic rubbish.

Just a suggestion here but could it be because clothes have become wildly over priced at every level and consumers are just saying no?

i would think that you would need to see data of big declining sales over many months for that to happen.

I think that fashion is so diverse now there seems to be few 'must have' new exciting items. Or maybe that comes with age? (In my 50s) But I remember when I was younger going into shops and seeing the new clothes in there and lusting after the whole lot. Now it all seems 'same old' 'same old'. Multiple versions of what I have already. So now it's more replacements for worn out items and I might see the odd new thing that is different.

I’m not surprised clothes sales are down and I Imagine that trend will continue, everything just looks cheap but costs so much more than it used to.

Tbf though clothing costs are going to have gone up eg production/shipping/retail which will then get passed onto the customer.

I do think the current offer is very boring & has been for a while but I think that’s why the whole “mob wife” trend has come about.

I live near a big town centre. Lots of the clothes shops have closed down since covid, much of what’s left is restaurants and cafes. Other than M&S, H&M, Primark and and New Look there are few actual women’s clothes to be bought and what’s there generally doesn’t stock my size. I really dislike buying clothes online so only do it if I desperately need something. If I could see clothes easily on the high street I’m sure I’d browse and buy more and I’m sure some other people are the same.

For me it’s because the styles are dreadful and badly made.

Im also buying on vinted now. I'd given up clothes shopping for ages because everything is a bit rubbish and over priced. Quite enjoying buying on vinted actually.

Agreed that everything is too expensive.

I'm not on a particularly strict budget, but from a normal 'high street brand' 2 or 3 items can bee £250.

You can easily spend £200 on a dress at jigsaw etc now. Way too much.

I used to love clothes shopping on the high street but I really hate it now. It's a stressful experience and rarely come away with anything

Its interesting that clothing retailers seem uniquely unable to get people to part with their money in the same way they did before.

Anecdotally, my friends have spent their discretionary disposable income on Ninjas/puppies/travel/stationery/meals but less on clothes.

Anecdotally, my friends have spent their discretionary disposable income on Ninjas

Ninjas???

(Surely nobody has been spending disposable income on Ninjas for a number of centuries now?!)

Working from home more has an impact, people not buying new winter coats and boots because they don't need to go out in the rain so much.
And don't need to replace work clothes as often.

Maybe people have finally realised that they already have enough in their wardrobes

I just don't get Vinted at all. I can never tell what the clothes look like just hanging up/badly crumpled/poorly lit.

Poor quality finish and fabric that stains easily and washes poorly.
So overpriced.

Yeah I imagine that it's at least in part due to energy/fuel costs.

Anyway, clothes should be expensive imo. Make people really think before buying

I'm finding with clothes it's just more of the same. Fashion changes so quickly that nothing is fashionable anymore.
I find I am buying less as I have what I need.

Wages have stagnated over the last 15 years but clothes are being sold for almost double what they were 10 years ago. In the end, that's going to cause sales problems.

Plus, the clothes have degraded in quality over that time. Brands you use dto really trust for a well made item have outsourced (or similar) and made cut backs so that the product is no longer as long lasting.

e.g. things like Muck Boots were always a bit costly but would easily last 10-20 years. They are now even more costly and leak or come apart long before the first 10 years are up.

It's hard to find companies now making really long lasting products.

Not just clothes, of course. Sofa.com has gone the same way, for example.

Anyway, clothes should be expensive imo. Make people really think before buying

But this has to be matched with quality so that they last, in reasonable condition, for longer.

(Surely nobody has been spending disposable income on Ninjas for a number of centuries now?!)

😆😆😆

I do buy some things on Vinted as I have quite a specific taste and also am sometimes trying to get 'basically that thing I already had', but if you don't get it right, it's even more of a waste. Sellers who bother to put measurements on Vinted are in the minority.

At least with normal retailers, they have an obligation to accept returns and you can get your money back, or most of it. The true waste of money is with Vinted. Even if the item is materially not as described, you still have to pay delivery fees.

Maybe people have finally realised that they already have enough in their wardrobes

If that were true you wouldn’t have the likes of Shein etc