Gap are dead! RIP!

[GapTshirtsAreShitQualityTheseDays]

I had 10 white tshirts that I bought from them over 5 years ago. Nice and thick. About £8 each.

They have eventually got stained (I'm a messy eater).

I went to order 10 more. Then are now £14. They arrived today and you could spit peas through them. They are also TINY and SHORT.

No wonder they are mail order only now. No-one would ever buy if they could see the quality.

The kids had loads of Gap clothes about 20yrs ago, they washed and washed and survived many hand me downs. Loved the teddy bear logo on BabyGap. My father in law worked in America at the time and would fetch clothes back for the kids. Especially liked the US long close fitting, zipped sleepsuits and their long john PJs.
I've got a few lovely quality hoodies.

I'm always surprised by how good the quality of Superdry is. And they seem to have sorted their sizing out, now they've realised people know they are not actually Japsnese 😅
It's not all massive logos either, we have some subtle stuff.

@RugbyGirl1 thank you for posting that. I've been both wondering what Rapanui quality is like, and looking for a decent scoop neck t-shirt, which must be out of fashion as they are hard to find at the moment. I think you have solved my problem!

Next is more like a franchise partner than a true owner. It's a business model Gap have introduced in several markets.

Next don't products clothes. It's still Gap clothing, designed and produced by Gap. It's gone downhill but not because of Next

Agree, I’ve had jumpers and coats (with the v v small logo) from them and they have lasted ages.

I was recently given a Next gift voucher and I was shocked how poor the quality of the clothes was. It's literally worse than Primark, I haven't shopped there since my early 20s, but I still have a few items from there and they're honestly better quality.

What about lands end for t shirts?

I wish there was a kitemark or standard or something for clothes quality. Something that says 'this will last at least fives years of normal wear and wasn't made in a sweatshop'

I think it's partly the downfall of the high street, people are shopping online by price rather than by inspecting fabric quality in person. It's hard to know if paying extra is worth it online.

I have a black Gap dress I bought in 1997 and still wear every summer holiday.It looks as good as new.Their baby socks were the best too...the only ones my daughter didn't fling off her feet and had little padded bits on the sole to stop her slipping when learning to walk.I also had a bowling type bag from there that I was asked by at leat 3 people if it was Prada.I really miss Gap .Or I miss the 90s and noughties when I felt vaguely fashionable.

You can now get brand new gap hoodies from Urban Outfitters! I saw them at their Spittlefields store last week!

Probably not immediately helpful, but - I'm in the US and for what it's worth I don't think GAP have gone downhill as much here, where they still have physical shops and they still have periodic in-store "clearance" sales where things get reduced and reduced until they're just a few dollars - which is good because they are radically overpriced at full retail.

You do have to be careful about fabric content (for example, almost all of their sweats are at least 23%+ polyester now) but you can def find 100% pretty good quality cotton or linen items. (I haven't seen wool sweaters there for years!) And denim items keep close to the original standards. Their T-shirts are terrible in terms of length - it's fine that they have cropped items because a lot of people do like them, but their regular t-shirts now hit just below the bottom of a traditional jean waist band at absolute best. Their woven/tailored shirts are much more generously cut and typically hit anywhere from hip to fingertip length.

When I lived in London I used to love a little wander down to Gap for a little mooch around. I've still got things that I bought 20 years ago that have lasted really well. Cargo pants, a few dresses. And I used to love their baby clothes. It's a shame it's gone down hill.

Re white t shirts however I believe I found a good one in M and S. Basic T shirt I think it was called. Good fabric, slightly boxy cut, long enough-in case anyone is searching.

@Putmeinsummer I got a hoodie in jack wills sale yesterday which was a ringer for the old gap ones in terms of style and fabric weight etc.

Superdry t-shirts are good. Thick cotton, no logo at all, last well, lots of colours.

I stocked up on about 10 of them last year as I was so pleased with them, and they have lasted multiple washes and wears without the neck stretching out etc.

Try community clothing, or IvyT

for basic T-shirts, I’ve got a couple from John Lewis own brand from last year that I wore through the year under jumpers etc that are still looking great after their second summer. I’ve not particularly taken massive care of them, have happily thrown in the tumble dryer through winter months and they are still looking good. (I wore the white one yesterday with a blue bra underneath and you couldn’t see the bra through.)

im not sure if they do them every year, but if you have a JL nearby might be worth a look

I mourn the demise of Gap. Even after the local one closed about 10 years ago, there was an outlet shop not too far away. Good basics, nice fabrics, plain colours, patterns, bright colours. Decent woollen knitwear. Thick cotton Ts.Great kids clothes. Terrific knickers!! Amazing sales.

I don't understand why Gap, Boden, Next have all gone so far downhill. I mean I do understand that costs needed to be cut, but everyone I know, everyone on here seems to want what they used to sell. I'd pay for it!

Randomly, AllSaints has lovely thick T-shirts. Even my 75 year old mother wears them.

I have a great jacket I purchased in the sale over 20 years ago it still looks brand new and I wear it a lot to walk the dog in such a shame as the quality used to be really good

I totally agree. I bought Ds a hoody a while back expecting the thick, cosy type we used to get and it was so thin…not an “outer layer” at all.

I was looking at a cardi online the other day but haven’t clicked because it is so unreliable.

I am currently wearing a pair of their cigarette jeans from about s ago and they’re still going strong, just the right amount of rigidity to be flattering without being uncomfortable, I am not looking forward to them passing on.

They should have shifted all the UK Gap stores to their sister brand, Old Navy. We buy loads whenever we're across the pond.

That's interesting. I was going to reply and say "it's not just gap, I feel the same about Next" but that explains it!

Community Clothing (Patrick Grant's uk based sustainable clothing business and
Lands End Serious Sweats are excellent quality for hoodies. Neither are cutting edge styling, but if you just want a plain hoody, they are spot on.

Something I've noticed more of in recent years is cotton t shirts getting really rough and stiff after a few washes. Whereas my 20 year old Gap cotton t shirts are still very soft. Is it something to do with the quality of the cotton and/or weave?