Defunct/forgotten brands to buy secondhand

[flaks]

Most of my clothes and bags are thrifted and I recently discovered vinted. I wonder if there are brands that are particularly high quality that I am missing out on because I don't know what I am looking for. In particular I was thinking of brands that are gone (UK or abroad) that may not have been on my radar. I used to find obscure brands in charity shops but for online it would be nice to know to what search for.

Planet, Précis, Windsmore, Kaleidoscope, Principles, Whistles, Hobbs, Boden, Paul Costello

Agree with other posters .
I had nicer and better made clothes 15-20 years ago .
Lined pure wool silk velvet trimmings unusual buttons . Paying a bit more got you beautiful clothes even on the High Street . I remember M&S doing lovely silk dresses Italian cut pure wool suits & coats .Exquisite beading on Whistles dresses and cardigans .
Brands I miss Kew Noa Noa early Boden Whistles Précis Petite
Racing Green Great Plains Jigsaw .Boots from Bertie and LkBennett ( in the sale !)
Everything is now polyester or some recycled mush mash .Even a dress in the £150-200 range will be unlined no decent trim & generally badly finished .
I miss a lot of my old wardrobe and now have the funds to buy decent clothes they are a rarity.

I was just reading something about rationing on the war and clothing.

Hems weren’t allowed to be any bigger than 2”

Not sure where you’d find a 2” hem now. Most of them are about 1/2cm

Interesting how the finish on clothes has changed so much. Great Plains and Bertie shoes are new to me. I need to make a spreadsheet!

@Gatekeeper here's one of the ones I have rom Next that's still in stock. 100% heavyweight cotton. They are quite boxy and oversized, but I find because of the heavyweight nature, they hang really nicely and the quality is lovely. The other one I bought four of got was a pink one with 'Paradise' written across the front so might not be everyone's style, but it was the lovely thick feel of them that made me buy more. Not seen or felt t shirts like this in decades. (Reminds me of old French Connection quality from the 90s)

www.next.co.uk/style/su152693/aj0433#aj0433

St Michael was when Marks and Spencer were of good quality. Also, Pippa Dee, which was a party plan but is good; I got a lovely kimono second hand, it's gorgeous, but back in the day the goods were very expensive.
For basics like t-shirts, I like things like BHS and C & A

@RainbowZebraWarrior
I find men’s t shirts are more substantial than women’s, but they do come high on the neck, I’ve got a couple of marks and Spencer’s ones as pyjama tops, really long too. They are that ‘ blue harbour’ range.

Although I agree in the majority regarding St Michael stuff there was also St Michael stuff that was made of man made fibre before we romanticise the past too much.

Of course, but the quality then was better.
Clothes were made to last.

My dm loved her M and S man made stuff in the early 70’s

My mum loved synthetic, 'drip dry' fibres too and I don't blame her. Our washing machine didn't have a spin drier and our house had no central heating. That's not a sob story - it was normal. I agree with @Britpopbaby that we're in danger of romanticising the past too much.

Interestingly the unnatural fibres also seem to be of better quality, perhaps the garments are just built better.
I don't just shop vintage for natural fibres.

All of those, @flaks. Even with current brands, there's a difference between an expensive polyester garment and a cheap one.

‘Crimplene’