Gap/Factory, Banana Republic/Factory, Old Navy ... what’s the difference?!

[Anonymous]

Okay there used to just be 3: BR, Gap, ON. Now there are these “factory” stores as well. WTH? Can someone explain the differences to me? Are the factory ones lower quality? I thought that was te point of ON?

[Anonymous]

Yes, lower quality/cheaper clothes made specifically for the outlet stores. It used to be that outlets would have the same stuff as the regular stores, but would be past-season, overstock that didn’t sell well, or imperfect, but now the factory stores largely get their own separate stock made specifically for them and sold at cheaper price points. You might find some clearance from regular BR at a BR Factory store, but most of the stock will be made for BR Factory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lower quality/cheaper clothes made specifically for the outlet stores. It used to be that outlets would have the same stuff as the regular stores, but would be past-season, overstock that didn’t sell well, or imperfect, but now the factory stores largely get their own separate stock made specifically for them and sold at cheaper price points. You might find some clearance from regular BR at a BR Factory store, but most of the stock will be made for BR Factory.

I think this transition happened sometime in between 2005-2010. I remember very quickly realizing that the outlets no longer had anything that looked like the clothes I had seen in the real stores, and sometimes would even be very close but obviously cheaper knock offs (e.g. worse fabric). Same thing happened with J Crew outlet around the same time if I recall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, lower quality/cheaper clothes made specifically for the outlet stores. It used to be that outlets would have the same stuff as the regular stores, but would be past-season, overstock that didn’t sell well, or imperfect, but now the factory stores largely get their own separate stock made specifically for them and sold at cheaper price points. You might find some clearance from regular BR at a BR Factory store, but most of the stock will be made for BR Factory.

I think this transition happened sometime in between 2005-2010. I remember very quickly realizing that the outlets no longer had anything that looked like the clothes I had seen in the real stores, and sometimes would even be very close but obviously cheaper knock offs (e.g. worse fabric). Same thing happened with J Crew outlet around the same time if I recall.

You are right. I remember too, that before 2005, outlets were really good- good prices and great quality. Now, it is low quality in both regular stores and outlet stores. Basically, it is impossible to shop for nice, well made clothes and shoes.