There's was an NPR series recently about how the clothing industry essentially chases the poverty in terms of using factories in the most impoverished countries and moving on to poorer countries as the ones where the factories are improve. As an example: Colombia used to be considered a great country for the clothing industry until the government improved, the economy grew, and labor costs were undercut by less developed countries. Sad.

Anonymous wrote:I feel like all clothing these days is crappy. I have clothes from ten years ago that have held up, whereas new purchases seem to barely last a season.

Completely agree. And it's going downhill fast across the entire spectrum, from high-end to Walmart.

I was cleaning DD's closet recently and fished out a couple of Gap and Old Navy t-shirts purchased 4 years ago. Compared to what I bought from them recently, stuff dating back 4 years is excellent - made of thick cotton, washed well and generally looks like new. Long-sleeve shirts I got this fall are extremely thin and have already shrunk. Bummer.

Anonymous wrote:The expensive big name designer clothes are usually made in the same sweatshops as everything else, including the walmart stuff.

No surprise.

My in laws owned a garment factory in South Georgia in the 80s. They said they would make the exact same coats for London Fog as for Walmart- only difference was the tags sewn in. You literally are only paying for the name a lot of times- the quality is rarely better.

Anonymous wrote:My experience is generally that really "low end" (i.e. target, walmart) tends to fall apart pretty quickly, but the difference between something like the GAP or Express and super expensive designer clothes is pretty minimal in terms of how well they are made and how long they last. But I also agree that most clothes I have bought recently are pretty crappily made, regardless of whether they are "high end" or "low end".

Agree with this. Some of my Gap stuff is the most sturdy that I have, although these days I rarely find anything I like there beyond plain basics. And I've noticed that they seem to make the highest quality kids clothes too!

I've had several blouses from loft fall apart.

My experience is generally that really "low end" (i.e. target, walmart) tends to fall apart pretty quickly, but the difference between something like the GAP or Express and super expensive designer clothes is pretty minimal in terms of how well they are made and how long they last. But I also agree that most clothes I have bought recently are pretty crappily made, regardless of whether they are "high end" or "low end".

I feel like all clothing these days is crappy. I have clothes from ten years ago that have held up, whereas new purchases seem to barely last a season.

The most irritating fabric I'm finding more and more in designer/non-designer clothing is Viscose. Super soft but it's man made and shrinks horribly, even when dry cleaned.

Thank you! I am always looking longingly at Eileen Fisher stuff and even on sale, can never come close to affording it. You just made me feel better about my Target and Old Navy wardrobe that comes from the sale racks of those stores.

Polyester is everywhere. I'm willing to pay $125 for a polyester dress, but not $300. What ever happened to cotton, wool and linen?

I agree, extremely annoying!

I am wearing my mother's thick wool sweater bought 25 years ago in Scotland.

It has a cute landscape of sheep on a hillside on the front. Worn every winter, and good as new!

I have a few quality designer tops that I bought specifically because they were silk or just a very soft material - but VERY often I come across designer tops and wonder what the hell is justifying the price tag.

The expensive big name designer clothes are usually made in the same sweatshops as everything else, including the walmart stuff.

No surprise.

Yeah, I agree. Unfortunately, a lot of those brands are made in China (Theory, Eileen Fisher, etc) so you've got to wonder what you are paying for sometimes.

I was given an Eileen Fisher sweater/jacket for Christmas that cost close to $500. I would never purchase anything that expensive and was a little irritated about being given something so extravagant, but I had to admit it was gorgeous. I have now worn it for about a total of 12 hours (sitting in the car and in my office) and it is ruined. Pilling everywhere, all-over embroidery pattern is pulled out all over the sweater, and it just generally looks worn. Fortunately I was able to dig out the tag from the trash and it looks like it was purchased at Nordstrom, so I can return it. I just think it's obscene that it would be so poorly made. Now I'm sitting here in my machine-washable Merona sweater from Target that I purchased in 2008 and while it's not beautiful, it looks as good as new. There is no excuse.