Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really varies piece to piece but: Eileen Fisher, Theory, MM LaFleur, Marine Layer, Filson

Theory consistently tests as the worst quality by internal tests find by dept stores

It’s the most returned for quality issues at Nordstrom

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I avoid any synthetics. For example right now I’m wearing a Boden sweater that’s a cotton-linen blend.

But it’s not like you can just buy high end brands. I have to read the labels of every single thing I buy. It’s annoying.

Really? Is Boden regarded as 'high quality' in America still? In the UK, their quality has plummeted in recent years and I am sure the stock is the same. Their knits are so thin now and dresses and shirts immediately look worn and tired after one wash. I have some Boden pieces from ten years ago that are much higher quality. I suppose Americans will buy and worship anything they perceive as European or British, but the recent Boden offerings are laughable.

Yes, Boden used to be nice. The fabric is a lot thinner. The women's clothing has become basic and super casual. The shoe selection has decreased. It's more like The Gap now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love the casual xenophobia about Chinese-made goods. Some of my very best pieces were made in China, and you can get truly amazing fully custom items from Chinese seamstresses.

ITA, I am still wearing some suits and a cashmere winter coat I had custom made in China 10 years ago. All the back room bags I bought there are still going strong, too.

Yep. I'm from a lower GDP European country and we have very skilled and cheap labor, so most of the Prada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Armani, Max Mara, clothing is made in my home country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love the casual xenophobia about Chinese-made goods. Some of my very best pieces were made in China, and you can get truly amazing fully custom items from Chinese seamstresses.

ITA, I am still wearing some suits and a cashmere winter coat I had custom made in China 10 years ago. All the back room bags I bought there are still going strong, too.

Look, not all clothing out of China is poorly made, but it can't be denied that a glut of fast fashion comes from China. All those terrible brands on Amazon <shudder>.

I’ve had no problem with the random brands on Amazon. In fact the quality has been comparable to American brands but cheaper. My random Chinese Amazon puffer jacket is just as good as a north face one. They’re probably from the same factory. I have done great with kids clothes too.

That shit is made in sweatshops, you know. That’s why it’s so cheap.

Please enlighten me, where can I buy non-sweatshop puffer jackets?

Moncler.

It says they’re made in Armenia. Are Armenian labor laws airtight?

Do your own damn research. You're so lazy. That's why you buy cheap sweatshop clothes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High quality clothing is couture. Everything else is mass produced crap.

This is silly, couture is about extravagance, complete disregard for how much fabric is cut, how much trim is used, how much hand labor goes into surface embellishment. These are not garments where you get value per wear, some are extremely delicate. OTOH, there are high end ready-to-wear brands that balance cut, quality materials/construction, and manage every detail of their factories--that's the sweet spot.

What are those brands?

E.g. Dries van Noten, independent company for thirty some years, they manage every aspect of their supply chain and production, no scrimping. Also beautiful designs and cuts. Plenty of other small designers do the same, most would cite DVN as a model. Tiptop quality, but not couture, or aspirating to be.

I wish I had the money for that sort of wardrobe but I don't. I am more at an Everlane/Madewell stage of life, and even then I get most things on sale.

I try to buy a lot secondhand - I figure even if there was waste and cruelty going into producing the item, at least I'm keeping it out of the landfill for a while and not contributing to more pollution. It's not perfect - and I'm not perfect; there are things I prefer to buy new even knowing that I am contributing to harm, like sweatshirts. But, you do what you can.

Anonymous wrote:It really varies piece to piece but: Eileen Fisher, Theory, MM LaFleur, Marine Layer, Filson

Theory consistently tests as the worst quality by internal tests find by dept stores

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love the casual xenophobia about Chinese-made goods. Some of my very best pieces were made in China, and you can get truly amazing fully custom items from Chinese seamstresses.

ITA, I am still wearing some suits and a cashmere winter coat I had custom made in China 10 years ago. All the back room bags I bought there are still going strong, too.

Look, not all clothing out of China is poorly made, but it can't be denied that a glut of fast fashion comes from China. All those terrible brands on Amazon <shudder>.

I’ve had no problem with the random brands on Amazon. In fact the quality has been comparable to American brands but cheaper. My random Chinese Amazon puffer jacket is just as good as a north face one. They’re probably from the same factory. I have done great with kids clothes too.

That shit is made in sweatshops, you know. That’s why it’s so cheap.

Please enlighten me, where can I buy non-sweatshop puffer jackets?

Moncler.

It says they’re made in Armenia. Are Armenian labor laws airtight?

Akris
Max Mara
Stella Mc Cartney
Armedangels

And lots of small oecolables ...

It really varies piece to piece but: Eileen Fisher, Theory, MM LaFleur, Marine Layer, Filson