Why Are Markers Of High-Quality Clothing Getting Harder To Find?


From poorly finished seams to an over-reliance on elastane, cost-cutting in the manufacturing process is leading to less comfortable, less durable clothing. It’s no secret that clothes used to be made with more attention to detail. Mass production and synthetic materials are so pervasive it’s increasingly difficult to buy well-made clothes, no matter how much you are willing to spend. It seems that fast fashion has normalized cheaper methods and fabrics. What are your thoughts LiveTribers? Why are markers of high-quality clothing getting harder to find?

Posted by on 27 Nov 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    Jay

    It is a common problem these days for several reasons I think: consumer demand for low prices, disposable fashion culture, and lack of transparency.

    Posted by Jay on 28 Dec 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Brooke

    Because consumers no longer understand and appreciate the value of well constructed clothing as the market is flooded with poorly made and essentially disposable apparel

    Posted by Brooke on 28 Dec 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Joy

    I feel rise of fast fashion has led to a focus on quick, inexpensive clothing production, which means sacrificing the quality of materials and craftsmanship to produuce clothes rapidly and at a lower cost.

    Posted by Joy on 19 Dec 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Miro

    Because we have been obsessed with cheaper clothing for some time. The actual machines and workers of these are now gone - replaced by high efficiency machines

    Posted by Miro on 13 Dec 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    kez1

    Everything is going offshore because labour is cheaper not better, consumers get what they pay for which is throw away fashion which is more expensive in the long run.Online shopping is also a factor because there is more more variety and it is also cheaper. There arent many high quality shops any more ... thats why I shop at Country road and never realy have before.

    Posted by kez1 on 13 Dec 2023
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    sandra

    As the old saying goes - you get what you pay for! Consumers are always on the lookout for a bargain but some bargains are not bargains.

    Posted by sandra on 04 Dec 2023
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    tassiegirl

    Because more clothes are made overseas because the workers there are paid a very small amount, mainly from China. Occasionally they come from Bangladesh. When you buy a full price item from a store in Australia, some of the money would go to paying the store's rent and employees. The rest goes to the company. Some wealthy people are buying clothes from Kmart or factory outlets. They have money, but don't want to spend a lot of it on clothes. Some people that do have a higher income buy all of their clothes on the internet. All these things are factors.

    Posted by tassiegirl on 04 Dec 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    sulter

    Cost of living goes up and manufacturers still want to make sales so have to cater for people having less to spend. So cheaper materials are used as companies still need to make a profit!

    Posted by sulter on 28 Nov 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Paula

    It comes down to cost. Anything that is labour intensive is too expensive and people aren't prepared to pay. They are happy with cheap throw away. I only ever buy leather shoes and bags and if I had a problem I took them to the good old fashioned boot maker and had them repaired, but he couldn't afford to take on an apprentice and has now retired so no more repairs. It's sad and I hate throwing a bag away just because the handle has worn a bit.

    Posted by Paula on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Elandra

    I think dressmaking skills are less desirable to the younger generation than they were when I was a child. My mother made a lot of our clothes and I learnt how to use a sewing machine but have never owned one as prices of clothes are now so low, it's no longer econimical to make your own.

    Posted by Elandra on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    mact

    Because quality costs ,Asian and Indiopakistanibangladeshi wages are cheap and workplace standards low. Size patterns are now based on smaller stature blanks and its almost impossible to get standardised sizing let alone reasonable quality. The Clothing Buyers for Kmart, Target, Woolies are very inexperienced ......it shows in end of season throw outs as sizes are almost all small sizes barely able to fit teenagers let alone Western Sized adults! ThankGod for shops like Lowes.....at least they try to stock well patterned and standard sized clothing. On top of that ,so called throwaway fashion suits the greed of many chain stores and even main stream made in China brands!!!

    Posted by mact on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [0] [3]
    Monicag8

    The new fabric blends are more delicate and that is what makes it more expensive. It is a feed that reduces the more reliable materials that used to last longer. Instead of cotton people lean on viscose or bamboo for example, the cotton lasts longer but the material is lighter and softer and sometimes crease free with the other materials.

    Posted by Monicag8 on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    ere

    What's a high-quality clothing MARKER? The answer is obvious - company profits. Why produce 10 good quality pieces of clothing out of quality materials that the maker makes $1 profit on each when they can make 100 items using mass production/child labour and cheap materials and make $5 profit on each? It's largely the Government's fault for allowing cheaply produced clothing to flood Australia just to suck up to countries they don't want to upset.

    Posted by ere on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    MS

    I would like to see more Australian brands produced. But why we keep importing more rubbish and keep paying lower prices then we will keep getting the same. The federal government doesn't exactly encourage Aussie manufacturing much anymore. Better incentives for clothing enterprises is long overdue.

    Posted by MS on 27 Nov 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Kay

    Absolutely agree. People want to pay less and buy more.

    Posted by Kay on 28 Nov 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    MS

    Depends where you buy them and at what costs. I don't agree that you cannot find good quality. Country road is a good company and sells quality. If you use the internet more you can buy clothes online from around the world . No use complaining about poor quality. If you buy cheap imports then that's to be expected. If you don't like what you find then learn to make your own. Using a sewing machine. Or hire someone to make them for you.

    Posted by MS on 27 Nov 2023
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