Does more expensive mean better? A closer look at clothing quality

The rise of fast fashion and increasing global production of clothing has many shoppers confused about where to spend a bit more and where to save when it comes to clothes. NBC’s Vicky Nguyen stops by TODAY with a closer look at how to find quality garments.

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#fashion #quality #money

[stellatong]

More expensive doesn’t always mean better quality

[ano]

Quality does cost. However lables do not cost what people think. You are just paying to advertise for a company.

[abanks]

everything in america is about branding and marketing. consumerism at its finest. its rare you'll find something of quality that'll last long.

[laraine]

We don’t need all those clothes, anyway. Closets are stuffed full. It is ridiculous.

[purplemicrodot]

The jeans I've owned over the past 10 years that didn't disintegrate in the wash cost under $30.
I like my fancy pants but these days designer jeans seem almost water dissolvable.

[marynorton]

Excellent point: as more and more people shop online, brands can get away with decreasing their quality as the clothes cannot be inspected before the purchase. Yes you can return but lots of people don’t bother or miss the return window.

[amyitis]

I have a few Forever 21 items that have lasted me over 15 years, and I have some Free People items valued well over $200 that fell apart after 2 wears.

[harrisonhanson]

It’s absolutely ridiculous for any polyester product to be sold at such astronomical prices.

[lulopxq]

I LOVE this report. This seems long overdue, speaking out about this. Thank you for highlighting. ❤❤❤

[Emilylylyly]

Saying that polyester isn’t that bad is dodging the issue. Why are these retailers sneaking it into my cotton jeans? My t shirts? My wool sweaters? It’s because it’s cheap. Full stop.

Polyester just degrades the quality of whatever it’s mixed with. It’s stinky, it’s sweaty, and it degrades over time because it is plastic. Check your labels people - unless the synthetics have a functional role (ex. Elasticity), walk away!

[Darci]

Its very telling to me when you have contacted these high end clothing manufacturers about the quality or lack thereof of their clothing that they don't even bother answering back. That in and of itself tells me all I need to know about that clothing manufacturers and that I do not wish to purchase their products.

[JaxNoodle]

Thank you. Folks sometimes spend their hard earned money on clothing that just shreds, pills or uses harsh chemicals to process. We need more transparency on how our clothes are made so we can support better business practices that benefit the worker who makes the clothes, the environment, and the consumer. Durability is key to keeping clothes in circulation and not straight the landfill.

[chiaralistica]

I've always shopped at the finer stores and while some things are still made well, there is an increase in marginal quality merchandise being sold at the better stores. I don't buy fast fashion, it's wasteful, so things I like are things that will still look stylish 20 years from now. I also avoid big logos and screaming loud labels. Tacky imo. I pick and choose what I like and send back what I don't.
One thing that I have noticed is that the sweatpants and jackets I buy for my lovey are declining in quality. Not even the make, the fabric feels plastic where it used to be soft and nice. Again, not across the board, but enough that it's troubling, especially for what I am paying.
You really have to scrutinize everything these days.

[lisamann]

There are so many famous people starting to "back" clothing wear, and sometimes that's the only reason why regular people think that it's better or that they have to have it. We've all done it, but it's really not a good reason to buy things

[molliemoxie]

I'm very fortunate to have the skills to make my own clothes. When you sew your own clothes you know about fabric quality. If I'm going to spend about 12 hours sewing a garment, I'm using quality fabric & the best tayloring techniques so my clothes fits me perfectly and last forever. Look for brands that use quality materials, stay away from trends. Purchase time-less pieces and use accessories to highlight your style. A few quality items cost less overall than a mass amount of cheap, disposable fast fashion.

[dans]

I didn't think so until I got a Lulu shirt. Thing is amazing and has lasted years.

[alandemaio]

Claiming that high prices usually doesnt mean high quality is like claim that water is wet

[juliecampbell]

The vast majority of items I run into have some amount of polyester, and that extends outside of workout clothes. And polyester makes me itch/break out in rashes, so I have to avoid it. And I try to shop in stores, but stores don't like to carry items in my size (short and not a twig/teenager). I can find maybe 2-3 tops that are not a t-shirt that work for me a season, and unless it's the rare season where designers choose colors other than brown or orange or yellow to be the main colors I have to look hard for those items.

[TESLA-fcwm]

Back before reseller i used to find good quality clothes at second hand stores, for a few dollars, , , they may not be in style, , but i know what am wearing., feels good, , warm, , and looks the same after been washed many times, ,

[amystreasuresdesign]

It used to, but now companies value profits over quality