Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Maybe I am getting old and grumpy, but I feel like everything I have purchased in the past few years seem flimsy or gets pilly or doesn't wash well. With the exception of one of two brands, everything else seems like disposable clothes. Just one season or maybe two.

Please tell me I am not the only one. I have clothes in my closet from six or seven years ago and it looks better than stuff from a year ago.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

I know exactly what you mean.

I have this fleece from the Gap. From MIDDLE SCHOOL. Looks brand new. Now I buy stuff from the Gap and it's not as good as it was... Colors fade and edges fray.

I think certain materials are expensive and everyone is trying to save. So in the industry, they are trying to find the lowest cost as possible.

My Target brand stuff is outliving some of the designer pieces I have. Go figure.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

YES!!! it si absolutely true! I have noticed it a while ago. I have some clothes from 10 years ago that are still in great condition. Things that I bought in the past few years die after 2 seasons tops

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

YES. That is why I to to buy higher quality classic items so they last for years. DH was just questioning why I spent so much on winter boots last week and I was trying to explain it was because I knew I would own them for at least 3 years. My last winter boots were from an expensive ski company, but I got them on sale, and I wore them for 5 years and the only reason I just got new ones is because I am bored of wearing the same boots yet again this year! I have classic black skirts and button down shirts from when i first entered the workforce over 6 years ago and they are still in perfect condition despite being work many many times. Yet some skirts that I buy at more trendy places make it barely a year, so I try to be really careful to just buy quality even though the cost might seem high.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

absolutely

if you look closely, the quality of Everything has gone downhill- im talking about toys- even if you Feel a toy from today and one from 10 years ago, you can feel the difference

clothing especially- very sad...

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Yes, especially talking about Gap stuff - I have a sweatshirt from there I bought 15 years ago that I still wear.
But I bought two t-shirts this past summer there, and they both got holes in them after wearing 1-2 times.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

ITA Agree!!!

I love Banana Republic. However, i have majority my wardrobe from them. The stuff from yrs ago...is such good quality. However, now any dressy cotton tops or pants... ( the threads from the seams fall right out!). Oh- actually even a trench jacket i just got from them the buttons all fell off..( they do not sew any of their buttons well on jackets, tops, sweaters.

Not only are they cheaper quuality but got so ridicullously expensive now .mad:

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Yes! I bought a gap shirt that was $30 (not cheap for a jersey shirt), and after 1 wash it got a hole. So I exchanged it for another. I was so mad!

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

my mother was a seamstress for many years, and she always notices this. really, she considers nothing "great quality" anymore. She worked in factories that made clothes for many popular brands like Aeropostale, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. Now, all of those factories have closed and the quality has gone drastically downhill.

Gee, I wonder where they are making the clothes now

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

absolutely!
it's outrageous!
the price goes up and the quality goes down

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Yay, I am not alone. I thought it was just me. Maybe I was being harder on clothes now that I am a mom. But how would that explain the older clothes still looking good. I am so disappointed. My Ann Taylor and J. Crew stuff used to hold up well and now the sweaters are all pilly and the pants are faded even when they are dry cleaned.

Grrr. The only place that seems to still be decent has been LL. Bean but even they don't seem as good. The only redeeming quality they have is their unconditional guarantee.

I have tossed more stuff from the past three years than I have from ten years ago.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Posted by Tilde

my mother was a seamstress for many years, and she always notices this. really, she considers nothing "great quality" anymore. She worked in factories that made clothes for many popular brands like Aeropostale, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. Now, all of those factories have closed and the quality has gone drastically downhill.

Gee, I wonder where they are making the clothes now

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Yes the Gap is terrible now, I wont even shop there anymore. 2 cashmere blend sweaters I bought last year are so pilled I cant even wear them, its very disapointing, I have a cashmere sweater from khols that my mom got me that is still in perfect condition this year...its a shame, I dont buy clothes anymore unless they are higher quality and will last me more than one season.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

Posted by Juliet

Yay, I am not alone. I thought it was just me. Maybe I was being harder on clothes now that I am a mom. But how would that explain the older clothes still looking good. I am so disappointed. My Ann Taylor and J. Crew stuff used to hold up well and now the sweaters are all pilly and the pants are faded even when they are dry cleaned.

Grrr. The only place that seems to still be decent has been LL. Bean but even they don't seem as good. The only redeeming quality they have is their unconditional guarantee.

I have tossed more stuff from the past three years than I have from ten years ago.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

I totally agree.

Even Old Navy clothes used to hold up better. I know they're not exactly a high end store but I have 2 sweaters I got from them 5+ years ago that are in great condition still. Now I'll only buy stuff on sale there cause I know I'll only get to wear them a handful of times.

Re: Anyone notice the quality of clothes seems cheaper these days?

The Gap is one of the worst offenders. When I had stuff from there in high school and college, they lasted for years. This year I bought a t-shirt from there... after a few wearings it was faded and pilled. What a joke.

And this is not clothing, but what about Nine West???? I remember when I first entered the work force 10 years ago, they were more affordable and a great value for the price. Now, they're overpriced, crappy quality, less comfortable, etc.