https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 20 May 2026 13:24:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205561 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:32:32 +0000 Scarlet 205561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How any garment can come together for $5 and make a profit is beyond me. And if it does make a profit it scares me.</p> <p>Not to be dumb, but what do you mean by unethical here? Do you mean sweatshops or something else? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205461 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:48:04 +0000 Sharon 205461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just wanted to jump in and agree that I think this will mean an overall reduction in H&amp;M's quality of clothing. This disheartens me, since that's the entire reason I love H&amp;M--relatively inexpensive prices for decent quality clothing! Guess I'll just have to keep saving up for department stores now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205427 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:12:07 +0000 Steph 205427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya, I just had to chime in about your statement that we should always assume something unethical happened somewhere along the line when we make purchases from a major corporate retailer. Although I generally agree with you that that is probably the case, I don't think it absolves personal responsibility in trying to ensure that the corporate citizen is as ethical as possible. I just couldn't not throw that out there (and I actually assume you agree with me on that one). It's kind of like when I buy ice cream. I go to Ben and Jerry's because even though I know their cows were not treated wonderfully, they have done things to ensure they were treated better than the cows at Haagen Dazs. To me, that level of degree matters (although I feel guilty for eating any dairy at all...but I'm working on it).</p> <p>I just came back to edit this, because I realized I didn't really present myself clearly. I recognize that issues of ethical clothing manufacturers are very complex, and I understand if people decide it's more than they want to deal with and they move on. However, I often see people say things like "they are all the same," and use that as an excuse, especially when a specific company has been shown to engage in particularly egregious behavior. So if they find out Company 1 abuses its workers, they just say "I'm sure Company 2 does so as well," and they continue to shop for goods from Company 1, without even researching to see whether Company 2 is just as bad. It's really just an excuse because the person wants Company 1 goods, but doesn't want to feel bad about purchasing them. Of course, it could be that companies 2, 3, 4 and 5 all do the same thing and it really isn't practical to not purchase from them. But oftentimes, questions of degree really come into play. Maya, I don't think you do this at all--from what I see, you actually put a lot of thought into these issues and do care about them. But I just wanted to throw that out there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205401 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:48:49 +0000 quail 205401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fair enough. I never buy anything from Divided either. And your theory sounds pretty sound - I would not be surprised if that happens. And I agree that your assumption is, sadly, most likely to be correct. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205388 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:55:09 +0000 Maya 205388@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are various levels of "cheap." H&amp;M's main collection would actually be at the upper tier of so-called budget shopping. A $50 blazer is actually not that inexpensive compared to a place like Walmart or Forever 21, and the quality is generally much better. In fact I have always found H&amp;M's career-oriented clothing to be surprisingly well made. </p> <p>The Divided line is more on par with other discount retailers in my experience. I never buy anything there. It doesn't even stand up to my relatively low quality control bar. This new line, I'm guessing, will be absolute bottom of the barrel, G&amp;G quality (does anyone remember that store?). Thin synthetic fabrics, shoddy stitching, buttons falling off, nonexistant linings. I'm sure there will be exceptions but that's what I would anticipate.</p> <p>My thoughts on how they will accomplish this: I am of course not terribly business savvy, but every few weeks it seems as though they are having a sale where things get marked down to $5, $10, and $15. These are items whose quality exceeds such low prices, which just didn't happen to sell well. My guess is that they will be scrapping or at least reducing the frequency of those sales in favor of offering cheap goods right from the start. In other words, this line replaces those $34-dress-for-$5 sales using merchandise that is worth a lot less from the start. That might also mean the amount of stock or styles in the other departments gets reduced in order to limit the need for so many sales and make room for the discount line.</p> <p>I could be wrong, of course. Just my amateur theory.</p> <p>For the record, any time you purchase anything from a major corporate retailer, you should assume something unethical happened somewhere along the production chain. I hate the fact that this is the way it is, but there is no use in denying it or being naive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205341 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:50:31 +0000 quail 205341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting article. While I agree that buying an expensive item doesn't guarantee that workers are treated humanely, I do agree that hearing about price cuts like this makes me wonder where the savings are coming from, and the article addresses that too. It sounds like H&amp;M is fairly open about disclosing their work practices and I hope more companies follow that trend.</p> <p>H&amp;M has some quality pieces scattered in with most of their lines and I'll buy that - I got my winter coat there over five years ago and it's worth every penny. For the most part, their items are cheap and not cut to flatter my body. I'll probably go check out these new cheap items but don't expect to find anything that wows me. Thanks for sharing the article, Iris. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205330 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:27:00 +0000 shana 205330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amen, Maya! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205284 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:43:46 +0000 Maya 205284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Whatever. Buying a $3,000 bag doesn't guarantee a spotless ethical record. If anything it is even more egregiously wrong. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205279 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:06:55 +0000 Traci 205279@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Do you think this will be an across the board cut? Or just a marketing ploy to get people in the door with a couple of ridiculously priced items? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hm-to-slash-prices-5-dresses#post-205270 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:31:33 +0000 Iris 205270@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><a href="http://www.vogue.com/voguedaily/2010/08/do-i-get-a-coffee-a-snack-or-something-to-wear-the-hm-495-dress/" rel="nofollow">http://www.vogue.com/voguedail.....495-dress/</a></p> <p>Hearing this news, I'm not so sure how to feel, honestly. While I'm sure everyone wants to save a little more money, I wonder how the cost-cutting measures are going to affect their workers. The garment industry is already notorious enough for mistreatment, so really, where is this price decrease coming from?</p> <p>I haven't bought anything (yet) from H&amp;M, since I'm usually unsatisfied with the quality/style, but for those who have already shopped/planning to, what is your take on this? </p>