https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:03:12 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-2099156 Sat, 15 Feb 2020 01:30:16 +0000 slim cat 2099156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I miss 100 % thin cotton tees from GAP and BR. I sleep in my old ones. &nbsp;<br />Nobody does have those cotton tees that were very soft, strong enough - &nbsp;no holes, slim fit. I do Lucky Brand cotton/modal tees because I get overheated often. Not expecting 100 % cotton tees coming back on that level of quality and fit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-2099063 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 18:23:32 +0000 kelian 2099063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@K.M THEY ARE BACK!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876615 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 19:31:00 +0000 Jenni NZ 1876615@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Regarding AliExpress, I have seen that popping up on searches here and the founder of AliBaba ( which indeed it is connected to- great name I always think, Open Sesame! ) is very rich and successful. Worth trying AliExpress for sure.<br /> We've had a lot of retail failures in NZ recently. Topshop even failed in our market ( a new company was formed and a store opened, in receivership after about 3 years). I might try to find some articles for Inge's next Link Love. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876613 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 19:21:00 +0000 K.M. 1876613@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>kkards</b>, I have begun to do this with some items (socks included--just ordered my first pair of SmartWools), so maybe over time I'll shift towards the "fewer, better things" motto...</p> <p><b>EmilyK</b>, that's interesting! I definitely had the sense that the things that popped up on my screen were very similar to some brand-name items... I will give AliExpress a try! </p> <p><b>Greyscale</b>, I have also started to get more Uniqlo items rather than Gap/Old Navy. Uniqlo is cheaper than Gap, but has more interesting items--my only issue is that I take so long to make up my mind that several things I want sell out... but I suppose that's their business model.</p> <p>I did search Amazon for the magic cotton-elastane blend and some tees popped up. They were very affordable (sent directly from China) so I will try one and see if the blend is close enough... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876589 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:24:35 +0000 Greyscale 1876589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've shifted to Uniqlo for all the high quality cotton basics I used to get from the Gap. I have a lot of Gap brand loyalty, but they're definitely struggling. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876583 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 17:59:46 +0000 Emily K 1876583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>KM, You might try AliExpress--I think it's the consumer shopping side of Alibaba. &nbsp;I have never purchased anything, but an acquaintance recommended it (he buys lots of small consumer electronics for pennies on the dollar). &nbsp;He said that he's matched up the items and they are the EXACT same items--direct from the factories--that he is buying here, for more money, under various trade names.&nbsp; </p> <p></p> <p>ETA: &nbsp;AliExpress seems to be as ubiquitous in Russia as Amazon is, here. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876577 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 17:29:10 +0000 kkards 1876577@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>KM--yes the 1st time I spent $15 on a pair of socks, I cringed and wondered what the h*ll I was doing...but I was sick of the heels sliding and scrunching up...and what a difference it made...I'm spending more per sock, but getting more wear out of the pairs I buy! you may feel the same about this tee.</p> <p>and if only it was as easy as clinking on a website and placing an order for 100 units (retail speak for pieces)......</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876519 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 14:14:21 +0000 K.M. 1876519@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Out of curiosity I did a search for 93% cotton, 7% elastane (the blend I like) and I was taken to this Alibaba website that connects wholesale buyers to suppliers... It looks like a company in China <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/cotton-and-viscose-long-sleeve-slim_1458226356.html?spm=a2700.7724857.main07.307.1920c869fyqroD">has exactly the tees I used to love</a> (I say this because they use literally the same words that Gap used to describe the tees, "perfect for inventive layering"). Alas the minimum order is 100 pieces. If I could connect to all the disgruntled reviewers who miss these tees maybe I could work something out :O but I have zero experience with wholesale buying! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876516 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 14:09:28 +0000 K.M. 1876516@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>anchie</b>, do you live in Vienna? What are the popular stores there? (I would love to visit the city one day!)</p> <p><b>kkards</b>, wow, those Zipporah tees look like they are made of the same blend, yes, and they look beautiful! (and are available in my favorite color... wine!) I don't think I ever paid as much for a t-shirt before but perhaps I should consider given how much I love that blend... Thanks for the article, I'll read it with my morning tea now </p> <p><b>lisa p.</b>, thanks for the book reference! Ever since the J.Crew troubles became mainstream headlines I became more interested in the business side of the fashion world, but I still don't know much about it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876510 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:18:42 +0000 Anonymous 1876510@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, GAP Inc is focusing on Old Navy and Athleta , as kkards mentioned above. The book I mentioned is called Too Big to Fail &nbsp;- by Andrew Ross Sorkin, and is about the fall of Wall Street /financial crisis of 2008. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876498 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 11:59:47 +0000 kkards 1876498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Re: The Gap....they are not on the retail watch list, mainly because they have been good about containing expense and growing Old Navy and Alethla...but i would expect the namesake The Gap will continue to close stores&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gap-still-more-prove-despite-021600891.html">https://finance.yahoo.com/news.....00891.html</a></p> <p>Re Cotton Tees...have you tried this one? looks like its the same blend as the old Gap one, and the fit looks similar as well<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="https://velvet-tees.com/zipporah-scoop-neck-tee-7b9290.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyszSBRDJARIsAHAqQ4qqHUA1eRigLImdvUhp8M-BKsnlTN7n2dArtePodJ54M1O20NWSq2QaAtRUEALw_wcB">https://velvet-tees.com/zippor.....Q4qqHUA1eR</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876486 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 10:38:50 +0000 anchie 1876486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gap had one store in Vienna, it was open about 4 years ago and it just closed about month ago. I had a feeling it is not going well for Gap. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876446 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 04:22:02 +0000 K.M. 1876446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>li</b><b>sa p</b>., that's sad but very interesting. I'd be curious to learn more (through the book you mentioned and/or other reads). </p> <p><b>Isabel</b>, I'd be sad too. I know the Gap gets a bad rap, but I have relied on it for many beloved items. I bought most worn sweater last year there (still going strong in its second winter; in tip top shape and wonderful in every way), and I get my daughter many lovely things. </p> <p><b>lisa p.</b>, I'm assuming this is only about the Gap but doesn't include its other sister brands?</p> <p><b>SarahD8,</b> I did put a couple of those in my shopping basket out of desperation. I had a few during pregnancy but I can't find them; if I could try them on now I could tell whether they would work now. Sorry about your Favorite Tank... Isn't it crazy how such simple basics can be so hard to replace? </p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876432 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:59:36 +0000 SarahD8 1876432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>K.M., I wondered about buying a maternity version and having it altered? If they are that essential to you it might be worth it.</p> <p>I am still mourning the loss of the old version of the Favorite Tank. I wore those as camisoles for 7 or 8 years and have never been able to find an adequate substitute. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876429 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:41:53 +0000 Anonymous 1876429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That would be too bad about the Gap! A new and delightful person in my family has been having such success at Baby Gap!</p> <p>But her mother has been complaining about this very thing! She bought some Vince ones recently but they're just not the same.</p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876422 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:26:09 +0000 Anonymous 1876422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes . Quarterly losses for years , no design direction . Big drops in market share . Major store closings . No such thing as “ too big to fail “ . There’s a book about just that . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876417 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:11:05 +0000 K.M. 1876417@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>EmilyK</b> and <b>Greyscale</b>, maybe it's time for a tweet (I have an account but never use)... and a hashtag, and maybe a hashtag in a review as a way to reach more people...</p> <p><b>kkards</b>, interesting!!! I had no idea about the price of cotton rising. I always wondered not only why they discontinued these tees, but also why they converted most of their other tee options into modal and synthetic blends. And now that I think of it, the Maternity tees still made with my beloved fabric are priced a little higher than the non-Maternity equivalents, and almost never go on sale (as they know they have somewhat of a captive public?). That would explain a lot...</p> <p><b>lisa p</b>., wow, do you think they are in that bad of a shape? I always thought they were too big to fail... </p> <p>Maybe I should search for this fabric myself and have my seamstress replicate the shirts! (Well, somewhat kidding here. The cost would be prohibitive...)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876387 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:03:53 +0000 Anonymous 1876387@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you'd be barking up the wrong tree with Gap, sadly. I'd be surprised if they are still in business by the end of this year. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876379 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 23:33:24 +0000 kkards 1876379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i think it would depend on my the gap discountinued them in the 1st place......i'm guessing they discontinued them the year that cotton prices went way up, and they weighted what they thought customers would be willing to pay ....so before you ask for something....what are you willing to pay?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876366 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 22:04:37 +0000 Greyscale 1876366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Twitter seems to get more direct attention from a lot of brands than email does. If someone tweeted @Gap and it got a lot of retweets, it might get noticed. But that seems unlikely unless you know some "influencers". (Instagram is probably even better but I am not hip enough to be very active on it.)</p> <p>I want Uniqlo to bring back their round-neck dolman tees but they weren't a perennial staple like those Gap tees. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876364 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:59:10 +0000 Emily K 1876364@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my friends experienced good customer service after she wrote an open letter on FB and tagged the company'd FB page--you might be able to tap into some social media support. &nbsp;(Different company and different issue, but she'd already exhausted, without success, all the usual avenues of customer service.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876361 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:36:33 +0000 K.M. 1876361@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>cindysmith</b>, maybe I should hire you as my "bring back the tee" campaign manager </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876357 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:28:07 +0000 cindysmith 1876357@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would seriously email gap and tell them I wasn't shopping there anymore because they discontinued my favorite wardrobe staple. Get a whole movement going on social media, hashtags and all. I'd tart a campaign to email corporate, and get their corporate emails hammered with complaints. I would also write letters that go through Snailmail because thy need to be getting hit from every direction by as many people as possible. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-get-a-retailer-to-bring-back-a-popular-but-discontinued-basic#post-1876353 Sun, 07 Jan 2018 21:18:55 +0000 K.M. 1876353@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This might be somewhat of a weird question... </p> <p>What would you do if you wanted a retailer to bring back a beloved basic item? (Emphasis on basic--not trendy.)</p> <p>I posted a while ago here about how I miss the old Gap PureBody t-shirts. They were made of a unique cotton-spandex blend that made them thin but not sheer; stretchy but not clingy; ideal for layering or wearing on their own. Very soft and comfortable, and with a slightly dressier look than all-cotton tees because of the stretch. I've tried many other replacements since (J.Crew lightweights and perfect tees; Uniqlo Supimas; modal ones from various retailers), but nothing has come close.</p> <p>Gap discontinued them a couple of seasons ago and replaced them with the yuckiest modal imaginable.</p> <p>If you visit the Gap website, you can read reviews posted by many people (I'm one of them) complaining and begging for the old tees in their former fabric and cut. These reviews span months, maybe a whole year!</p> <p>Gap still has access to the fabric blend because they use it to make their Maternity PureBody tees. </p> <p>I've written many reviews over the last year, and I've even emailed their Customer Service directly. I got the expected reply that their design team has to consider changing trends, but I don't think it's a good reason because that tee was a timeless and versatile basic, not a trendy item (unlike the yucky modal ones that are everywhere). Evidently nothing has worked. </p> <p>Are there any other ways to reach them and ask them to consider bringing this item back? (Or at least giving a more considered answer as to why they wouldn't?)</p> <p>I know it's silly to long so strongly for a basic item of clothing, but I still practically live in these tees (saving my old ones till their last thread). </p> <p>Thanks for any words of wisdom... </p> <p>Below you can see:</p> <p>1. A picture of the <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.polyvore.com/gap_women_pure_body_cotton/thing?.embedder=10049076&amp;.svc=pinterest&amp;id=146457580">original discontinued tee</a><br />2. The Maternity version (Find), which is still available</p> </p>