Quality Getting Worse Rant.

Dee

There's no question that the quality of clothing and footwear has been declining over the years but I have to say that this fall/winter season in particular I've seen a more drastic shift in quality and workmanship than ever before.

Blazers and coats not lined, lots of sloppy fabrication and cheap materials, plenty of crooked seams and flimsy zippers etc... This has been apparent even at many moderate and higher priced retailers as well. And the merchandising in many of these stores has become a hodgepodge too. Lots of wrinkly items, and crammed racks of clothing and its almost impossible to figure out the quality of these products online with a mere photo and description.

It seems we consumers have sadly become accustomed to this reality for the most part as there seems to be little affordable quality alternatives for most people now. I know retailers are struggling against the likes of Shein and Temu etc... but I'm now longing for even the quality of clothing that existed a decade ago. Not sure where all this crummy clothing is headed except eventually the landfill and so it continues to be a struggle to find quality pieces that I'm happy to purchase these days.

1 day ago

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from cat2

Star

Veteran

Dee, I hear you and this is why I thrift most of my wardrobe. The clothes of yesteryear are so well made. I am lucky to have such a great international variety where I live. An example is knits. I have a few that I bought new 25 or so years ago, they are still totally wearable. I have knits I have thrifted in the last 10 years, they are still good even though they were already 2nd hand! The three new ones I have purchased in the last 10 years all have to go. They look so shabby and worn out.

1 day ago

Sisi

Veteran

I agree wholeheartedly! This is one of the reasons why I hate shopping - it takes a lot of time and energy to find something of good quality without spending a fortune. I blame the various fast fashion chains for this - people got used to buy cheap rubbish, wear two-three times and then toss. But I also see that more and more people are starting to care about sustainability.

1 day ago

JAileen

Veteran

I think the problem is the stores trying to keep clothes at similar prices. But costs are going up, so frills like linings, welt pockets, quality buttons, etc., must go. The thing that bugs me is the cacophony of mismatched plaids, especially with patch pockets. Looking at those things make my eyes bleed.

1 day ago

Joy

Veteran

I agree. The old stuff is better quality. That's why I end up buying so much second hand...to get better quality at a lower price and keep the old around and wear it. Are things better in Europe?

1 day ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dee, in my professional opinion - I’m going to offer a different point of view

I wouldn’t say that quality is getting worse. I’d say it’s more INCONSISTENT.

For example, i returned a pricey Kate Spade coat yesterday because the quality was not up to scratch. Especially when I compared it to my new cream J. Crew coat that was a fraction of the price and superior in every way! It’s gorgeous quality. Unexpected!

Acrylic seems to be replacing polyester in knitwear to keep the prices down. That’s not a bad idea for people who are allergic to wool.

Furthermore, I’m happy to say that more these days is made of natural fibres at lower price points. Cotton, linen, rayon, viscose and silk are blended into fabrics more regularly - and they don’t cost the earth. This is very good.

Unlined coats and blazers work really well in some climates too.

My Gap jeans are better quality than my Veronica Beard jeans that I paid 6 times the price for!

I think the point is that now, more than ever, you have to be EXTRA discerning about quality. It’s not as straightforward as it used to be. Bad quality creeps up on you unexpectedly. And I empathize with the frustration!

1 day ago

cat2

Veteran

What were you looking for? We all have this problem and can share what has worked. I felt much better when I heard others had given up on Madewell tees, for example, because they suddenly dropped off in quality.

1 day ago

Irina

Veteran

Well, a garment that was made 30 years ago using better materials would be sold today, how much would it cost, adjusted for inflation?
The manufacturers need to keep prices low and it has to come from somewhere. Hence, terrible working conditions, low pay for those who make our things and cutting cost on everything.

30-40 years ago quality was better but prices were higher and people didn’t buy a ton of things. Also took care of what they owned.

Prices are more affordable now but quality is inconsistent, depends on what deals a manufacturer could negotiate. I often ask myself how much more I’m willing to pay for better quality? I think we all are so spoiled by abundance. But, it’s my opinion, no offense.

1 day ago

Dee

Veteran

Star, Joy- Yes I shop second hand as well, but regrettably fast fashion and even Shein can now be found in these stores too.
Sisi- Fast fashion has definitely changed the fashion landscape and not for the better. It makes me nervous to wear out some of my better quality items for fear I can never get the same quality when I need to replace them.
JAileen- I agree these cheapy cost cutting measures are so infuriating .
Angie- Sadly, this inconsistent quality seems to be spreading more consistently. I was in the Gap yesterday and perhaps their jeans were decent, but I have to say for the most part that the quality of their offerings has declined a lot compared to only a few years ago. They are just one of the many retailers I used to count on, who at one time offered decent quality for the price. You’re so right it isn’t as straightforward anymore.
Cat2 - I was actually shopping for sweater but I’ve noticed that some of my most reliable quality retailers are now stocking some rather poor quality items on a more consistent basis.

1 day ago

Dee

Veteran

Irina- No offence taken, unfortunately these giant fast fashion conglomerates have taken over most of the industry and yep prices are cheaper but at a cost of quality which seems to be getting worse with each passing year. Shein and Temu have now taken it to a new level, and so everyone else is trying to figure out how to compete. I just wonder where it will all end up?

1 day ago

Runcarla

Veteran

It is so much harder to find good craftsmanship and fabrication at a comfortable price point, and even higher priced items or previously faithful brands/lines can be disappointing. The unlined coat is a hard pass for me.

Last year’s Uniqlo merino sweaters were exemplary. This year’s version seems a smidge thinner - but still good quality (and value). I’ve noticed there’s more synthetics though, and some of their previously down filled items are the same style, but with synthetic fill.

1 day ago

Catnip

Veteran

I agree that quality is definitely declining. Fabrics are thinner. There are more loose threads and crooked seams. Zippers have gotten cheaper. Cashmere pills like crazy (and many younger people can't remember when that didn't used to happen with expensive cashmere). Cotton, which used to be washable, shrinks like crazy, even when washed in cold water and line dried. Acrylic, which is plastic, pills nonstop and is everywhere. Even my modal panties pill.

So what to do? Thrifting alone obviously can't be the answer in the long term. It appears that manufacturers have tried to keep costs low by cutting the price of labor and materials. We must make them see that this will not work by refusing to buy shoddy products.

I buy most of my clothing online. Over the past year I have returned at least 75% of the items I ordered. Sometimes this is due to poor fit, which is often due to inconsistency in sizing, but more often is due to poor quality. I always include a note with a return, explaining exactly what is wrong with the product. If enough people refuse to accept poor merchandise, hopefully the manufacturers will get the point and improve if they want to stay in business.

1 day ago

Lisa

Veteran

It's really hard to find good quality even from the same designer and within the same collection! It's indeed very frustrating.

1 day ago

Dee

Veteran

Runcarla- I agree that Uniqlo’s quality seems to have slipped a bit, I tried on one of their merino sweaters recently, and there was already a tiny snag in it.
Catnip- Not sure what the answer is, I’m just trying to be more discerning with my shopping dollars and your right most of the younger generation only knows this type of shopping experience.
Lisa - Yes, that is very disappointing

1 day ago

Joyce B

Veteran

I agree with you, corners are being cut wherever they can be.
There is a push for more sustainable clothing with visible mending and repairs, though for me, I prefer invisible repairs. I have developed poison eye for my ripped “distressed” jeans and have been mending those with success. What that brings me to, is that I am paying a lot of attention to the way garments are finished and have noticed a lot of cut corners, seeming to be where they think you will not notice. For example, I recently bought a pair of Free Ppl barrel jeans (pictured below) and found that the inner side seams are shoddy and poorly finished.
My son’s pajama pants, from Nordstrom, have shoddy side seams right under the inner aspect of the side pockets.
My grandmother was a seamstress and she would never buy anything without turning it inside out and examining the seams and the finish. I think I am becoming like her these days.

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1 day ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is why I am a fan of Angie's top picks!

But I get it -- shopping is hard when the quality is inconsistent at best and you can't rely on old favourite retailers year to year. A few good years with one, and then -- oops! -- you're on the lookout for another. It can be a pain, especially when fit issues also come into play.

1 day ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Unfortunately so many people are buying from Shein and Temu, I have heard it discussed in our waiting room and at my sister-in-law’s housewarming party several of her friends (who are not my friends) were doing it too. Any time I do feel like looking on line for a particular colour top they come up as the first options
I think despite there being interest in sustainability that interested group is still a minority.

1 day ago

Irina

Veteran

I don’t even know what Temu is.

I think most of us have a shopping strategy already. I just want to point out that quality and sustainability are not the same thing. I bought items from some sustainable brands and quality was really average. It made me feel a bit better that it least these brands pay fair wages. But I’m careful when buying from them. For example, a cashmere sweater from Theory is better quality than from Everlane. But I doubt Theory is a sustainable brand.

1 day ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Temu is a relatively new business from China that somehow cuts out the middleman and can send clothing direct from factories to the consumer all over the world. There are significant concerns about the wages paid in these factories, is there any child labour etc etc. Because the goods are so cheap and so many countries are in recession they launched at a good time internationally, I forget exactly when but only 2023 or even 2024. I saw the ads on our main news website first, all of a sudden the ads were everywhere.

1 day ago

Dee

Veteran

JoyceB- Yes these cost cutting measures are hitting across all price points but they are becoming so obvious to spot now.
Suz- Angie’s top picks are a great resource for many but some items are only available in the U.S. or have extra duty fees and expensive shipping costs when you live out of country.
Jenni NZ- you’re right, Temu or Shein do often appear as the first options online making it so easy for people to chose them.
Irina- Temu is an online platform just like Shein selling ultra fast fashion products directly from 3rd party manufacturers. And I agree that unfortunately quality and sustainability don’t necessarily go hand in hand.

1 day ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dee, inconsistent quality is probably the one thing we can count on these days

1 day ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Dee, I have sent back more than I have kept this year. The quality is inconsistent, and the sizing is hard to predict. I checked the measurements, but they don't seem to help.

I have a 1985 sweater that is in great shape. Two of my cashmere sweaters are over 20 years old. There is no piling. My older Everlane cashmere doesn't seem to be piling. I find the newer Everlane sweaters thinner and not as good a fit.

I hoped to add one or two sweaters to my wardrobe this year. I have not found anything that fits, is in my colour palette, and is of excellent quality.

1 day ago

LJP

Veteran

As the athletic wear/accessories buyer for the company I work for, my biggest challenge is finding decent pieces (hoodies, t-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, etc) at a price people are willing to pay. The 3000+ members at this facility are typically university +educated with household incomes in the low -mid 6 figures . And they WILL NOT buy a t-shirt for $40 or a 100 % cotton heavy weight great quality hoodie for more than $45. It makes me crazy. So my solution ? I take almost no markup on the goods and consider it a service to the members. Educated, well -read (you'd hope) people with a good income still buy their casual clothing at Walmart, apparently. Quality seems to be the lesser concern, yet I refuse to bring in junk that I can't stand behind.

1 day ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree that it’s very inconsistent and most of it’s not great, for the price point. I won’t get political here, but I’ve seen some speculation that it’s going to get worse in the years to come (tariffs for one), and I’m pretty sure that’s true.

1 day ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think we feel this the. more whenever one of our own "go to" retailers fails us during a particular season. For instance, J. Crew has always been a good go-to for me (both for fit and for quality at the price point -- esp. at the sale price.). I have one of those stadium cloth coats that I got years ago for $100 CAD (on sale) and it looks brand new. Fantastic quality!

However, some years, I have been downright shocked by a lot of the clothes -- armholes cut wrong, buttons unravelling before even wearing, flimsy or scratchy fabric, etc. In those years, the "regular" merchandise feels more like the "factory" version. So I'll stop looking there for a while. Only to find a few years later -- bingo, they are back again! The quality seems to go up and down without rhyme or reason. And if you are shopping online, it is awfully hard to tell because of course in the photos it all looks good. I've seen similar things happen at BR and GAP, and other retailers.

I do think knitwear has really changed in the last 30 years, almost entirely for the worse.

1 day ago

Bonnie

Veteran

I guess I'm lucky because everything I bought this year worked out.

1 day ago

Dee

Veteran

Bonnie- Looks like you’re one of the lucky ones so far.
Suz- I’m not feeling all that optimistic that things are going to change much if people are still willing to purchase these kinds of products despite their lack of quality.
Janet- You could be right.
LJP- Looks like a lot of consumers have grown accustomed to a certain price point and quality just doesn’t matter as much

Style Fan - Yes so true that sweaters were made much better in the past.

1 day ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I haven’t really experienced this. But I am in a different retail environment to most of you. I shop mostly mid range Australian retailers. I do shop occasionally at Zara, ASOS and Free People for casual wear.

I actually think the quality has improved since 10 years ago (not so sure about 20 or 30). I remember not that long ago lots of items were polyester or pure viscose. Even jeans usually had a lot of elastane in them. I used to find it depressing. I think that had a lot to do with the fashion for skinny jeans and long drapey tops. I remember that it was really hard to find pure cotton items here. And linen. Now there seems to be a lot more natural fibres or blends around. Of course, that doesn’t mean garment construction is better but I think cotton and linen are so superior to pure viscose in terms of washability and durability. Polyester, on the other hand, is very durable but not ideal for a hot climate.

Anyhow, I am rambling but I would say I generally prefer what’s on offer now to 10 years ago. Come to Australia, Dee

22 hours ago

Dee

Veteran

Brooklyn- Australia sounds great with winter on its way here. Summer fashion didn’t seem quite as bad, and I did appreciate a lot the cotton/linen blends, but this current fall/winter season seems to be another story in poor quality. Sadly,I don’t think we will ever see the same kind of quality as 20 or 30 years ago with reasonable prices for most people to wear.

21 hours ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Interesting thread! Like Star and others I circumvent this situation by buying second hand including a fair amount of vintage and high end labels (no guarantee of quality there either of course). Based on the thousands of items I sort at the thrift store, I would say that Angie nailed it - quality is inconsistent in almost every label I see.

8 hours ago

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