Stories.com?

Column

Hi Fabbers,

I`m seeing a lot of Finds from Stories.com. I like the silhouettes, fabrics and price points. They remind me of Massimo Dutti and (less so) Mango (bc Mango quality is inconsistent—two summer cotton items three years back shrank beyond recognition, although the parka I just bought is great).

Would anyone be willing to share additional information about Stories?

7 years ago

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from Irina

carter

Veteran

Oddly enough, it's called & Other Stories. Fab store, out of Denmark, I think. There's one in London on Kings Rd that I visited more than once while I was there. Although I didn't buy anything but a ring there, I hear good things about the quality. A couple bloggers I like (UseLess and Anna Edit) find great pieces there.

7 years ago

Irina

Veteran

Another store from H&M group, so more like COS. Not available in Canada

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

COS is owned by H&M?

7 years ago

Jane

Veteran

I like it, I have one striped t shirt which is good quality and has lasted well. (Carter - my office is near that store on the King's Road).

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

FashIntern--yes COS is owned by H&M...as well as 8 other brands
http://about.hm.com/en/brands.html
and while we are at it, Zara owns Massimo Dutti...as well as 6 other brands
https://www.inditex.com/about-us/our-brands/zara

7 years ago

carter

Veteran

Jane, I figured it would be :-). I probably walked right past you a dozen times when we were there late November.

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

kkards, thanks!

Sorry to hear Dutti is owned by Zara. I've never shopped at Zara, for reasons discussed here recently, but I've recently discovered M Dutti, and like it.

Is this intended to be a shell game, or is there some reason other than confusing the consumer for them to set up so many different labels?

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Column...sorry if this is taking your post off topic....

FashIntern....different brands appeal to different customers....most often its a simple as that...in the US The Gap also owns Banana Republic, Athleta and Old Navy...., years ago Ann Taylor started Ann Taylor Loft, (now just called Loft) specifically to appeal to a more budget conscience customer...TJMaxx own Marshalls, HomeGoods, TK Maxx

generally, its pretty simple to see how owns what with a simple google search.....

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

H&M owns & Other Stories and COS.

Nice store. I generally prefer COS.

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

"different brands appeal to different customers" sounds fishy to me! I believe you that this is the explanation given, but how much simpler would a mall be if, instead of 50 stores from 10 different corporations, they just had the 10 stores, with various sections according to price point and demo? Sounds like a basic department store model to me. I think lots of people shop multiple stores in the same "family".

Digression over. Column, thanks for your patience.

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

FashIntern....yes you are correct many people do shop multiple stores in the same family....and many do not....many people are intimitated to walk into a store that sells above their price range so having all brands in 1 store would/could limit a brand. as well many people feel that they don't like to shop in stores that seem to be "too young" or "too old"...again limiting a brands ability to reach its targeted customer....also, many locations don't have the demographics to support all the different brands... and I'm sorry that you feel its "fishy" but its not, i work in retail and i can tell you this is well research.....and again, none of this is a secret......a quick google search and/or just going to a stores website will tell you who owns it....

7 years ago

anchie

Veteran

I found out that H&M owns Monki when I received bank statement where I had charge stating H&M. I was sure I did not shop there recently and first I thought it is some error but it matched date and price from Monki bill. I connected dots...

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Anchie, I found out the same way that Free people is owned by Urban Outfitters, another group I don't wish to support.

Kkards, now you have made me curious. How is it that department stores can carry products at different prices points and for different demo groups and sizes, but BR/Gap/ON can't? Nordy's carries items comparable to each of those stores, and people don't seem intimidated to go there, or to think that having a junior's dept means the whole store is for young people. I realize that simplifying anyone's shopping experience is not a goal of retail, but I'm curious.

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

FashIntern yes department stores do sell a range of prices—and at at least in the US they are facing a slow death. There are very few left and they are looking long and hard at the future. Sears is barely hanging on. Macy’s is closing stores, cutting floor space on the stores it is keeping and exploring an off price option. Nordstrom doesn’t really carry opening prices, doesn’t really have a big national footprint and is opening Racks faster than there main store. I’m on my phone so can’t get to supporting articles now, but can get you some later if your interested

7 years ago

Column

Veteran

Well...I`m glad I asked. Thank you everyone for enlightening me.</p> <p>While I did not start out with the intention of inquiring about ethical practices, I am now very happy I know. Angie`s recent comment that finding the “ethical” in fashion is far more convoluted than it looks appears to be true.

I wonder: Beyond consignment where the damage is already done, is there any way to purchase fashion that does not involve the exploitation of humans, animals, or the environment?

7 years ago

Irina

Veteran

Short answer, Column, is no. Even if you decide to grow your own cotton or flax, you would need a lot of water

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Column....i think each of us must define for ourselfs what level of exploitation of humans, animals, or the environment, we are comfortable with and go with that....

7 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Fashintern, it’s just branding. Yes, be as suspicious as always, as branding is another capitalist tool designed to part us from our money.
For me, walking into Massimo Dutti is quite a different experience than walking into Zara. The stores are decorated. It’s a much smaller selection of items on the shelves, better displayed, and they have SAs who will approach to offer assistance. People who never consider Zara will wander in to check it out (it happened to me). It could be seen as offering something different for people who are overwhelmed by or just dislike the fast fashion experience of stores like Zara. For me it’s turned out to be useless because they just don’t design for my (generous North American) size 12, which I’m sure is also intentional!

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jules, I don't go to Zara because of their labor and environmental practices. I assume another brand in the same company would have the same issues. I am glad that I am now living in a city with lots of local designers/ production /boutiques. Shopping there, I can be relatively assured that their labor and environmental practices are in order, because the city would be able to stop harmful practices. But of course, that doesn't do anything about the way materials are acquired and made into fabric.

6 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I often buy clothes from Massimo Dutti. It is priced higher than Zara but quality of garments is much better and more natural fabrics available. The tailor who does alterations for me, tells me that the construction of items and finishings are very good. I think that their prices are very reasonable. As for environmental concerns, big conglomerates like Zara are actually under more scrutiny than the smaller companies.
But certainly, it is a personal choice.

6 years ago

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