Last year, I wrote a number of posts about my quest for better boots. I thought it would give me a good source of content other guys could relate to, but it's only a small part of a bigger problem I have seen slowly degrading the entire clothing economy. In short, the combination of government inflating the money supply through fiscal policy, megacorporations pursuing profits, and poor quality control in foreign production as fast fashion pushes for more volume above all else have resulted in ever-rising prices and ever-declining quality. Synthetic fibers have also gone from space-age wonder to ubiquitous trash.
Synthetics or natural materials made into quality fabric, and then sewn into durable garments for serious use, are not cheap. If anything, the sticker shock between what we think things should cost and what quality today really costs shows just how bad the economy is. Unfortunately, Trump's current tariff war policies might put that into even sharper relief, and while Trump is no angel, his critics will try to pretend this long-hidden reality is all his fault if and when it gets laid bare for all to see as though it came out of nowhere a month ago.
Locally at least, thrift stores have gone from a place for deals to a trendy shopping experience for people with money to burn, and prices have shifted accordingly. The mainstay mall retailers have died or are dying, making online shopping a gamble when items are bought sight-unseen. Luxury brands have often succumbed to being merely expensive fashion rather than elegant quality.
So what is a savvy consumer to do? Whether your primary concerns are financial, environmental, or durability, resist impulse buys and be prepared to research. Look past the advertisements and sales pitch to find the facts. "Greenwashing" masks a lot of sins. Brand names mean nothing in many cases. I ran across a recent video primarily about womens fashion concerns, but its comments on construction and materials are universal.
Have you just been vaguely aware that something has been amiss for the last couple decades, or are you already alert to what has been happening in the fashion industry? What are your tips and tricks for sorting wheat from chaff? How do you navigate the complexity? We can influence the wider economy with our small choices, but will that be enough? It could even be worth learning to sew and make your own clothing from bolts of quality fabric to get what you really want. That's overkill for my needs at present, but your mileage may vary, and the times they are a-changin'.
Fake leather is the one that is really killing me. They just cant get it right and now it has been substituted into everything and anything that normally should have real leather, Parts of canvas bags, zip attachments, belt endings. Its horrible and cheap but they no longer price it as cheap
Almost as bad is "genuine leather" that's just cheap suede with a heavy plastic topcoat.
And for people who like to claim to care about the environment, they sure love non-renewable disposable petrochemicals instead of renewables humans have used since pre-history.
I wonder if with the tariffs will there be higher prices on cheaper made products.
I do not buy new clothes for myself, but when I was to go on a cruise I went to WM and was shocked at how the clothes that I could afford were made of a thin material, they looked like they would fall apart after a couple of washings.
Nowadays if you want well made clothes, shop at a thrift store but don't expect thrift store prices of yesteryear. The last time I was there the price of a pair of jeans was now 6 dollars and shirts are 2 and up.
As a lifelong dressmaker I can tell you how much quality of fabric and construction has declined. Fabric stores are few and they sell polyester fleece (not the good Polartec brand for outerwear) and quilting cotton. Good apparel fabrics cost big bucks online. Skilled seamstresses are a dying breed, too. (I am 62) !BBH
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