It's Not Just Shein: Why Are ALL Your Clothes Worse Now?

[@Praisethesunson]

My favorite part of this is that spending more money on something does absolutely nothing to guarantee the quality of a product. Absolute garbage is being sold as high end.

[@custos3249]

And yet there's plenty who, with no self-awareness, love to spout in response "you sound poor."

[@cassieoz1702]

There is an issue of consumers not being able to spot quality even when it is present. They'd still rather follow 'trends' and buy crapm to throw out at end of season.

[@johnanhmmiii]

@@custos3249 you are so real on that, one time I shared my opinion just like that and they told me I was poor and that's why I don't see the quality smh

[@user-wu4ip7mp3z]

Go to Vietnam and you can get higher quality tshirts sold on the street market for maybe $2, versus $30-80 in America lol. These companies just know the average Americans are too stupid to even consider the importance of the quality of their clothing.

[@PhotoJeticPoet]

Yep, there's a cleaner I follow on here that breaks down how High fashion clothing gets ruined all the time because it's not designed to be cleaned or not long term wear. The channels name is @cleanfreaks please stop tagging me over and over again I've responded the name 4 times this morning.

[@soulbreather666]

I used to think this was all just nonsense, until my Dad gave me a bunch of clothes he bought in the 80s and 90s that don't fit him any more. Each piece was in perfect condition and felt thick and durable. The quality of today's clothes really is shocking.

[@ernesto7004]

And that’s real-life proof that clothes quality can be too good and become a waste of money and resources. People just don’t need or want to wear the same clothes for 20 years.

[@mariak8095]

@@ernesto7004 yeah... but that's not a waste of money and resources. it can be reused, resold, and cost per wear is basically nothing.

[@soulbreather666]

@@ernesto7004 Well I wanted to wear my Dad's clothes and have been for years now. A pair of jeans or something goes with loads of other items.

[@BB-ed4om]

@@ernesto7004yes they do. Maybe not socks and underwear but everything else yes.

[@Carl_dev]

@@ernesto7004 I suppose you're right that nobody wants to wear the same clothes for 20 years (unless it's like a really good jacket or something), but I've had shirts from Sportsdirect get holes in them in a WEEK. I think there's a middle ground to be found somewhere. 5 years maybe? It's not like I switch styles, I wear black t-shirts and depending on weather, shorts or jeans.

[@rugbyplayer9100]

Even socks aren’t made to last anymore. The fabric has gotten thinner; therefore forming holes much faster

[@lenoraclemm1892]

I FREAK OUT ABOUT SOCKS! they're soooo expensive and so cheap now!

[@michaelwoods1924]

Exactly. We haven't been able to find all-cotton, reasonably thick socks in years. My girlfriend just asked if she could have half of mine older ones, since I don't wear them that often.

[@Lionwoman]

I feel like I was being crazy. Socks now don't last me as much as old socks have lasted even now just walking around inside the house only. They just break apart out of nothing.

[@Devsterinator]

Darn Tough socks are the only good ones I've ever found, and they're absolutely worth the $20 a pair

[@CrystalGreenNYC]

Yes! If they're getting holes, they don't hold their shape or get fuzzy. Every time I've bought the last 10 years, it's the same problems.

[@cherilion2084]

the fact that everything is going downhill - clothes, movies, drawings (AI), overall the world around us is changing drastically due to people instantly chasing for money is so depressing.......

[@candlekeep]

I wouldn't say all people but because of that 1% of humanity population - rich people. 1% wants more money so 99% have to suffer. It always been like this, they just found another way to become richer.

[@rachelclare1398]

Also because masses of people accept and consume it, because we want instant gratification and convenience. If people didnt buy it all along the way, we wouldnt be here now. The values of the consumers are just as much to blame imo, because we think we are entitled to all our whims and comforts immediately

[@angelinashen7813]

We are living in a trash era.

[@isamored]

Okay, hello good films are still being made?? (as a letterboxd nerd)

[@SuzieQ7779]

Everything is worse because our society is in decline in every way.

[@sueyoungg_]

It’s crazy how thrifting went from a cool hobby to an absolute necessity for clothing quality, price, and ethical sourcing.

[@양송-k2g]

if you can actually go to a good thrift store. where i live we have a few of them but the clothes are shit. when i was little, the clothes from our thrift stores were poor quality, so worn out they were a few sizes bigger, stained, and just straight up ugly. we refer to them as "grandma's gardening shirt", the kind of clothes that sit in the back of your closet that you take out once in a while when you need to wear something you don't mind ruining when painting your room or something. young person will find nothing to little to nothing to wear in thrift stores, even if they do it's rare. and thrift stores aren't so affordable anymore. i often find myself in a position when i prefer to buy from fast fashion brands if that means i can actually afford a few things from there that look cute, and not like something my grandma would wear on a random Thursday to peel potatoes.

[@lorihamlin3604]

I like buying thrifted clothing as it affords me the opportunity to see how an item holds up after laundry and use. The last two items I spent over $70 for were a total disappointment. Hems permanently rolled up after first laundry. One item that stands out is a pair of shorts I bought for $30 years ago. I was excited to see exact same brand shorts on sale 2 years ago for $12.50 so I bought 2 pairs..what a deal right? First wash both hems buckled with permanent crease and pockets waded up. The old pair is still going strong although becoming very distressed from frequent use, no problem with hems or pockets. I have just quit purchasing much of anything anymore. It’s such a disappointment to get excited about purchasing what you think is quality, say some brand you coveted but couldn’t afford in the past, only to put in charity bag after a few uses.

[@teacuppie4881]

@@lorihamlin3604 And I think it's another reason way some clothes in thrift stores are high now. Because the old products last longer than the ones now.

[@AutumnVulpes369]

it actually went from necessity to cool to necesity for peple who want good clothes, i used to and still kinda do as i have most clothes from there still, get clothes from thrift stores because we didnt have the money, i was mocked and bullied because all my clothes were too big on me to ensure i could wear it for as long as possible in addition they were just thrifted or as we used to call it before it was "cool" second hand

[@fruitywoodz]

It was never a “cool hobby” to low income people/families.

[@danzrs3]

Even fabric to sew your own clothes is not good anymore. The entire textile industry has just plummeted.

[@ZZ-qy5mv]

I wanted to start sewing, and I couldn’t find good affordable fabric I liked. Sucks

[@SEELE-ONE]

This too. I took up sewing again, at least for part of my wardrobe…. EVERYTHING is polyester!

[@chrissy_g]

Depends where you go. Joann is definitely not a good place for quality fabric. Mom and pop shops, and online shops like Mood Fabrics exist.

[@LancesArmorStriking]

​@@chrissy_g For the price-conscious (who think that seeing their own is cheaper than buying- on the same logic that cooking at home is cheaper) They're in for a ride awakening. Genuinely good quality fabrics are hard to come by, and the fabrics themselves are often way more expensive than premade stuff. Add to that the learning curve, and its easier to just splurge on some "ethical" brand with money coming out of its nose. There's no solid, middle-road option anymore. We've truly devolved back to feudalism. Except this time, nobody even makes Sunday clothes anymore.

[@tomjones2157]

@@LancesArmorStriking But cooking at home IS cheaper!

[@sportluver98]

It’s so depressing. Everything feels gross, looks gross, everything feels cheap

[@whereswaldo5740]

You forgot smells like poison.

[@imelectraxheart]

Literally the only clothes I like now are old ones. Thrifted or passed down from my mom. It's fucking incredible how a COTTON SHIRT (capitalizing because I'm not even talking about super sturdy fabrics here, like denim or corduroy) from the 80s is still in impeccable condition, not a single loose thread, and the same piece from 2024 breaks down in the first fucking wash. 30 celsius wash, too. Kill me now.

[@imelectraxheart]

@@Mentis-de It's not affordable anymore though. The wages are lower and the prices are fucked up. And you'll likely still get worse quality than back then, even if it's pricier. It doesn't make sense that I'd have to be in the upper middle class to get quality stuff. It just doesn't. BTW I'm fully respectfully disagreeing, I hope I'm not coming off rude or anything hahah I'm just mad at the state of the world😭❤️

[@JackHodge-o8o]

I wear plastic, have plastic in my blood, in my water... Everywhere in nature, in the ocean... Its so sick. I'd rather have a world of quality than cheap frills and quantity.

[@Stefan_Van_pellicom]

Also, it IS cheap, and that is what sells nowadays.

[@estriestrazi]

I had a denim jacket from 1983 that finally fell apart last year. That’s a 40 yr old jacket I actually wore periodically throughout that entire time.

[@trixiesgranparanz]

Every single white dress, shirt, skirt etc. is extremely see through nowadays, such a shame

[@mirandaw.4944]

yes!!! i hate it!!!

[@Nurse3811]

That is so true!!! I remember wearing white pants as a teen. Never will I do it now!

[@autumnblaze6267]

I thought I was going crazy you should be able to wear just a white skirt without anything underneath without your nipples being visible??

[@moononthewindynight27]

​@@autumnblaze6267this!!! It pisses me off so much because in the min 00s that wasn't the case

[@ciarakristos111]

It's the same problem with any yellow clothing after a few washes: it becomes see-through. 😒

[@stevenwyman1379]

Fast fashion is wild, it's like "we have this material that will take centuries to break down, and with it we've made clothes that you can wear once"

[@erinsmart8422]

I just watched a short where they just sprayed the plastic directly on the naked model and she walked off in a microplastic dress that she’ll use to increase the microplastics in the water supply after one wear 😂 there is a reason JC called us sheep.

[@akirathedog777]

KZbin commenting is wild, its like " i dont know how to ohrase my thoughts so like, im gonna quote it in the form of someone elses hypothetical though" Holy f learn to write, im not even american...

[@amdza]

@akirathedog777 Maybe because you're not American you don't understand the colloquial way people speak and therefore write in an informal setting. This is a KZbin comment, not some academic forum. So get off your high horse when you can't even be bothered to spell check your own shit.

[@alyssacassity2558]

@@akirathedog777 If you’re going to tell someone else to learn to write on a KZbin comment, I would make sure your own grammar and spelling is correct first next time.

[@vintage6346]

​​@@akirathedog777 There are three little dots to the right of your comment. Click on it. Choose "edit". That will allow you to correct the three spelling mistakes in your comment.

[@Atria777]

It's not just clothes, It's everything.

[@ogadlogadl490]

I can’t find a real cotton blanket in a regular store anymore. It’s all the greasy feeling synthetic stuff. Shame.

[@lizh1988]

Business owners are often going for money, NOW, but not high quality. They are not supportive of their workers, but exploitative.

[@mathildapotter2209]

my 1966 Kelvinator refrigerator looks better and less rusty than the new washing machine i got 10 years ago. Youre right.

[@tahliyajayde]

literally. things are made to break so you go back and spend more money!! more expensive ≠ good quality anymore

[@nadinebeckford3340]

So true... from small appliances to big ones nothing is good. Its a system. The light bulb syndrome. I am seriously considering how to sew and invest in a sewing machine. Some good old days need to come back.

[@YinzerTracy]

T-shirts in the 80s kept their shape but just got softer and cooler looking as they aged. I still have several.

[@rosicl2867]

Yes, it's not just clothes, it's many things that have deteriorated in quality and don't last long, like furniture, electronics, children's toys, etc.

[@djtaylorutube]

Garden tools! Don't buy the cheap pressed steel garbage, buy old forged steel from boot sales. Handles can be replaced.

[@lilliancao2851]

even human relationships

[@ominosersudlander14888]

​@@lilliancao2851or the human centapide

[@SpringNotes]

@@lilliancao2851 Yes, even relationships 😂

[@uncleronny6748]

Everything is being built to a price point, not how good can we make it.

[@kimbrolyy]

I have an old sci-fi book from the 60s, with a fake ad from the 2000s for "paper clothes" that are one-time use only. Seemed science fiction then, but basically what we have now

[@GuttedGhostie]

The 60s actually had real paper dresses!

[@DynoPoV]

Except paper only takes a few weeks to break down and our plastic clothes take centuries

[@Febeleh]

Andromeda Strain used that for their underground bio containment facility

[@catthebeautyhunter]

Isaac Asimov wrote about tablets too. How books and information would be accessed from a small square device. I believe it was in Prelude to Foundation. He also wrote about how it would be highly esteemed for men and women to have zero body hair (head hair and eyebrows being gone too). We're not far from that. It's fascinating what was written about that we're seeing come true 🤯

[@tsugirl02]

Literally. My mom was an English teacher and she always brings up several Sci-fi novels that she taught in the 70s and 80s that have elements of truth today!

[@zamboozle3741]

i feel way better about my job now, since the literal purpose is to repair clothes, repair them well, and in general to help try and keep them out of landfills as much as humanly possible

[@Barbara50357]

U and your people are amazing.

[@something-fj7oi]

oh can you tell me what those type of shops are called? tailors?

[@theangelicemily]

@@something-fj7oiyes, I’m pretty sure

[@jokerpilled2535]

In your experience, what brands are best to shop from in terms of quality?

[@0000rina]

praise be to you guys. thank you!

[@kasiasleatherschool]

I'm a highly qualified and experienced tailor in the UK. Working with fashion designers and students of fashion, and I agree with all you talk about in this video . Younger generations here in the UK are not told craftsmanship, and the skills in the west are dying . High-quality clothes are replaced by cheap clothes, and fewer and fewer people even want to pay for alteration or repairs as I often hear:" For this price I rather buy a new jacket !" And we talking £30 for replacement of the zipper 😢.

[@NNNN-yj7qz]

What to do if the cost of alteration costs more than an item... We literally just returned an item to the store because of that. Just didn't make sense.

[@jou3883]

I agree. I think here in the UK, alteration and dry cleaning services are overpriced without reason. It's daylight robbery. Nevertheless, I wish people should just stop buying from H&M, Zara and the worst and most disgusting: SHEIN. I wish I was a billionaire and have all the power to shut down all of these rotten fast fashion faeces

[@MegaSuperCritic]

I buy pretty much all of my clothes from thrift stores, and the fast fashion industry is starting to ruin those, too. They're filling up with garbage plastic clothes, it's tragic. Real wool and cotton is getting rarer and rarer. Occasionally an old man donates his old wardrobe and a few silk shirts and ties show up, but it's rare.

[@kthearcher3357]

Omg yeah. Used to find silk all the time, like guaranteed. Now never.

[@nari5161]

I told my friend I liked going to estate sales of deceased older people bc they don't buy fast fashion but the first part of what I said was "I like when old people die" and they were like "aight imma quote you on that"

[@thousandpetalsproject1494]

We have a hospital seconds shop in my town - sooo many delightful vintage items, absolutely from those that didn't make it through the hospital

[@herelieskittythomas3726]

​@@nari5161it really has come to this. I found a perfect 100% heavy cotton cable knit bubblegum pink Duck head sweater for two dollars. ❤

[@Nieghorn]

Some of them ship off fabrics too. Some will be recycled, which is a good thing, especially if the donated item had hole, tear, etc. I wonder if the cotton ones are more valuable sold to recyclers? At the very least, there are re-sellers browsing these stores daily who are probably snapping them up before you get a chance.

[@camhunts]

Almost impossible to find 100% wool, linen, or silk in stores. Everything is plastic! which makes you hotter in the summer since it traps body heat. I hate it

[@CitizenPlane]

I've come to the conclusion that I need to learn to sew and hope that the high quality fabrics are still available without an industry that wants them.

[@purple_oak]

I buy so much used stuff now just to get better quality lol

[@rosemarymcbride3419]

and it makes BO sooo much worse

[@MulinaTheAngelWolf]

Ultimate reason people must wear smaller clothing. Trying to be cooler

[@hydrophobicbathtowel6816]

Woolrich makes some reasonably priced 100percent wool clothing. Not cheap, but reasonable prices for wool.

[@catalystcomet]

Can we talk about how thrift stores are charging even more money even though the clothes are worth less? Edit: and they get them for *free*?

[@herelieskittythomas3726]

It's a sin. They are sick.

[@Timmy-mi2ef]

They forget they're getting used clothes for free

[@Arcanist_Gaming]

I _think_ the justification is inflation in some cases. Renting the space for the stores cost more, so they have to charge more to keep them running.

[@supernova622]

Rent, wages, processing other people's literal unsellable trash... Can't even imagine what thrift stores spend on waste disposal

[@lyndabethcave3835]

Clotheshorse, a podcast with Amanda Lee McCarty (the person with the hat interviewed in this video) has an episode about that!

[@rachaelkras2386]

I was at the mall last week in Nordstroms and the quality of the fabrics of the clothes on the racks are VISIBLY bad and cheap looking. So much low grade polyester. Borderline the same fabrics you see for cheap costumes at Spirit Halloween. It's THAT bad right now.

[@missmelodyjoy]

Something else that contributes to fast fashion that wasn’t mentioned: larger companies are stealing styles created by small businesses. It makes it easier for them to “create” new styles to push out quickly.

[@ktkchu]

there's lots of things that contribute to it but i guess they want to cover the main big reasons

[@todesziege]

They did mention copying, though not necessarily from small businesses.

[@Haferstern]

Yes, companies like Zara, C and A, shein specialize in copying. I sometimes go to the shops and see if they have copied anything from my brand (Dior) and I find it every time. But honestly, that looks disgusting. I saw the original and the copy is so loveless, so undignified, the cuts and materials are simplified and then it's no longer nice. And that's how they do it with all brands, and it's particularly unethical when it comes to small designer labels.

[@GG-ud8id]

@@Haferstern not everyone can afford your brand (Dior)

[@TearMeOpenIBelieve]

Small businesses are completely irrelevant to this

[@juliemcmenamy1294]

My biggest complaint is shoes. When I was a teenager, shoes had weight to them! They were made of genuine leather and other durable materials. Now, they are basically made of plastic and styrofoam and sold for more money! And, most of all, they don’t last!

[@sueschoers4974]

I'm with you about the shoes. I find trying to find leather shoes that are comfortable when new, a challenge. They all seem to need to be stretched as the length is perfect but the toe box never has enough room so the top of the shoe touches the topside of your toes. They seem to cut back as much leather as possible never mind the fit.

[@ShanteRoxxane]

“Genuine” leather is actually a type of leather. Most people think it means authentic leather but what it is is pieces of leather left behind that are put together with a special adhesive and it’s considered one of the lower qualities of leather. Full grain leather is high quality leather.

[@joesr31]

Don't people usually go for lighter shoes? I don't want to feel like I'm carrying a brick around every step I take

[@BladeStar420]

Vivobarefoot still makes real shoes

[@nunyabiz-]

Research & development is now focused on big, fast profit, not that sustainable and healthy for lifeforms. If it screws things in 20 years (including grandchildren) it's ok - that's called "immediate gratification". Shoes and other products could now be made well (without harming people, or animals, or the environment) but it wouldn't enrich the greedy. Enough isn't enough to some.

[@6012reasol]

This shows why 2000s fashion is coming back so quickly; it’s easier to find second-hand than any older vintage yet still of an actually wearable quality.

[@tatianahantig]

Brilliant observation!!!

[@darianbarber3763]

Now if we only got frosted tips and that straight yet super gay look for guys, then the majority of men will have fashion sense for once

[@priscillajimenez27]

My HS years

[@hoilst265]

@@priscillajimenez27 Yes, but are your 2000s jeans any better for the environment since they use the same amount of denim as five pairs of 2020s jeans? :D

[@priscillajimenez27]

@@hoilst265 clearly if in not buying them as often

[@Toribell1928]

The Zara thing makes so much since because so many brands feel like they have no identity anymore. It’s just trends.

[@angelinashen7813]

Zara killed fashion industry

[@carelletsopmo9366]

yes there are so many stores, all selling the same things

[@isabellaa8875]

I'm so glad I never bought from Zara, like I went there multiple times, and I just didn't understand the hype as to like why people are so interested in the clothes. I always try to dress very classic and it's very hard to find that nowadays. I even tried to dress simple, and I wanted to find simple T-shirts and jackets that are the same colour. But it is the material that it always pushes me away. I can never find 100% cotton, and it's sad because I just want to dress simple.

[@bolshevikY2K]

I swear to god every video I watch about "why is XYZ product or service so shitty now?" contains a segment about "...and then private equity started buying everything." EVERY SINGLE TIME

[@rachelb2464]

Private equity is a curse for every industry. We need laws against their monopolies on all industries.

[@DonoVideoProductions]

You are correct. Profit above all else is the watchword for private equity.

[@adhillA97]

Except here it started getting shit _before_ private equity night everything. PE just made it even worse

[@jayspeidell]

It's wild how few people it takes to ruin an entire civilization.

[@DonoVideoProductions]

@@adhillA97 Private equity is just further on the scale to end-stage capitalism. I worked for a large food concern years ago. Their main mode of operation was to buy a successful, unique brand, and then immediately begin to remove everything unqiue about it, making it as cheaply as possible, while trading on its name and reputation. When the brand was no longer trusted or desired, they would sell it, or discontinue it. Their internal definition of "quality" BEGAN with: Return on Invested Capital. And so, here we are. Wearing s#!+ clothing, eating unhealthy s#!+ food.

[@DemonicMailman]

As someone who buys maybe 5 new items of clothing a year, the fact that the AVERAGE in the US is 68 blew my mind.

[@stuffroom979]

Same

[@stanleyhape8427]

Same as well.

[@luannfeld3983]

Ditto. I buy clothes w/the intention to wear them for many years

[@mattice9083]

I don't even really remember the last time I bought a shirt. Lol. I just have a million random ones that work fine still

[@dennisp8520]

@@mattice9083same most of my wardrobe is free shirts that I got. All of my new clothes are clothes I got for free from vendors at work. With the only things I bought this year being a new 6 pack of socks and two new pairs of Kirkland brand jeans because I lost weight

[@TrickyThe0ne]

That woman saying nothing fits anymore SPOKE to me. Every mens shirt Ive bought in the last 8 years doesnt fit properly, and everything shrinks to an unbelievable degree.

[@frankcooke1692]

I've noticed this too. Part of it is vanity sizing, the average man is now a whopping 90kgs, and so a size 'medium' is now a circus tent.

[@TrickyThe0ne]

@@frankcooke1692 exactly everything is either Way too big, or way too small!

[@mori5079]

@@TrickyThe0ne YEESSS its like a headache trying to find anything NORMAL 😭

[@SushmaVivek-xq4nv]

Especially those slim fit dresses...they are really bad

[@JeroenJA]

for t-shirts i mainly noticed how a often worn shirt now WILL certainly have holes in them after max 5 years.. i ignore small holes, but 2 years later.. they became to noticible.. fabric is way lighter .. i have a t-shirt from the 90s, i got for free from my bank then, that's still in almost perfect condition.. i have a rare festival tshirt from 15 years ago, also still vibrant red, no holes, only one color of decoration gone, the black lines still, well as good as from a new shirt now after just about a year?

[@Vesnicie]

I got a t-shirt from Old Navy that I'm pretty sure was made of car tires. Every time I pulled it away from my chest, it bounced back and hit me in the face.

[@davidmorris8319]

I HATE that everything is made from plastic but still costs as much as the real deal did... it's bad for the environment, it's bad for our health and it's bad for our bank account because things need to get replaced more often

[@dec3885]

Yeah, all my clothing is 100% cotton. The chemicals in plastic clothing is literally seeping into our skin and does things such as lowering testosterone, increasing estrogen etc

[@24eu]

Breeding animals in the worst for the environment

[@tiloalo]

It doesn't cost as much. As they said, Americans buy much more clothes for half of what they used to spend. People always want the latest at no cost, and are part of the problem.

[@Xoxososowi]

Vry bd for health. At this point everything is microplastic

[@jou3883]

I wish people should just stop buying from H&M, Zara and the worst and most disgusting: SHEIN. I wish I was a billionaire and shut down all of these rotten fast fashion faeces

[@eveutube07]

I am 79 and the quality of clothing is disgusting. Most of my life I have worn cotton, linen, wool and silk. It is now extremely difficult to find decent clothing that is not a synthetic blend. It doesn't matter what brand you buy or what price you pay. The quality of even expensive clothing is awful. I just ordered 3 pieces of cothing from Belks and I am returning all 3. They look cheap even though the price was not cheap. I used to buy all my clothes for many years from Lord and Taylor but that era has come to a close. Now Dillards seems to be the best option but still most of the items are synthetic blends. All my bedding is cotton with a few bamboo sheets mixed in. It's also difficult to find good cotton bedding without paying an arm and a leg. I cannot sleep with synthetic bedding. I feel like I am enclosed in a ziploc bag. The world is changing due to corporate greed. It's cheaper for companies to use synthetic blends than to source good linen, cotton, silk and wool.

[@TessA-es3if]

Belks clothing is all junk now. Kohls has better clothing than them.

[@remiphoto4786]

i am a professional marine seamstress who has started making my own clothes. i have chronic pain & limited mobility. i cannot find cute/ comfortable/ long lasting clothes for affordable or even luxury prices. i just recently found a beautiful jersey fabric with a tulip print on clearance. i made a wedding guest dress & palazzo pants (with enough left over to make something else too) for $25. got tons of compliments & comments about how the dress is going to last me forever. fast fashion has ruined the industry!

[@millerforester6237]

Brooks Brothers sells clothing made in China & Egypt. I looked at a jacket my size, that belonged in a used store like Salvation Army. I was give a Gift Certificate that I can't use.

[@Pawn-Storm]

I'm 72, and have gotten most of my clothes at the Goodwill since the sixties. I've always found better quality clothing there until recently. They're just gone now.

[@thecrippledpancake9455]

If you’ve been wearing that stuff for most of your life….don’t you still have it? Why buy the new trashy stuff if you still have the old?

[@glen.simpson]

I wore a t-shirt made in 1997 yesterday, still looks great. Today I have on a T-shirt I bought last summer. It is falling apart.

[@samanthaharrell7342]

I bought a swimsuit at target last year and had to throw it out yesterday because it fell apart. I was so annoyed.

[@TheChipMcDonald]

I came here to say that. They now are transparent or feel like sandpaper.

[@cbazxy2697]

​@@samanthaharrell7342how much did it cost

[@samanthaharrell7342]

@@cbazxy2697 it was one of their nice one pieces. I paid $40!

[@MarenWilliams-oc8hh]

I still have three tank tops I wear that I bought in the 90’s. No pilling, hardly any fading, no shrinkage…

[@sashathewitch7847]

I knew of the shein problem but this was mind-blowing. as some born the late 90's and haven't quite aged with the times. I don't shop much. I hate when I go to Walmart and can't do what I used to, see something cute and come back for it. The clothes change so fast, you can't always take your time to think about things. I go to walmart maybe once or twice a month. Most of my clothes are all from before 2018 and I rarely get new pieces and I'm so sad to have to hunt for better clothes. Thank you and happy trails

[@who2u333]

When private equity gets involved in anything it goes to hell.

[@nari5161]

It's become one of the dirtiest terms I know and I think most of the people I know irl still don't know what it is

[@supergoku727]

I am an avid bowler and I found out that private equity has ruined bowling as well. Many bowling alleys in my area are either an AMF or Bowlero. What sucks is that many of these locations were never actually built by either. They instead bought out smaller more local/mom and pop style bowling alleys and "rennovated" those. As a result, bowling is now more expensive and the quality of your time bowling has lessened. Many places have their machines and hardware wearing down and since they don't get proper machinists to adequately maintain things or replace them with better ones the lanes suffer as a result. Luckily I have a local bowling alley that still has good support from locals so they can stave off being bought out and are in fact in the process of getting new lanes. Though it saddens me that many other bowlers aren't so lucky. I fear for bowling culture as it is already on a slow decline and I fear for the "maineventification" of many of these alleys

[@Nieghorn]

@@supergoku727 Never thought I'd read about the greed/monopolization by 'Big Bowling', but there it is. Sorry your passion is being attacked! I suppose the same happens with mine, bikes... the first brand I bought I loved. A year or so later, took it in for a repair to a local bike shop and the tech remarked that I had 'the last good one they made', explaining that the company was now owned by a giant and made with the same generic parts most are made from, sold at department stores makes them more money, I presume, but they've cheaped out on quality of parts. The next 'mom and pop' brand I got into now seems to be doing the same, going for the lower quality parts (still good, but not AS good as before... though, to be fair, they haven't yet jacked the prices).

[@Iquey]

​​@@supergoku727can I ask what maineventification means? Like people only go for bowling during birthdays or highschool graduation parties/bachelorette parties, but not for fun on like a weekly or bi-weekly basis as a social sport?

[@johnt5997]

except that Amancio built his company brick by brick on his own. He had to CREATE his own equity. Schmuck.

[@yamutha225]

Is this why pretty much every shirt is a crop top now? Less material, less worry about the listed size fitting properly? I hate it. I want a normal fitting shirt.

[@averageSkykid]

fr, i always have to use a jacket to zip up cause i hate wearing crop tops.

[@jenniferburchill3658]

@yamutha225 I get most if not all of my shirts at arts and crafts shops anymore. Just avoid white.

[@snowwhite5842]

Let’s not forget they are using influencers as models, no models, agencies or advertising agencies to pay. Free pics from influencers and the influencers get free clothes.

[@miovicdina7706]

I noticed that same thing. Crop tops, crop tops, crop tops. Like, on sweaters which are supposed to keep you from cold... I'm angry 😠

[@wildcatblue13]

They make crop shirts for 7 year olds . I ask myself why ? No one needs crop tops

[@MyInfotainmentFix]

There's a old saying "If private equity buys your employer, find yourself a new job"

[@HaggisMuncher-69-420]

I think we have different definition of the word old.

[@kayleighrodgers4445]

@@HaggisMuncher-69-420 I think that's the joke

[@collinslagat3458]

How old is this saying really?

[@KubuśpuchatekTVN]

Those green nails were extremely distracting...

[@20KAYSUBS]

its a saying since the 2001 stock market crash ​@HaggisMuncher-69-420

[@kated5499]

I moved to Australia from North America and I have been shocked at how much worse the quality of clothing is in this country. I’m still amazed they can get away with it. I get my mom to send jeans from overseas for my boys. Almost nothing can be dried in a dryer in this country or it changes shape or shrinks.

[@___Alina___24]

It’s a bit of a culture shock right? Amazing how the clothes are so much more expensive here too 😢

[@tash4270]

Usually we get forgotten about down here in content and coverage of these issues, but you’re 100% right. That, and have you noticed the sizing changes over the last couple of years? A 12 is not a 12, there’s no consistency anywhere, it’s just fkd.

[@lizprice3948]

Most clothing is not suitable for a dryer, it ruins them!

[@ingersOz]

Respectfully, lose the drier and get the big yellow thing in the sky to dry your clothes! Turn them all inside out, or they will fade very quickly here, no need to have a drier in Australia, wind or sun will do the job for free......

[@melanie_meanders]

I work at a fabric shop. Usually, if you make your own clothing it’ll be of better quality than something you’d buy, but now that there’s also what I like to call “fast fabrics”, you also have to make sure the materials you purchase are of good quality too. Making things well is super expensive. I find myself purchasing clothes that are decades old and they last forever vs new stuff that’s basically disposable.

[@pioneercynthia1]

I used to sew like my machine was on fire, but now I don't even bother. Most fabric is crap. I still do alterations (another dying art), make one of a kind items, and costumes for dancers. Even _thread_ is much worse.

[@melanie_meanders]

@@pioneercynthia1 it’s so true!! i know you get it. especially dance costumes… $500+ for something that can only be used once before it breaks! it’s really disheartening.

[@TriBeccaDesigns]

You are so very correct. I've been sewing for decades and no longer purchase fabrics by the yard. I purchase draperies and linens from my local thrift shops instead. The quality is much better.

[@namaking3993]

Very true, used to make lots of clothes, Joann's fabric used to be amazing and it was much cheaper to make your own with just as much wear and tear. Now it's more expensive to make your clothes and you get next to nothing for wear and tear. But it's not just clothing and textiles. Our fridge thar came with our house as a kid was already about 20 yrs old, never replaced it in the time we lived there, at least another 10 yrs, now I replace my fridge every 6-8 years. My grandfather's Jeep from the 1970s still runs strong, my 2000s Jeep is broke down in the driveway yet again. Not too mention the number of "economy" cars that I've owned have had their engines suffer catastrophic failures. (And not because I didn't keep up with general maintenance) Early 2000s there were ads run about how "plastics make it possible". It truly was a time that quality plummeted across the board. Machinery put in more plastic parts, from sewing machines to power tools, making them cheaper but also requiring constant replacement, cars use more plastic parts leading to more failures, and clothing moved from cottons, wools, and linens to polyesters, elastine, and nylons, some blended into natural fibers and some just straight up trash fibers. Initially it seemed a good economic solution, you could afford a brand new car and get great gas mileage, without us realizing that we would be replacing it in 5-10 years because it needed a new engine, rather than handing the keys to the oldest kid and only replacing it after 20 yrs if they wrecked it. Or buying a new fridge because it would save hundred in power bills, not realizing it would need to be replaced in a fraction of the time the old ones did. Mattresses are on 5 yr life spans versus 20-30 years, pillows are annual replacement versus 3-5 yrs. Even furniture is cheaply made wearing out long before the old. I still have my father 1950s Ethan Allan desk and other than some minor cosmetic dings from 70 years of kids, the finish is great, and the wood in great condition all parts still functioning and it was never kept as a heritage piece. My cousin's childhood desks had to be thrown out before they even grew up, drawers broke, finish lifted up and mdf they were made from crumbled to dust. Worldwide and in all manners of our lives we have lost quality over quantity. From housing to produce.

[@SM-gt9vg]

I want a sewing machine so badly. Where we do we source decent fabrics?

[@blackpuglove]

Every time someone has mentioned the negatives of Shein or Temu to me, I can't help but point out that Walmart, Amazon, and most big box stores and even boutiques are selling the exact same clothing articles from the same or similar shops. Recently my husband bought me a $119 dress from a boutique downtown, and when I searched the company, it was just another company in China. No doubt more fast fashion even when going out of our way to avoid it.

[@Haferstern]

I see that too.Clothing with Shein quality has been imported to Europe and elsewhere for years and now suddenly, where the large Chinese direct marketer appears, it is being criticized. I believe this is a political reason, because the increasing market share is displacing the established retailers who get it from the same sources. I can't see any differences in quality between most products. The lower price segment clothing is no different from Shein. There are even more such Chinese direct marketers Halara, Lilisilk, etc. They are all identical to shein. The middle price range may be slightly better, but not drastically - I have little experience there. I have experience with the exclusive price range with one of the big designer brands - Dior: there is a noticeable difference in quality compared to the other products, it is much higher quality but unfortunately I also have to say that the products are from the time before the big jump were better.

[@bffvintage8162]

@@blackpuglove boutique clothing is almost always cheap Amazon crap

[@shineluvslambiel]

I don’t think you should be expecting some nice quality for a $119 dress in today’s USA.

[@Girldont-ib6vw]

China is not automatically bad quality. You can get good quality clothes and pay your workers fairly. Look into some small businesses

[@athomewithnessa4185]

This!! I swore i was going crazy, but i did see the same items on shein, temu, tiktok shop, and amazon. And ive noticed that department stores like jcpenny sell clothes that feel like shein quality as well. I mean, not all chinese clothes/companies are bad. There are good ones. But i have no doubt that all of the popular brands that people buy from make their clothes in sweatshops. Even if you do find an expensive "ethical" brand, its still poor quality. And even if they sell a dress for $300, they still probably dont pay their workers correctly. Its like you cant win...

[@Satire-Gaming]

Companies have realized they can make the cheapest garbage, charge premium prices and idiots will still buy it. This is happening in all industries, not just clothes...

[@juliajs1752]

I'm not sure if people are "idiots" or if they just don't know any different. If I hadn't grown up in the 80s and 90s with stuff lasting a decade before showing any wear, I probably would also think that it's normal having to replace something after one year....

[@JustMe-vs1kj]

even if you do realise it, sometimes its hard to find good quality clothes for affordable prices...

[@Chicago48]

I go to thrift stores and am finding Shein more and more on the racks. It's hard to find quality names like Jones New York, Ann Taylor, or even Evan Picone. I look for vintage names.

[@OurNewestMember]

Not necessarily "idiots" -- many people lack the skill/knowledge/time to select for quality or maintain/repair high quality pieces. This is exacerbated the more that labor has its purchasing power degraded (it means even fewer resources to meet life's challenges, even as "small" as clothing your family) People are meant to be less self-sufficient, so they simply take what is offered...

[@GabrielleTollerson]

​@@juliajs1752 how do grown ass adults not know any better? Come on 😂😂

[@Celisar1]

This was an excellent report! Thank you very much, especially for pointing out the damage the fast fashion industry has on workers and the environment!

[@Yokartikpeh]

I will never forgive the person who first decided it was a good idea to put elastane in jeans. Everytime I need a new pair of jeans, I have to go store to store and dig through jeans like a damn prospector to find that "one" pair of jeans that is 100% cotton.

[@DeannaClark-oo9ut]

The elastic stuff is spandex plastic courtesy of BIG OIL. I hate it too. Walmart still has the old K-mart brand of all cotton jeans called Rustler. At the store it is $15 and dark and medium denim. Online you can get them in light wash as well. It's made in Nicaragua but Christians get holidays there, which is something. Multi national corporations hate ALL holidays and are behind the propaganda against them saying Christmas is pagan blah blah blah. All BS They don't want anybody to be happy or have any holiday or even baseball afternoons in the Caribbean.

[@lookingatdaisies9901]

I love elastane in jeans, when it's 100% cotton I have to get a relaxed/baggy style which is isn't what I want my wardrobe to be filled with. I have the opposite problem to you. Everything is 100%. But I get high quality ones and I air dry all my clothes.

[@mademoiselle....]

@@lookingatdaisies9901 Two per cent elastane is enough for the stretch you need, though. Now they are putting up to 7 per cent (probably more) in jeans and tops and it takes away the value - the comfort, fit and longevity - of the cotton.

[@ellenrittgers990]

@@Yokartikpeh Hear, hear! I thought I was the only one who LOATHES stretch denim!! I comb through thrift stores and men’s jeans for 100% cotton denim!

[@blah914]

just ask at the till for the models that are 100% cotton. that's what I do. I don't even bother searching anymore.

[@samuelmontypython8381]

My older brother is 15 years older than me and he gives me his old clothes from the early 2000's all the time and they're in better shape than shit I bought just a year ago

[@cutcinefr]

Don't forget how comfy they are

[@aiqurga]

I went inside an anthropologie with some friends, and we were messing around guessing the prices. I saw a blouse that literally had the seams ripping, and loose threads on the embroidery, ALSO made with 100% polyester selling for 130 DOLLARS it’s crazy how they have the audacity to make these clothes so expensive with such terrible quality

[@giuliaspezi9912]

I did a sewing course, it RUINED the shopping experience for me XD I saw a skirt, just a basic (polyester) rectangle fabric sewed to an elastic band, with the bottom not refined (a fast overlock hem) for 300 euro. I was fuming!

[@ciarakristos111]

I've looked through clothing in high-end designer shops (Gucci, Versace, Donna Karen, Dolce and Gabbana) and most of it has been of really poor quality, as well as UGLY. Only Betsey Johnson had attractive, stylish, good-quality clothing.

[@Perrirodan1]

@@giuliaspezi9912 The truth is that nowadays it's not worth it to pay more for higher quality because you just pay more for the same shit quality

[@stanleyhape8427]

Man I miss Dave and Barry's unbelievable quality at a even more unbelievable price.

[@darlin5167]

I was searching online tonight for a certain piece of clothing and was so disappointed to see that most of it comes from China, the sizes and fit are wildly unpredictable, and most of it is crap fabric. Plus there's lots more scamming and rip offs, misrepresentation and impossibility of returning. I've been a thrifter for decades but I see that these crap clothes are now dominating thrift shops as well. It's much more of a hunt to find something decent.

[@shrimpfry880]

i'm currently studying on the other side of the country and that made me realize how my entire wardrobe could fit into 3 backpacks and 1 closet. also, my mom is a hoarder and she just keeps clothes in 100L plastic bags mostly in my room (but only wesrs a select few from her wardrobe) never touches said bags but gets angry when i tell her we should throw it out or donate to charity. fast fashion basically also feeds mental disorders as well.

[@lp9280]

My problem is that now you can't buy quality clothing even if you are willing to pay more money... no matter how far you want to go, in some cases you can buy same t-shirt for $6 and for $600, it is basically same crap quality just with different brand stamped on it. So you may as well spend $6.

[@georginaisabelrossi7520]

this!!!! The most frustrating thing!

[@anacorona2527]

Exactly! You pay for a label now. My recommendation is to look for smaller boutiques, sometimes you find treasures there.

[@audrei679]

look for trifted cotton and linen clothing. go to yard sales.

[@patrickpaterson8785]

You absolutely can lol, you're just not going to find it on the first page of Google search results or on Amazon.

[@primetimepreme1776]

Ralph lauren T shirts used to be premium AF... I found one from 2000 and it's still in better shape than a t shirt I bought 7 years ago

[@billykuan]

This is so true, the buttons fall off easier, the material is thinner, the hems are uneven, the thread is less durable and much of the hems start to fail after one wash.

[@MK-lh3xd]

What will happen when the women stitching are working 80 hours a week, with their washroom breaks highly regulated to the minute, and asked to meet impossible targets?

[@andrej2375]

I buy fast fashion clothes, and wear them for 10 years. They don't look new, but it takes a _long_ time to get a shoulder-sized hole in a shirt

[@dr.user.]

the threads feel so weak on tug and they break

[@mindacarpenter2996]

The thinness of shirts is so annoying. Even more expensive brands will someone be paper thin and the holes start to appear in a month.

[@wodentoad1]

@@billykuan And women's/girl's clothes are worse than the men's/boy's clothes.

[@sz7646]

It’s either trendy and cheaply made “affordable” fashion that goes to landfill in a few years, or a baggy plain dress from an “ethical” company that costs $200+. And the thrift stores are ruined thanks to the resellers.

[@allnonethevoid1487]

Goodwill is actively reselling their own items, now

[@Timmy-mi2ef]

Reseller are a good case of greed and why gatekeeping is good. Once thriftimg got trendy people began entering early to take any thing that's actually wearable

[@Arcanist_Gaming]

I haven't had any issues with thrifting here in Canada. What country do you live in?

[@katek1381]

Everything - from food to clothes to home wares to services - that are ethically made or sourced is completely unaffordable if you earn less than six figures USD a year. It sucks

[@doctorwholover1012]

Yes!! I really want to buy ethically made clothing made with natural fibers, but everything is so EXPENSIVE and UGLY like why?? All the colours are muted and bland shades of earth tones, shapeless rectangles, or a fucking button up!! Why can't they just make a normal looking tank top? A normal looking tshirt? 😭😭😭

[@TheManFrayBentos]

Nearly 50 years ago a friend of mine was employed to attend European fashion shows for buyers. Photographs were not allowed, unlike the more public events. As soon as he left, he'd draw what he'd just seen and hotfoot it back to his office, where he'd show the designs to his boss, who decided what to have made as a (much) cheaper copy of what was coming out. The boutique chain his boss owned made a very healthy profit and my friend got well rewarded for his expertise. THAT was fast fashion.

[@kat-riddle]

Finally someone that doesn't try to blame the people buying the cheap clothes. The change needs to come from laws and regulation, otherwise nothing will ever change. You're just gonna make people feel bad for not being able to afford better things.

[@eg4441]

that line of thinking pisses me off since it acts like companies/industries have no responsibility. why should the entire populace be the ones expected to just not buy the clothes when the producers of them could simply not fucking do what they're doing. they're led by people not some robot

[@Lisa-qr6et]

Nobody should blame poor people for buying cheap clothes. However, people saying that they're too poor to buy better clothes and end up buying $100 worth on Shein every month are part of the problem. We should put quality over quantity. And remember, nobody would sell bad clothes if nobody was there to buy.

[@lottie659]

Yeah I bought a top from urban outfitters thinking it would be okay quality and the sleeve ended up falling apart the exact same way as a top from Shein did

[@Violet_Parakeet]

@@Lisa-qr6et I feel like you had good intentions but I just can't agree w that take at all. Bc more expensive doesn't necessarily equate to better quality today- that's one of the biggest points in this video. As someone who is poor, I try my best to wear anything I can get, I wear clothes donated from churches, I wore the clothes I wore years ago. I barely get to buy the clothes I want, most of it is pass me downs or donated. I live in one of the poorer cities in my state, here a shirt is around 20 USD, in Chicago you might have to pay around 100 USD or more just for some flimsy top or jeans. Where are the higher quality clothes you speak of? Because I couldn't really find it when I went to more expensive areas, the price tag just went up ridiculously, but they look like they would fall a part just as fast, if not even faster than cheap clothing here. Occasion also matters bc yeah, I'd realistically have to spend a bit more for higher quality work clothes but my everyday clothes? I'd rather spend as little as possible and get as much as possible. It also doesn't help that it doesn't matter if it's dirty or clean people judge other people for wearing the same clothes even twice (and especially if you wear them even more often than that) in the same week, it's stupid. It's easy to say "don't buy cheap clothes and you won't create a market for it" but clothes affect how we are perceived. People who want to represent themselves well can't make the decisions they want to make. They can't be frugal, or they can't buy ethically, etc.

[@pessoila330]

​@@Violet_Parakeetyour comment is perfect omg

[@Thelady8]

This is why we need to support small businesses that actually take time to perfect their craft.

[@SFVYachtClub]

Small businesses are the mainstays of the economy because they can't run away or become "international" locust-parasite crews that roam the Earth looking for fresh markets full of unsuspecting suckers. Larger businesses can't be trusted because they can act like little governments, and governments can't be trusted. Basically in the good old days (before NAFTA) we had good jeans and tees made by little old ladies in Appalachian states with sewing machines. Then a business program graduate looked at that beautiful system and said "I'm going to ruin this forever for a pathetically small amount of money." He probably got a McMansion and a couple of Lexuses out of it. At most. Now we all have to wear thin garbage clothes made by brown foreign children with cotton picked by literal slaves in Xinjiang forever because it's been 30 years since the transition and the local expertise to make decent clothing has evaporated. I hate MBA's so much it's unreal.

[@blazinblazper5557]

We make top notch quality garments, if you are planning to start a brand let me know.

[@laod7192]

Yeah and pay 5X the price right?

[@SFVYachtClub]

@@laod7192 You are looking at it backwards. Normal clothes have a price, and slave-made clothes are 1/5 the normal price. Normally a zero-morals bargain-conscious shopper would buy the slave clothes, but they fall apart 5x as quickly, meaning you have to buy 5x as many. But you spend overall MORE than 5x, because the slave ship has to make 5 trips back and forth from the slave sweatshop, take 5 trips past customs, and 5 different bosses had to hire 5 sets of slave laborers, and all their recruiters and supervisors need to be paid- you guessed it, 5 times. So it makes sense to buy the normal priced clothing instead of the cheap stuff. Less waste, less pollution, and on top of supporting the local economy you also now look like you have your life together.

[@laod7192]

​@@SFVYachtClub Clearly your comments are made by some ignorant first-world people. Being able to afford clothes at 5X is already a privilege, and more than likely, this privilege is earned through other forms of 'slavery'.

[@Nk21759]

Who’s buying 68 pieces of clothing in a year! That seems insane.

[@piee683]

Me I’ve a problem 😂

[@_KP1231_]

😂Right?!?! Unless you are counting multipacks of socks & underwear lol

[@piee683]

@@_KP1231_ no I’m only joking but I do get it difficult to throw clothes out

[@_KP1231_]

@@piee683 lol…i hear you…i meant no harm…I am literally in a battle with myself trying to part with some stuff i know i will probably never wear but so many memories attached to what we buy.Most of my clothing purchases were fueled by an emotion lol! I am older now & paring down has become essential but yes…very difficult! 🕊️

[@drawingmomentum]

​@@_KP1231_I take those old clothes with their memories and reconfigure them into new items, a dress becomes a top or a short skirt... I make hair ties, bags, purses, rugs, pillow covers, stuffed toys, curtains... ❤

[@twesha_ghosh]

This was a very very important video. All this while I legit thought it was me, but it's reassuring to know that clothes are getting shittier by the day. Just sad

[@SynthiaVan]

The shift from mall fashion to fast fashion also affects the opposite kind of consumer - I rarely buy new clothes, and I hang onto items for many years. But I have a very hard time shopping for anything of quality anymore, it's noticeably worse than even 10 years ago, let alone 20-30 years ago. It's probably why my wardrobe has shifted to performance/outdoor brands. They may not be stylish, but they are durable. The problem there is that once a brand gets popular, the quality tanks.

[@vivsevs1087]

I hear this a lot with Lululemon. I bought my first item in 2020 and mostly buy it second hand. A pair of shorts made around 2016 or even earlier is very durable and resistant to damage, while a newer version of it picks up snags from thin air and holds onto stains like a sponge. So tragic that brands fall into the trap of capitalism and max-profits when they get bigger.

[@nekoalexx]

Lulu for SURE When they changed the fabric for the leggings - it feels like scuba gear. Alo and Athleta also use this kinda fabric and its AWFUL.

[@vivsevs1087]

@@nekoalexx Yeah, they did it so it'd be more durable and less people would bring in their products with complaints trying to exchange them with their Quality Promise. But the thing is, people would use these leggings designed for yoga instead for casual everyday wear, hiking, lifting, even running. Like, yeah, of course they're going to show significant signs of wear and tear if you use them way outside what they're intended for and stretch/rub the fabric in wears it wasn't designed to handle. I'm sure there's an element of cost-savings as well. But abuse of their QP is a whole thing.

[@sw-gx4on]

@@vivsevs1087The new fabric is way worse. My Lulu's from 2016 are still great and my Lulu's from 2022 have multiple holes.

[@vivsevs1087]

@@sw-gx4on it's such a tragedy what happens to quality companies when they get popular and start falling into the tropes of capitalism. now they make tons of clothes i cant exercise in and there are no more fun patterns

[@MeinCouch123]

it's the absolute worst for all of us growing up through this. So much good stuff came out, but we couldn't buy it because we didn't make our own money, and now that I can afford things, I'm barely buying shit because everything feels so cheap and looks so terrible. I swear, the moment I was able to make money, they swapped out all merchandise.

[@Liusila]

Yeah I had it similar. And as was briefly mentioned here too, even “luxury” brands are cutting corners on quality, because why not more profit.

[@sweetpea841]

Yup, everyone is so greedy that they just care about making 💰 😢

[@nastasia.dobrova]

The more we depend on other people the less they will give. It's been discussed here in comments about sewing, for example. Sewing skills make you richer, you can make or repair things. The same about any aspect of our life - cooking, gardening, fishing, hunting etc. Noone can make it better than you.

[@leeached]

yep. once we made money and became adults the workplaces started falling apart, so did the economy, fashion, food prices sky rocketed, taxes on insurance are so high for us its insane, etc etc, yet we still get the question "why dont you try?" well because i was always grasping for a reality that doesnt exist anymore and theres no point in playing a game when youre guaranteed to lose.

[@goudagirl6095]

YOU NAILED IT. I'm in my 60s. Ages ago, I couldn't wait till I could afford "good" solid classic clothing and jewelry that would last for years. But alas, twas not to be. Ironically, I still hang onto several articles of clothing from a couple of _decades_ ago, even though they were from places like TJMaxx and Marshalls....even Target. Why? Because, as I say over and over: they simply don't make things like they used to. The "heft" and quality of most garments is no longer there. I think that's why so many people shop thrift stores. They (like me) are hoping to find that hidden gem made out of real cotton, wool, linen, or leather, because they know they'll last longer. And women bear the brunt of it all, since 75% or more of the fashion industry is aimed at us (probably more like 90%). Such a wasteful industry.

[@jsmxwll]

none of this was new to me, but the way this video has been constructed with such a clear narrative throughline and maintaining engagement is really outstanding.

[@SpringNotes]

Yes, they did a pretty good job.

[@mati.benapezo]

We think alike.

[@jellypenguin1826]

Exactly what I was thinking, they did an amazing job

[@pointeplusplus]

Yeah I kept watching even though I knew a lot of this info. Nice video! I buy mostly used clothes now which turns out is also nicer to the wallet

[@ChickenRamen]

Clothing absolutly used to be better. I found a bunch of stuff from middle school going through a closet at my mom's house. Everything was 20 years old, but a lot sturdier than most of what I have as an adult

[@gamingradeon]

No one talks about how much shedding synthetic clothing has. Basically, by wearing these clothes, you are filling your home and even your natural clothes (when washing them together with synthetics) with dust. Plastic dust.

[@CCCC-fp5gw]

I notice that which creates an infinite amount of dust. God forbid if you have carpet or rug

[@bethweeks5943]

YES!!! 😮😢😮

[@andreaalbert5096]

That's right... ugh, and knowing the effects of microplastics on health, I feel sick.

[@Horsy2345680]

Fr then that plastic dust goes into our skin pores 😢

[@SM-gt9vg]

I didn't know that. I'm really grossed out now. Why does it make plastic dust?

[@alwaysOverthinking-cl5tz]

I work in manufacturing and it seems like EVERY industry is in a race to the bottom death spiral.

[@sarnaik]

Late stage capitalism buddy. Everyone was warned in the 60s this would happen but no one cared. Americans wanted it cheap no matter what it took. Now every publicly listed company is racing to the bottom to maximize profits and cut costs no matter what.

[@HighSierraDawn]

What will they be wearing 50 years from now? Disposable plastic bag garments?

[@vickikay54]

They are.😞😞

[@N20Joe]

@@HighSierraDawn They will be wearing recycled supermarket plastic bags, and it will be mandated by the government!

[@brie1987]

Estate sale competition has skyrocketed . I turned to such outlets durning the gap years not too long ago, when you could easily buy quality in clothing and furniture. After COVID its become outrageous Now I have to be the early bird and wait in line, literally, for the doors to open on estate sales.

[@airamortiz4661]

When I was a little girl, my grandmother, aunts and most of our neighbors worked making clothing in American factories. There was a commercial of a lady singing "look for the union label." I haven't heard that lady singing in decades.

[@tablescissors]

About as long as it’s been since I heard kids saying The Pledge of Allegiance in school every day.

[@GlasPthalocyanine]

Well that's another problem with clothes made in developing countries. None of the women (let's assume it's women) making the clothes wear these kind of clothes or dress their children this way. I hate to sound old, but ... I look at the shabby clothes for children, especially teenagers. Any sensible sewer, who knows the clothes market that they're working in, will talk to the sewers they work with. They might say something like "would you ever want to wear this?", or maybe "would you be happy to let your daughter wear this?".

[@charleneroyal7381]

Clinton sent the manufacturing jobs out of the US.

[@xx_pcgamer_xx6866]

@@tablescissors 0 iq comment

[@xx_pcgamer_xx6866]

@@tablescissors o iq comment

[@AN-qv4ic]

I just shop online now so I can check the material is a natural one (wool, cotton, silk) - much easier to do on a website

[@phoenix5054]

Even Dior is fast fashion adjacent now. A report recently shown that they exploit Chinese workers in Italy just for the ‘made in Italy’ label. And they charge €2500 for something that costed them €57.

[@platgeslagengehaktbal]

Dior is not the only one, many Chinese factories have moved to Italy, clothing being made in Italy doesn't mean anything anymore

[@annabarr1304]

It was stated labor was 57€ if it took 4.5 hrs to make at 12€ a hour just above the 10€ minium wage. I'm going to break things down roughly. 50 labor 50 hardware (including labor to make hardware) 50 materials 50 overhead at factory (they have to pay public liability for the workers too) = 200 x 3 Dior markup= 600€ wholesale x 3= 1200 + 200 VAT = 1400 that should roughly be the retail price but then there are additional expenses like shipping, creative team, product development, retail (cleaners, rent, security, etc), commission, marketing, etc. The bag should definitely not be over 2k, but around 1400-1600. I can understand why it costs so much, I can't understand why other things cost so much less!

[@phoenix5054]

@@annabarr1304 The hourly rate was €2 per hour.. in Italy! There's a reason the Italian prosecutor is going after them: they violated labor laws.

[@thomasl4665]

​@@annabarr1304in the article the net profit margin after all expenses incl corporate and marketing was €1300. Trash

[@ulrikesextro4187]

I agree with you on the point that they do it for the "made in Italy" label but from what I learnt these factories are illegally moved from China to Italy. They are copying what's shown on the runway in the latest fashion show and reprocuce them as fast as they can under very questionable circumstances. Workers literally sleep at their workplace and are called "walking ATMs" because they are often victims to robbery when trying to send their wages home. The sad thing about those factories: Once you close such an illegal worksite, another opens up somewhere else and hidden better than the ones they closed down.

[@kathygann7632]

In the 1990s, I bought many blazers, slacks, and coats that were made of wool. Now those same stores carry almost exclusively polyester.

[@Egh0127]

I'm SO tired of polyester I hate it so much.

[@susanbell2753]

It was incredibly easy to shop in the 1980s and the 1990s. Almost every single label produced good to great quality clothing you could wear for a couple of years or even longer. From Liz Claiborne to Calvin Klein to Macys Charter Club.

[@susanbell2753]

@@Egh0127polyester is THE WORSE.

[@happycommuter3523]

You can still get Liz Claiborne clothes at JC Penny’s, but they are utter crap. Nothing like what they used to sell at Macy’s.

[@angelinashen7813]

Wool? You can't even buy cotton clothes anymore. Everything is synthetic! Just sick.

[@GoodBoyWonder]

Have you noticed that graphic TShirts more oftenly have their designs (best way to describe it) painted on? After a few washes, they are cracking and chipping away. And they're usually still $60. It's ridiculous.

[@sharyn4271]

I’m wondering if it’s because of plastics. I don’t machine dry my clothes for more than a few minutes, then I hang to finish. They seem to not crack as easily.

[@TalkingWeirdStuff24]

I got a shirt as a gift, it had a graphic for a show that I LOVED, and I was so happy to get it. the design started cracking after just a couple of washes, and by the 1 year mark there was no point in wearing it as it had ceased to be a 'graphic' tee and was now just a plain black tee with some tiny flecks on it.

[@Pyritie]

that's called screenprinting, it's cheap and easy but limits the amount of colors you can have. It should be for like $10 shirts, not $60

[@jongmassey]

Screen printing is the way that t shirts have always been printed. I've got screen printed t shirts that are 25 years old and still fine

[@pioneercynthia1]

​​@Pyritie _Actual_ screenprinting is excellent. It's been done for thousands of years. The only color limits are the number of screens you're willing to make. What you're probably thinking of is thermo applique. It's pretty cheap, but it can last much longer if you don't dry it in a dryer.

[@vkbowers]

NAFTA has been a disaster on so many levels.

[@roseybeesley4110]

That’s why it’s called NAFTA it says it in the name Naf

[@GTIFabric]

Denim jeans in the 90's were insanely high quality. The weaving industry has almost completely left the United States.

[@Carmen88888]

I have a beloved pair of quality Levi’s I bought in 2001 which I haven’t fit in since my son was born in 2003. I’ve held onto them all these years thinking “maybe someday” 😂😊

[@namehere4954]

Yes, I have Citizens and Hudsons from the late 90s and they're nothing like today's lines.

[@mamba101]

They have been replaced by smaller companies; I own Edwin and Nudie Jean jeans and they feel good quality.. you pay for it though, which I’m ok with if they last (*plus nudie has free repairs for life)

[@numbernine3436]

Omgosh I'd wear my $78 GAP jeans til the wheels fell off. Clothes are disposable now. Influences tell us what we bought 6 months ago is out of style.. craziness

[@numbernine3436]

​@@Carmen88888same. I gave away 9 pair of Levi's l.yr. I loved them. But some didn't fit. Others had zero give. Ive grown accustomed to 3 -5% stretch..

[@ARUchannel1]

dior making bags at 57 usd using chinese slaves in italy isn't better than shein

[@PikaJess123]

Shein clothing is also toxic with unsafe levels of lead. Dont sell them short 😂

[@JH-uv3qx]

And the fabrics of all other brands aren't toxic? Where do you think most of the business get their supplies from??

[@h.w.4482]

Chinese slaves? yeah, most likely. in Italy? not so sure

[@originalcosmicgirl]

​@@h.w.4482Yes, in Italy. Do you think the US and China are the only places In the world that exploit immigrants and ethnic minorities? The insidious part is that the "Made in Italy" label tricks people into thinking they are getting a quality product made by people making a living wage. People are being exploited there just like everywhere else in the world.

[@Scriptadiaboly]

We don't need to choose between only those two

[@kudaisiaduntola2523]

We live in a world of fast fashion, fast cars and fast media. Once we learn to take things a little easier we will appreciate quality clothes again.

[@NK-bz9wb]

YT is my only social media and even though I need to decrease the amount of content I consume, I generally have no idea what's in style until the rare occasion I step into a mall to grab something and every single store sells the same crap. If everyone put their phones down, the amount of stuff we produce and buy will decrease so substantially. No one is gonna buy 68 (?!) New items a year to wear when they don't have a SM feed to document what they wore and how great they looked doing something ordinary aF.

[@piaruns7928]

​@@NK-bz9wbyou're so right! 👍

[@callidawkins85]

In my experience, the problem is too many synthetic materials, especially polyester. It's hard to find 100% cotton nowadays.

[@alienraida818]

This is why I mostly shop at second hand stores now. I'm not contributing to producing new garbage and I can see that, if clothes someone gave away survived in good shape, then there's a big chance they'll last for long. Plus it's a nice feeling when you score a perfect find, as if it's been waiting just for you!

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

Even if I end up buying fast fashion, at least I’m not buying something new… I am so shocked at the poor quality of clothes … they pill after two washes and all this new trend of super thin fabric clothes only end up being able to be washed a couple times before they rip and destroyed…. Plus they’re so thin and see-through that you have to wear something underneath…. I don’t understand fashion today….

[@gearedeagle6484]

😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@HillbillyYEEHAA]

The quality in second hand won't be any better considering they're being flooded with fast fashion bs

[@sunshine3914]

When I returned to my hometown in 1983, my dad & I went shopping at Sam’s warehouse, & I got a bag of a dozen Sassoon socks. Ten years later I moved into my new place & I remember being amazed that I still had all 12 pairs. When my dad passed in 2006, I still had 6 pairs left. Can you imagine not having to purchase socks for over 23 years? I’m so grateful to be old so I don’t have to watch the world burn for much longer.

[@misslayer999]

It's amazing that you were able to keep up with that many socks for so long! I feel like some of mine disappear every time I wash them LOL

[@JasonAtlas]

Its the sock gremlins. They live in the washing machine.

[@jackieboy1593]

Try Darn Tough socks. Only have 3 pairs of their socks, and they have been going strong for 2 years.

[@hazelbasil4989]

@@jackieboy1593 Seconded. Those socks are amazing, plus they have a lifetime guarentee.

[@SummerOf1987]

❤

[@MissJensk1]

What I've noticed over the last few years, us that there is SOOOOO much synthetic fabric, icky polyester etc, even at the height of summer. Horrible, uncomfortable clothes, shrinkage, & most things look tatty after just a few washes. I used to have favourite clothes I washed & rewore many times. Now nothing lasts. Also the designs look tacky.

[@jean4157]

I never buy polyester. I can tell immediately if I touch the fabric. It’s awful

[@ngndnd]

i sweat so much with polyester its crazy. Thats why i refuse to buy anything from shein. Even the non-clothing items are just junk that will break down in a week. The bad reviews get hidden

[@lexinarts]

Tired of my clothes not lasting. Vintage has been my only option to finding actually good clothes

[@crystalwaters8581]

as someone who thrifts majority of my clothes, when I go to the mall with my friends I never end up buying anything because the poor quality clothing is more expensive, never fits right, and because it’s poor quality you can’t as easily alter the clothes because of how thin the fabric is

[@aspen_equestrian610]

I always end up getting food or a band tee 😭

[@crystalwaters8581]

@@aspen_equestrian610 same and some accessories, i still go because i like the mall culture spending hours wondering around with your friends and having a sweet treat

[@aspen_equestrian610]

@@crystalwaters8581 even the accessories break super fast 😭

[@TrinhNguyen-sh4fj]

@@crystalwaters8581Yes, malls should be more than just shopping, but places do eat and do other things.

[@emmalalaloo]

No real like I think 95% of my clothes are second hand and when I go to like Primark or smth for underwear or socks I go past all the clothes that are lowkey expensive but so so horrible quality like there are jeans for 18 quid but there such bad quality

[@kimmeeb]

I went thrifting yesterday for a new dress for a job interview and I saw SO MANY shein clothes I wanted to cry. I hate modern fast fashion with a burning passion. Even the clothes I thrift don't last as long as I remember them lasting. And I take care of my clothes; wash in cold water (unless dictated otherwise), always do full loads, air-dry when possible. It makes me so sad cause getting good clothes is next to impossible nowadays

[@sararichardson737]

I always feel cheated when I come across fast fashion items on my thrifting trips.

[@mizmiki65]

I also cold wash/air dry clothes so they last longer and the clothes I bought even ten years ago are better quality and in better shape than clothes I have bought recently.

[@randomteen7178]

That makes me so angry especially when they then proceed to sell it for more than 1$, like I know that it isn't worth that much especially compared to some of the high end clothes at thrift stores.

[@sarahham88]

I’ve noticed that too when I going thrifting.. I’m like eww nope lol

[@virtualgambit577]

Thank you for addressing this, I worked in a textile factory for some time. It’s hard to justify purchasing new clothes when the quality is poor and fits terribly. A lot of them also use toxic dyes. Not to mention all “vegan leather” is made from PVC with phthalates and/or BPA, something I’d advise staying far away from. I worked in a vinyl factory and all employees had children with birth defects (they were pregnant whilst working there) and experienced a variety of health problems, including cancer and hormonal imbalances. I personally had migraines for almost a year after I quit working there. Vegan leather needs to come with a warning label. And the toxic dyes need to be completely banned.

[@paranoah8550]

This comment needs to be pinned

[@JaneNewAuthor]

@@virtualgambit577yet PETA pushes vegan leather. Got to wonder who's funding them

[@nicholasvinen]

If only there was a natural alternative...

[@_kaleido]

there's vegan leather made out of cactus and banana and stuff

[@JustMe-vs1kj]

how did it even go from pu leather or fake leather to "vegan"leather.... fast fashion catched up on the trend of veganism and just tried to capitalise on it, because if its not biodegradable or worker friendly its NOT vegan!! vegan is not just about the animals and there should be more laws forcing companyys to comply to actual naming of their products instead of trying to make it sound fancy, trendy, greenwashed or whatever else.... - for anyones information, actual vegan leather can be made with plants like pinapple for example -

[@blueberryyogini]

I bought a pair of Isotoner gloves the other day. I couldn't believe how low the quality was. Used to be that Isotoners had sewn-on "pleather" pads on each finger (or leather pads, for the upper level version of the gloves). There was also some kind of lining to keep the hands warm. And finally, they had their trademark chevron-shaped accent sewn to the top-wrist, also in pleather (or leather). The pair I bought the other day, had no lining, the finger pads were ill-fitting and oversimplified, and instead of the chevron-shaped accent sewn on the top-wrist, there was just a stitched version of the design. The gloves had the look and feel of cheap, throw-away gloves from the Dollar Store, seriously. Isotoner is not what it used to be.

[@jjoohhhnn]

This has happened to trade workers clothes, there used to be a dozen brands making quality boots, now it's hard to spend 400$ and get more than a 200$ boot, and Carhartt stopped selling their indestructible Twill pants. They're convinced they're in the fashion game not making tools. I hate it, so much.

[@MarkAvo]

The future is pretty crap

[@botcherbutcher7608]

Yeah bought some carhartt overalls to replace my old ones and they sucked. Luckily (thank you grandpa, you're awesome!) I learned sewing during COVID while taking care of my grandparents so I just sew my own overalls n stuff now since I can choose my own fabric and hardware quality. It just sucks as obviously not many have the privilege of an old sewing machine and enough free time to make your own gear.

[@Stretch501st]

I don’t buy carhartt anymore. I work outside in natural resources, so I really like arborwear pants. They are super tough, even against thick brush and thorns. They cost more (at least $75-$100 a pair) but I’ve had them I use everyday for over three years now! I’ve patched them a little on the seams recently but bc it was quality fabric was actually able to repair easily.

[@CaseNumber00]

I hear ya brother. Sad to say is some of the good quality makers are still around but they had to keep up with rising costs so their items just exploded in prices. Bought some Whites boots, hand made full lether boot, for $425 in 2019, now they are about $590. The problem is rising costs are so much faster than people wages.

[@jjoohhhnn]

@@botcherbutcher7608 That's such a great skill, and a wonderful thing to do for your family, especially during that time. I bet the clothes fit like a dream, too! People will eventually have make time for it, I'm almost there.

[@gailcarey3597]

I live in an area that was once a major textile hub. In the late 1980’s a woman and I were shopping and in disgust she said she had once worked quality control at a major mill. She said nothing on the racks would have passed inspection. I sew and can’t even locate fabric that I would consider purchasing. We must bring back our own industries and start exporting quality products and not importing junk.

[@moniqueball3559]

Agreed

[@dianaulait]

THIS. it helps to knit and crochet because at least then you can source yarn that’s 100% wool, silk, etc. such a shame that brands don’t make this a little more accessible for folks, even at the higher end of price points.

[@MsRubyet]

Sure! The problem is it’s so much more expensive that most people won’t buy it

[@Cobalt985]

I agree with you, however, this is only a symptom of a more structural problem. To put it simply, infinite growth in a finite system is logically impossible. Degrowth MUST occur.

[@tjmarx]

Who is going to buy it? Consider the wages each of the people in the process would expect. Consider the overheads for the business. Now the mark-up to have some profit to make the whole exercise worthwhile. Then the distributor mark-up. Then the retail mark-up. How much do you genuinely think a locally produced quality T-shirt would cost today? Who is buying that, especially in a world where you are competing again Shein and Inditex? Come on, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Everyone wants to pretend they live a kardashian lifestyle on a burger flipper wage at 30 these days. You have to fix consumer behaviour first, and that starts by convincing millennials and zoomers to live inside their meger means.

[@amuyize]

I am studying abroad in lithuania right now, and im from the usa. I have purchased a few locally made linen dresses and tank tops and they're a game changer for comfort and breathability, and just feel better. The decrease of natural fabrics is so unfortunate.

[@amuyize]

And for winter I really enjoy thrifted Norwegian wool sweaters!

[@xalciaqx9026]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LITHUANIA LIVE LAUGH LOVE LITHUANIA my goal is to live there. Especially in druskienniki, its my absolute fav city.

[@EricaNernie]

I've been buying linen from Lithuania and making some of my own clothes.

[@cjack202003]

"I could never afford it, because my family is middle class" I don't think you understand what middle class means. A&F is definitely not out of reach for middle class. Middle class should definitely be able to afford A&F.

[@axiss5840]

Part of the problem now is that even if I DO want to spend $100-250+ on something that I hope will last me 10+ years, there's never a guarantee that it will. No matter who you're buying from, it's ALWAYS a gamble unless you explicitly know what to look for.

[@SweetDreaming28]

This is part of the plan to implement income inequality. It’s so insidious it’s venal. They buy a well know marker of quality products load up the company with debt, reduce quality, reduce staff, steal/ sell anything worthwhile including robbing pension plans, then bill the company for ‘management fees’ and when business goes downhill they sell out or declare bankruptcy, or spin off the part that’s carrying the debt. Meanwhile people lose jobs, paychecks get smaller, businesses close and they walk away using $100 to make cigars…

[@chicnoir29]

@@SweetDreaming28 See Red Lobster SMH.

[@ultramegax]

@@axiss5840 you can find those items that will last decades but you do indeed have a responsibility to educate yourself so you do know what to look for. There's no way around it.

[@ultramegax]

These days it's really up to the consumer to educate themselves and learn what to look for. Unfortunately, this video didn't really do any of that. But there are plenty of resources online to learn.

[@notaspectator]

Fair point, so instead of an influencer, we would need to consider an option of a garment worker, designer, a bi top material scientist and ideally pay them $5 per quick opinion. Sounds like an intentional living :))

[@CooksFSH]

Wonderful essay! I grew up in the 90's, have worked as a stylist for 13 years, studied fashion design and started my own brand. I personally hate the quality of garments these days, and have taken the stance of being rebellious and making items of quality meant to last. It's not cheap, but being cost effective isn't my personal goal. My goal is to create pieces that will be part of your wardrobe for decades to come. Craftsmanship, quality natural fibers, and artisan made designs.

[@localdilfs]

whats the name of ur brand

[@misterrees-vn9ti]

WHERE??

[@summercratty2805]

Don’t be shy, plug your brand 👀

[@bpeng2000]

The problem is that people do not need cloth that last decades.

[@dog4150]

@@bpeng2000 having clothes that last “decades” is better than having clothes that will fall apart within 3 wears. Its better to pay more for something well made than to pay… also more but for something that will deteriorate quickly because lets be honest, most brand names with expensive clothes use shitty materials.

[@discordiadingle3203]

Another “fun” fact about polyester clothing: As we wash our clothing, some of the microplastics come out and end up in the ocean with the rest of our laundry water.

[@bananaboiii3960]

They also get into your body and give you cancer, i am shocked no one else is talking about that here

[@aliannarodriguez1581]

@@discordiadingle3203 And from there they go into the fish we eat, and we now know that they then accumulate in our organs.

[@dimitriosfotopoulos3689]

Just this past May, I read that researchers are finding tiny particles of microplastic junk in our bloodstream, lungs, brains and most recently, imbedded in men's junk.

[@fs0cieety]

Don't care

[@jessicahitchens6926]

You absorb the plastic as well. Welcome to Idiocracy.

[@jam9859]

Washers, stoves, christmas trees… its all garbage designed to break in 5 years or less. Washing machines have wifi but die in 4 years. The 20 year old speed queens are still kickin

[@_A4A]

It's insane how it always comes down to both Greed & Dishonesty that ruins EVERYTHING for the masses!....

[@DypoMage]

it's called capitalism!

[@rsr789]

@@DypoMage It's not truly free-market capitalism though, as there is a TON of collusion, semi-monopolies, etc...

[@michelerigley9286]

It's what made America great!!

[@kunanpunchaw]

It's called capitalism. Greed makes it seem like a personal problem when it's the system we're in that's the problem, which requires systematic solutions.

[@Hrcbzvz]

And consumers are part of the problem too

[@TeaLeafReader]

68 pieces of clothing in a year????? that’s a crazy high number

[@pugglebiscuit9600]

This likely includes things like undergarments and socks, they tend to wear out fast

[@annamossity8879]

Do they? I’ve been buying most of my clothes from charity shops for many years now (not underwear and socks, of course) but not 68 pieces a year! Not even close, and my clothes last me many years. Some decades, like a good pair of jeans or evening wear. I also don’t go far with the trendy stuff.

[@thewalrusaurus]

​@@annamossity8879 People with kids are likely skewing the average there. As essentially each kids whole wardrobe has to be replaced every couple years

[@PurpleShinyMe]

I thought the same! We didn’t buy a lot of clothes last year but this year, my first born has a sort of growth spurt and had to buy “new” clothes both from thrift stores and mall brands and already at around 20pieces total! Crazy how it adds up!

[@l.5832]

@@annamossity8879 I bought a Warner's bra from the Salvation Army for half price so I paid about $2.75. It is the best fitting, most comfortable bra I have ever had. It looked like it had not been worn or worn very little.

[@T.R.75]

i dont even need to watch this entire vid to know that it was the profit margin that made everything go downhill. sell them crap, so they have to buy more crap, quicker. exploit the workers/makers, rake in obscene profits. its hit nearly every industry.

[@sunshine3914]

There was more to it than I thought.

[@RedSpicyKiwi]

It's always been the same, it's just becoming more streamline and efficient. Any and everything can be commodified.

[@smrk2452]

Cut corners to lower production costs. Raise quotas. Workers don’t get bathroom breaks… hire illegals to pay them less, use children who don’t speak English… and when somebody dies on the job, cover it up and find their replacement.

[@catherinehazur7336]

Planned obsolescence has been a thing for some time. Are we just discovering it now? Though I still have clothes from 25 years ago that I still wear and still are in good condition. Quality clothing is still available, but it is best to evaluate it in person like you could do when shopping was done in sticks-and-bricks stores. With internet buying it can be a toss up regarding quality what you finally receive.

[@Arcanist_Gaming]

@@catherinehazur7336 Weirdly, I've had a couple flukes with shopping online, but I'm _aware_ they were flukes. The good stuff is usually found in backwater pages of the internet, or through weirdly circumstantial advertising campaigns that never happen again because the ROI wasn't great. (Anecdotally, of course.)

[@cbaum228]

AE jeans used to last me for years as a teen, now as an adult with a desk job in Lucky to get 3 months. With their 10$ recycle deal it felt like I was just renting my jeans. I've quit buying them and will now pay $100+ for good denim I can trust to last.

[@robynnordstrom7799]

This is why I stopped paying attention to trends and started making and mending my own clothes. My clothes probably aren’t in style, but I feel like the best version of myself in them.

[@maryjanedodo]

Gen Z has so many different style trends due to unlimited content access - so individual style & wearing what suits your body & is comfortable is always the best way to look cool.

[@TheDroShow]

Rocking your own style is the BEST thing ever!

[@CordeliaWagner1999]

I Am Gen Z. I have my own style. I shop Second Hand and I look for items that are good quality and match everything else in my wardrobe. Not all of Gen Z is TikTok addicts that do everything Influencers tell us to do.

[@anthonysalemi373]

​@@CordeliaWagner1999 millenial here. I'll thrift and shop second hand as much as possible, but it comes with limitations being a big guy. Thankfully my city has a load of vintage/thrift shops that it makes variety easier. It's funny how people want the 90s aesthetic but won't actually buy clothes from that era.

[@globalfamily8172]

@@CordeliaWagner1999 I thrift from my own closet (well boxes of older clothes). I go shopping looking for quality stuff and never find it.

[@schlurpie]

what i hate the most with clothing nowadays is the labeling of the marerial. on websites they would say cotton or wool, but if you check the material, it's actually mixed fiber, especially with wool. and even if it's only 10% wool, they would call it wool coat, etc. and the price is too much as well for something that's mostly synthetic

[@maryjanedodo]

This! Need better regulation about advertising

[@antigone80]

THIS! I ordered a "wool coat" that cost $145 last year, but when I received it, it was 10% wool, and the rest was made up of polyster, rayon, and whatever else. When I called to start the return, even the rep laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

[@amethyst1062]

ARGH I know I still have a lululemon white furry jacket that I’ve had for 2 years

[@csenuber]

Exactly!

[@cassaspell]

So this is the reason i see kids on tiktok talking about "vintage Charlotte Russe" that was fast fashion of our time but its wildly better quality than most things today.

[@gIoomykitty]

wdym? if its vintage then its vintage. it doesnt matter if its fast fashion or not ...

[@cassaspell]

@@gIoomykitty because fast fashion degrades faster than slower manufactured products, im surprised it had existed long enough to find itself being called "vintage"

[@tonygroves5526]

My daughter had a pair of Zara jeans that felt like decent material. (I'm a seamstress) One squat, and the seat was torn in two. Really sad how bad fabric is now.

[@Sanjay-yd1jq]

I'm glad I grew up in the 70s knowing quality from the garbage sold today . Thank you for shining light on this problem . It's happening in the food as well. Truly sad

[@evgeneiac]

We didn't even know quality in the '70's. When shopping with my grandmother, a seamstress, in the 70's, she would constantly stop me from buying things because they were poorly made.

[@pandornya437]

I remember my dad, who grew up in the 70s and 80s, telling me about how girl scout cookies actually used to taste good.

[@HUYI1]

All the clothes I have obtained from the 80s and 90s I still have and are still wearable, not much to say about other stuff I've recently brought that rips easily

[@averageSkykid]

lucky, i’m gen z and didnt experience this. well, my clothes are decent i guess, i don’t pay much attention to them

[@magicknight13]

I'm 26 😢 I guess there's vintage clothes in thrift stores and eBay.... is it worse to know and have experienced how good things used to be, or to never have known the previously higher quality of food and clothes? Reminds me of the movie Snowpiercer lol

[@tsbrownie]

After retiring I worked as a brand manager in the sports / clothing industry. I was shocked to find that the labor cost (CMT or cut, make, & trim) in a $500 to $1000 jacket was $4. Now try to convince me that if the CMT were $8 or $12 and made in America (with reduced transportation costs), they could not sell the jacket at the same price. They COULD do it, but then the execs / investors would not get paid as much and they'd not be able to exploit children, the poor, lax foreign laws, etc.

[@YourCapyFrenBigly_3DPipes1999]

It's legalized slavery and it's disgusting.

[@danzrs3]

I worked retail the first 2 years as an empty nester. The markup just blew me away. Cost to produce/ship a $125 ticketed Yellowstone style vest? $18.

[@Poodleinacan]

Sometimes, the cost that goes into making items may get a bit higher, if briberies are involved..... Still, nothing close to those high prices.

[@TheAmericanAmerican]

What ya just described is EXACTLY why capitalism needs to be done away with. We have been living on a planet DOMINATED by the "maximize profits by ANY means necessary" economic system for over 300 years now and still people do not understand that that's the root cause of 99% of our problems!

[@johnphipps4105]

​@@TheAmericanAmerican It comes down to what you mean by capitalism. It was capitalism defined by Adam Smith that allowed us to thrive. Adam Smith and Karl Marx both agreed the elites were the problem, difference between the two is that Marx believed the elite needed to be replaced by a better elite, where Smith believed the common man should be left alone. Economists like the Austrians, whether they realize it or not, agree with Karl Marx, that someone has to be in control instead of just let the common people just live their lives. Take care and God bless

[@pieternel101]

I will absolutely not purchase anything when the zipper feels and sounds cheap. On the rare occasions I am in a clothing store I am shocked at the poor quality on the mannequins, the creased and cheap feeling fabric. It is a shame for the younger generation to not know that clothes quality was not always like this.

[@ReynaldoAbasr]

make sure the zippers are YKK

[@HKim0072]

@@ReynaldoAbasr I'm shocked that people aren't using YKK. I've been out of the game for a while, but everyone used YKK. And, you have very long lead times. We always had to worry about the zippers first.

[@dhotz8474]

Looking at a hoodie I bought more than 15 yrs ago I can feel the difference in the material to the one I bought this year. The older hoodie has better material and after a little sewing is good as new. Some knock off jeans I got a year ago already looks like it's falling apart. I care less about brand recognition but quality & longevity of what I buy.

[@tph2010]

"Nothing fits properly anymore" THANK YOU!

[@grizzlybear4]

YES. I thought it was just me. I CANNOT find a pair of pants that fit.

[@kaylahatch6462]

I thought pregnancy had completely messed up my body. That line was revelatory.

[@bendickerson1943]

Is this… real journalism?!?! I thought we all agreed not to do that anymore! Seriously though, solid video

[@Placidzzz]

I feel like this is nonchalant gossip of nothingness.

[@SaranshV]

Why do you think that, placidz?

[@jmacindc]

@@SaranshV Because they don't care about the effect fast fashion has on our lives, the economy, the environment, etc. people just don't care anymore. That's a very important tenet of capitalism.

[@clearlyhilds]

Shocked that you recorded in A&F and you didn’t get caught and asked to leave. 😭

[@KarlSnarks]

Next video: "It's not just Info Wars: Why al the news channels are worse now" ;)

[@onesquishbbyone2674]

This video essay is 100%. The pacing, tone, research, different perspectives and delivery, just immaculate.

[@soho1670]

Excellent reporting. Factual, organized, and well presented. Totally substantiated what I was already thinking!