I Prefer To Shop In The Market - High Street Clothing Is Poorly Made Nowadays
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
November 6, 2012 6:58pm CST
Whilst at Mum's last week I got out and about a lot more due to buying a weekly bus ticket for £13.50. Very good value as it turned out.
Anyway, we visited Blackpool's Town Centre a few times and it has the usual array of shops, ranging from Marks & Spencer, NEXT, Debenhams..you get the idea.
Now, I noticed that in all the shops we went in the quality of clothing was appalling for the price. You're talking around £25 for a basic printed top, for example. If I see another animal print top (that looked the same whatever shop we went in) I shall scream. They're horrible and very poorly made. In fact, EVERYTHING is poorly made and the price is going UP, not down as a consequence. It stresses me out!
I don't know if it's because the clothes are made abroad or what BUT I bought a long-line cardigan from Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool and it's absolutely brilliant for £16.99. British made too. I also bought a going-out top from the Fleetwood Outlet for £20 and that was made by Roman Originals, another UK-made top. Both of them are brilliant quality, they really are. If the same items had been bought in the so-called High Street Stores the prices would be double what I paid, if not more.
I am so proud that I am supporting British manufacturers more and more lately - mainly due to the fact everything else is tat and falls to bits.
Do you shop in local markets? Do you get a warm glow (like me) if you see something that's made in your own country?
Mum went in Abingdon Street Market again yesterday as she's not back in work until Wednesday - asking about another unusual cardigan that had been reduced previously. Unfortunately, it had been sold and the foreign guy on the stall said, "You see..you buy!" and I think she will in future. Missed opportunity there!
I am so proud that I am supporting British manufacturers more and more lately - mainly due to the fact everything else is tat and falls to bits.
Do you shop in local markets? Do you get a warm glow (like me) if you see something that's made in your own country?
Mum went in Abingdon Street Market again yesterday as she's not back in work until Wednesday - asking about another unusual cardigan that had been reduced previously. Unfortunately, it had been sold and the foreign guy on the stall said, "You see..you buy!" and I think she will in future. Missed opportunity there!2 people like this
6 responses
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
7 Nov 12
My mother was a very accomplished seamstress and taught be to check for good clothing. Still, when I was young, I mostly sewed my clothes. The world has changed a lot since those times. All the stores where they sold materials to make clothes have disappeared. Mass clothing is everywhere and, as you say, it`s mostly poorly made. I buy very few clothes, but usually more expensive than what I would want to spend because I check on how it is made. Most of the time clothes made in my country are better than the imported ones (excepting for some of the veryexpensive clothes with trademarks).
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
7 Nov 12
I discovered that the best way to spend little yet feel comfortable was to mix old and new clothes I liked with some nice things I buy when I travel. A special scarf makes all the difference.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
Believe me, I have a 'thing' about scarves, I love them! I even wear one indoors. It's a continuous scarf with no ends lol. I also bought a white hat and scarf set whilst I was away and both have diamante detail on them..very Christmassy.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
Yes, I've noticed that with British clothing. It tends to be independently made now, which doesn't actually bother me as labelled clothing tends to be over-priced anyway. I have a different mindset - I'm thinking, 'Not many women will buy this as it's NOT on the high street' so it's great watching their faces. I know they're dying to ask me where I bought certain things. If they ever ask I won't be ashamed to tell them either.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
7 Nov 12
I suppose that it is because of being raised on hand me downs and walmart, kmart or roses clothing, I still buy as cheap as possible. As I was told when I was young and as I know and believe today, a label is a label the shirt is still the same.
There are stores, Ross that I shop at, Goodwill, you have to grab when you see it or don't expect it to be there next time. Here in the US there are shops especially for "cast offs" that are still in "season" but reduced in price. I've gotten nice clothes from these types of shops, name brand, for cheaper.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
Yes, a lot of charity shops can stock designer labels occasionally but I reckon they go to the staff (only joking) lol.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
7 Nov 12
Meh, it may not be far from the truth. No matter, I work in a grocery store but we know when things will be discounted so I imagine a staff of a discount store will know or see when the best quality clothing will come in and "yank" it up.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
I don't buy as many as I used to plus the fact I tend to actually WEAR them, rather than put them all in a wardrobe, apart from a top that is ideal for a night out, but not so good for cleaning up in in the house lol.
I've also noticed that the so-called 'cheaper' imports have gone up in price, whereas clothing made in the UK has actually gone down. Interesting, eh? Unfortunately, not everyone realises this and carries on buying the foreign tat.
I've also noticed that the so-called 'cheaper' imports have gone up in price, whereas clothing made in the UK has actually gone down. Interesting, eh? Unfortunately, not everyone realises this and carries on buying the foreign tat.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 12
How much is it up there now? Did you go on that viewing floor thingy?
I've not been up the Tower for years, not even when I lived there.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
7 Nov 12
I know exactly what you mean, i sometimes go into a high street shop and see the primark influence, in terms of quality, however not in price terms, they seem to charge more for poorer quality every time i go there.
there isn't a local market here, but as there are quite a lot of reasonably well off people living here i tend to buy tops from my local charity shops, where you can get a marks and spencer's top for a reasonable price, as the price they charge, for tops, in particular, is just not worth it.
it is ridiculous, and a terrible rip off, the market solution sounds like a good one, but there isn't one here.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
Carlisle's market (where I live) is nowhere near as good as the one in Blackpool. It has a 'snobby' air to it, something I despise so, invariably, I don't buy anything from there either.
I always do in Blackpool, however as the stalls are more varied and well-established. The fishmongers, for example, has been there for years. They haven't even got one in Carlisle anymore.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
7 Nov 12
Im very hard on cloths, so i dont go out and pay big prices for them. Im lucky to have my dad and sisters in the usa and they send me cloths from there. They pay 1/2 what id have to pay for them her ein Mexico.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Nov 12
They're not Spontex Sponges by any chance? Ask around for them as they're awesome!
