In recent times, the negative press that fast fashion has received around the world, has led many women, and men, to start questioning their purchasing decisions.
Put off by horror stories of environmental damage, exploitation of workers and the potential harm to animals, an increasing number of fashionistas have endured a change of mindset when it comes to adding new clothing additions to their wardrobe. Preferring to focus more on the ‘quality’ and overall ‘value’ of the garment, as opposed to its low cost or current trendiness.
If you are still unsure about whether you want to be a part of the fast fashion movement, in this article, we’ll outline some of the benefits of focusing on quality – when it comes to buying new garments.
What you should read are some very compelling reasons to change your mindset, which we ultimately hope would be something you would do.
Offering greater value for money
There is no doubt that buying better quality clothes will involve a higher initial outlay, than if you bought something just because it was cheap.
However, what this does not highlight is how much more value for money that purchase might represent, in relation to the less expensive item. Or for that matter, how much money it would save you in the long run.
For instance, you might buy a top-quality dress that costs you $100, which you can wear 500 times over a period of 10 years. If you did this the skirt’s average cost per wear would be $0.02 cents.
Alternatively, you might end up choosing instead to buy a cheaper dress that costs only $30, which you might wear 100 times in two and a half years, before it faded, and you had to chuck it away.
If you did this, then the cost per wear would be $0.03, which is more expensive overall. And you would still need to spend money on something else to last you the next seven and a half years.
This is the principle behind Maplestore’s focus on premium denim and revolves around the concept that you simply get more value for money out of good quality clothing – Agolde is a good example of this.
They are much more comfy
Another major reason to buy good quality clothes is that they will undoubtedly be a lot more comfortable to wear.
There is nothing worse than buying a cheaper garment which might look nice, only to discover that it is a bit scratchy, sweaty or otherwise uncomfortable to put on.
This is especially true of underwear, blouses, tights and hosiery, which need to be as comfortable as possible.
Well-made, top-quality clothing items use the best materials, which will ensure they don’t feel itchy or rough on your skin.
As these fabrics tend to be dyed and treated with non-toxic products, it’s highly unlikely that they will cause you excess irritation, or even worse, an allergic reaction on your sensitive skin.
They fit your body shape better
While fast fashion often involves workers mass producing clothing items as quickly as possible, companies that focus on quality take the time to make garments that will fit your body shape better.
Cut with a lot more precision and care, these clothing items tend to be very well made, and will flatter your body a lot more than the less expensive versions would.
Crucially, for many revered fashion retailers, consistency of their clothing items across all styles and sizes, is a hallmark of their quality. In short, their brand is renowned for it, and they have a reputation to maintain.
Some fast fashion houses have been known to cut corners this way. Which increases your chances of buying something that doesn’t necessarily fit you in the same way as some of their other products you might have bought do.
Greater durability
It goes without saying that quality clothes have greater durability as they are made to a better standard than fast fashion items – the point of which is to encourage a ‘throw away’ culture which will result in you having to buy more clothes from them.
With good quality clothing, the colour won’t fade, as this only occurs with cheaply made clothes, that incorporate dyes that are of a poor-quality and techniques to dye clothes that are improper. Similarly, the material won’t disintegrate the more you wear and wash it too.
Instead, its ‘premium’ look will last many years on account of it being made with thicker and more imperishable materials that are more tightly knitted or woven together.
Good quality clothing also tends to be more evenly stitched, which means there are no loose, incomplete or missed stitches.
They boast excellent craftsmanship
As mentioned before, top quality brands have a reputation to uphold, which is why they tend to focus on excellent craftsmanship.
Often these types of garments feature a mark of distinction, and the entire production process is very carefully considered and managed.
Everything from the type of thread or material they use, to the specific techniques for sowing that are employed, are run through a quality control process that ensures required standards are met.
Top tier retailers also tend to pay close attention to even the smallest details like buttons, cords and zippers to ensure the garments come out perfectly as intended.
Sustainably and ethically made
Good quality clothes are more likely to be made more sustainably and ethically than those garments produced by fast fashion houses.
Not only does this mean that the materials used to make good quality clothes will be environmentally friendly and safe for animals that are reliant on water. But it also means that the working conditions are much safer and better for those who are employed to manufacture them as well.
You won’t find top quality clothes made from child labour either and those who are responsible for making them are paid a decent wage too.
You are more likely to buy versatile pieces you will wear often
Whilst buying cheap clothes often involves very little in the way of thinking. When it comes to purchasing a good quality fashion piece, its higher cost means you are more likely to take your time and evaluate the merits of buying it.
This should involve really understanding what you can wear the garment with, and for what occasions.
It also usually means you will also think about how you can accessorise it to create a different look.
As a result, you are more likely to be in the mindset of purchasing a collection of timeless and versatile pieces that you will wear a lot more often, than if you had a wardrobe full of fast fashion pieces.
Final Thought
Well, there it is. Our overview of why you should focus on quality fashion in 2022. We told you there were some compelling reasons!
While for those on a limited budget, there is an obvious temptation to get ‘value’ by purchasing several cheaper products. This is not a sustainable strategy, as buying low quality clothes that are not made to last, will end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.
It’s also very bad for the environment too, with an estimated 500 million tons of clothes being sent to landfill in Australia every year.
At the end of the day, there is a reason why the old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ exists. You simply can’t beat quality.
If you change your mindset from someone who gleefully pursues fast fashion, to someone who prefers to wear top quality clothing that represents excellent craftsmanship, you will not only save yourself plenty of money. You will also do your bit for sustainable commerce and the environment too.
In addition, you will also build yourself, over time, a wardrobe of very well made garments that you will be very proud to wear on a regular basis.
Which after all, is what every girl aims to do.
