The end of another era - Low-cost clothes

posh*spice

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36bc0500-4fb6-11dd-b050-000077b07658.html

I know the cost of manufacturing clothes has been talked about alot on another thread on this board - but I can't remember which one:p.

Anyway, from the "doom board" an interesting FT article on inflation in clothing.....essentially, get out to the shops now and stock up the era of cheap clothes is coming to a close:cool:

phil_b_2

Wont make a bit of difference to me. I've never spent much on clothes. A new shirt and pair of jeans every couple of months at most. Even then it's usually off ebay where good quality current-trend shirts go for about £2.

The only people it will effect are shopaholics buying a new pair of jeans every week and only wearing them once. It will do them good to cut back anyway!

epz_2

what, the child labor that work in sweat shops want a pay rise to cope with the doubling in price of food, terrible, i say we invade them.

!!!!!! india and china have had inflation running at 10% for a while now. what did everyone think would happen when we outsourced everything to the 3rd world, they would promise to be good little boys and stay poor cause our service economy is so great for them.

chrisandanne

I'm glad...if this helps stop the sickening consumerism in this country, it's a good thing. A x

tiff

we'll be back to make do and mend before you know it!

Ivan_Konstantinov

not just cheap clothes ...also cheap shoes& boots from China. boots & shoes are showin 20% increases upto Nov. and who knows after that...this is wholesale,so retail will be more:eek:

chrisandanne

BOOTS AND SHOES....did you say boots and shoes !!!. Now things are just getting ridiculous....I will be one of the rioters in the streets !!!!!!!!!!!!. A x

neverdespairgirl

tiff wrote: »

we'll be back to make do and mend before you know it!

I had OH's work shoes and mine re-soled a fortnight ago - it makes sense with more expensive, leather, work shoes. Looks as if I beat the rush (-:

fc123

Yup, on this thread. It's true. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1026763
Excellent news for moi. If I sit at a sewing machine I may be able to charge 10p phr for my labour rather than 4p to offer valued customer 'Best Price'..
Serious note; I went on factory visit to Leicester last Monday........to the last man standing.
He will be manufacturing the current order for asos.
Rows of red brick Victorian terraces attached to 'Mill' buildings. Factory units empty, houses all let out to DSS and owned by BTL Letters from down south.........according to the factory owner.

Cabby who picked me up was really upset as he had to become a cabby. He was a skilled cutter in a large factory that recently shut up shop.


This has come just in time for some of us.

Mind you I still feel I am now running a very outdated business model. Make things, select things and sell them in RealLife Land from a shop.......out the ark really.

Phirefly

Perhaps retailers should rethink what they pay their buyers. 100k plus for a senior buyer? Yeah they put it the hours but its massively disproportionate to the rest of the cogs in the wheel, and they're hardly saving lives.

I just think its a shame that the masses have got so used to prices that have been kept artificially low. Consumers seem to think they're getting a bargain when they buy a handful of crappy cheapo garments which spiral and pill after one wash rather than spend the same on one quality garment.

Theres 2 distinct camps emerging in the industry press, those who believe value will boom in this climate, and the opposition who believe quality and longevity will become more important.

I've spread my bets.

I've noticed a so called upturn in handcrafts being reported, record sales of sewing machines, etc. Theres a homecrafts ccompany near me that was on the local news the other night as they've become such an overnight success. No doubt subject of media hype and spin, but this could be a growth area to watch...

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

I'm glad to hear we are still making clothes in the UK fc123. I do wonder if, however, the Chinese will just adjust their currency if their exports become to expensive? to keep them competitive?