Clothing Brands - what is good quality - or poor?

blue_monkey_2

I's have to say Next without a doubt, almost everything I buy is from Next - usually in the sale - but it lasts ages and I can expect (as long as it stays clean) for a kids t-shirt to last a year and it is grown out of before being ruined. This is why there is so much of it on eBay.

sillywilly

skintandsad wrote: »

I've bought my daughter school uniforms from the following shops:

ASDA - cheap stretchy trousers @ £3 per pair are BRILLIANT, lasted 2
years and still had wear left in them, no rips, tears or fading.
Brilliant fit and comfortable too. School polo shirts and
shorts for PE also of very good quality as above, although
don't wash shirts too hot or they MAY shrink a little.

BHS - school trousers tore within a few days of purchase, very weak
seams (my daughter is very slender so not over pressured
IYKWIM!!!)

TESCO school trousers not of the greatest quality. Hems came loose
and showed signs of wear within a couple of wears. Wouldn't
buy again. PE shorts and polo shirts acceptable quality.
Lasted for two terms before needing replacement

MATALAN purchased tracksuit bottoms very cheaply, meant for boys,
however fitted perfectly and would definately buy again. Still
as good as new after wearing all year, but outgrown.

Really helpful post - especially to those with kids. Thanks.

:T

sillywilly

blue_monkey wrote: »

I's have to say Next without a doubt, almost everything I buy is from Next - usually in the sale - but it lasts ages and I can expect (as long as it stays clean) for a kids t-shirt to last a year and it is grown out of before being ruined. This is why there is so much of it on eBay.

Thanks for the opinion. I stopped buying stuff from next when I found out that "premium" brands were available for the same price or cheaper. Didn't find their sales worth the hassle and even sale prices I found were about the real price.

But have to agree with the Ebay comment and have bought jumpers in charity shops for a pound which are still in good condition.

I guess it's quite good quality stuff - is that the general opinion?

loopy_lass

didnt the designer or something from next defect to asda? i know asda have a 100day quality guarantee

loops

sillywilly

I don't know. 100 is a nice round gimmicky sales number. Personally I want my clothes to last quite a bit longer than a little over 3 months.

I wonder if they will see an increase in people returning goods on the 99th day. I also wonder what the T&C of the 100 day guarantee actually cover. An 8 year old lad wearing the same pair of school trousers for 80 of those days and then the Mum returning because he has holes in both knees.

"No George, he never played football or breakdanced on the shiny hall floor once. The knees have holes in cos the quality is rubbish. Please replace under the 100 day guarantee"!

slummymummyof3

School uniforms - Matalan are excellent and wear and wash well, Tesco - not great as they tend to look rather worn very quickly - go all bobbly etc

Next seems to be sized for peculiar shaped beings - trousers are too tight at the tops of the thighs yet the waists are so enormous, you can take them on and off without undoing them (however, age 16 childrenswear is a great fit!)

Hobbs - everything is fantastic. Monsoon - embelishments fall off very easily which is not good when you have spent £180 on a dress.

jenniewb

sillywilly wrote: »

Thanks for the very helpful and informative post Jennie - exactly what I am after! I want to tap MSERs completely unbiased opinions based on facts with no ulterior motive. You say you get what you pay for but you can get good brands very cheaply on sites like M&M and Ebay. My issue is that I have bought so called premium brands, albeit cheaply, but the quality has been shocking!!

Please continue Money savers and let me know your opinions.

It would be nice if we could get enough responses to find a definite - best / worst brand!!

Ah but I'd say this still applies- discounted clothing more often then not was what it states it was before the massive reductions- say M&M's selling Diesel jeans or TK Maxx selling Ernest Sewn jeans, they did used to be the £xxx they said they were, its just the style is out dated (if you follow the trends closly) and this is why they are reduced. (I know this for sure as very often I see discount stores selling clothes I bought 5-10 years ago! Not all of them fall to peices and its normally the natural fabrics which withstand the test of time.) Discounted clothing is the same as expensive branded clothing IYSWIM!;)

McAzrael

sillywilly wrote: »

I don't know. 100 is a nice round gimmicky sales number. Personally I want my clothes to last quite a bit longer than a little over 3 months.

I wonder if they will see an increase in people returning goods on the 99th day. I also wonder what the T&C of the 100 day guarantee actually cover. An 8 year old lad wearing the same pair of school trousers for 80 of those days and then the Mum returning because he has holes in both knees.

"No George, he never played football or breakdanced on the shiny hall floor once. The knees have holes in cos the quality is rubbish. Please replace under the 100 day guarantee"!

The Asda offer is no quibble - it doesn't matter how many times George has played football. They trialled it last year with school clothes and out of sales of £9million they had £900 worth returned. It would appear that most people aren't chisellers who will take advantage. More here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/07/asda-launch-returns-policy I would hope that if someone is abusing it, and there will be someone, somewhere abusing it, they get told not to buy any more of these clothes which they are not satisfied with.

Bedtimebear

Hi,

Next
I brought many clothes Next, over the years all good qaulity best buy has to be ladies jeans and a pair pj's brought 5 years ago, they are still as good as when I bought them. I buy my husbands t-shirt also from next and they wash very well.

M&S
For underwear, work shoe for my husband and socks.

Hope this helps.

Naomi

Any

loopy_lass wrote: »

didnt the designer or something from next defect to asda? i know asda have a 100day quality guarantee

loops

Yep. I believe that he was actually the brain behind the whole Next launch and then sold it and went to Asda. Guess his name? George:-)) Davies. He was also behind Per Una at M&S when they had to modernise - Per Una was their most succesfull line to that date. I think probably ever.

I think Next quality went down hill over recent year or so. Still some good buys though.

I looove those elastic basic tops from Primark - I had few for 2 years and worn it every day during the winter below jumpers - only just had to throw them away. Compared to my friends top from Gap and we are sure they are made by the same manufacturer - but I paid £2 for mine and she paid £8 or £9 for hers!!!:eek:
Another thing from Primark - hold up tights - fantastic feel and quality!! Worn many different and expensive ones, but they either get holes very easily or stop sticking to your leg and start sliding down... Primarks don't loose that even after 3 washes and it's not that easy to brake them. And cost £2!!

Underwear at M&S - brilliant!!!:T

Tesco jumpers - got lumps within few months of wear. And I only washed them on hand wash!! But for that price...

I have 2 TM Lewins wrap up cardis for work that I bought at their outlet store 18 mths ago.... fantastic quality. Quite expensive in full price but I paid £25 at outlet store and they lasted me 3x the lenght of time that Tesco ones did (at £8) so they already paid for themselves... and they are still going strong.