so many articles about Fast Fashion, not enough articles about what the hell is happening to the quality of clothes
Like okay. People own more pieces of clothing nowadays and they wear them a lesser number of times before throwing them out. BUT.
Why do we pretend like this is pure vanity or careless wastefulness, rather than forced by the qualities of the clothes themselves?
The other day, I was going through boxes of old clothes in the basement in search of fabric to practice sewing on. The difference in quality of the fabrics themselves is shocking! The worn-out old jeans from twenty years ago are MUCH thicker and tougher than anything more recent. My old baby clothes are made as sturdy as my work clothes from today.
In the past couple years, I have had entire seams rip out of clothes on the first wash. That's not normal!
Polyester blend shirts that feel cozy and soft when they are new, become scratchy and rough after 20 washes or so. I am trying to avoid polyester, but it gets harder and harder; the other day i couldn't find a single pack of crew socks that was 100% cotton. SOCKS!
Also, pilling is out of control. The newest pants I bought developed pills within a single day of walking around campus with a backpack.
These companies are trying to frog-boil us but touching clothes from twenty years ago, the useless crap of today would stick out like a sore thumb...
I used to caddy. I got around 35,000 steps (around 19 miles) on an average day of work. I bought 6 pairs of socks once a year, and they never formed holes in the bottom until I had already bought new socks. I still buy that brand of socks, but now I work a desk job. The socks I bought in February are already wearing thin.
I still have shirts I bought in middle school that I have worn fairly regularly that are hole-free, or only have holes where there is more wear (e.g. armpits). The wear on them matches pretty closely with the wear on shirts I got in the last couple years. One shirt I got new just a year or so ago is practically dissolving - big ass holes all over, including several in the middle of the chest.
These are not the only examples I have. I see no explanation for these facts other than a recent decrease in quality across the board. It's frankly ridiculous, and I want to do something about it, but I don't know what I can do. On an individual level, sure you can buy used, but even good quality clothing does eventually wear out, so not everyone can buy used. It seems like the only solution is producing good quality clothing, but how does an individual even work towards that?
I know there has to be real documentation of this buried somewhere in the abyssal detritus of the modern world....The companies made the choice at some point, to start using shorter staple length fibers, lesser quality fibers, less sturdy weaving, worse stitching...and the worse stitching is often pointed out by people who sew because it is visible, but i've never seen an analysis of it spanning the whole chain of clothing coming to be.
Personally, I've been experimenting with natural fibers that are alternatives to the usual ones. Dogbane (Apocyonum cannabinum) is the flax equivalent native to North America, and extremely promising, but it's far from the only one.
I can confirm, it is getting harder and harder to find quality fabric for an affordable price. I can't even shop at Joann anymore, and they are the only option for a fabric store in most places that has any kind of variety in their apparel section and isn't owned by religious fundamentalists *cough* like hobby lobby *cough.* The quality of their fabrics has declined rapidly, even from before the pandemic! The only thing they have anymore is cheap synthetic fabrics, mostly polyester, and cotton which used to be decent and is getting worse by the year. AND they charge more for EVERYTHING now. AND they treat their workers like shit. (Like say what you will about hobby lobby and their fundie ideology but at least their pay scale starts at like $18 as opposed to Joann which was still paying $10.50 in 2022 and would never schedule me for more than 15 hours a week)
I know of a few boutique fabric shops but they either just have quilting cotton of varying quality or have prices that are plain unsustainable. Even the online shops I frequent are growing more questionable, and some mislabel their products so it's hard to tell what the fabric is made of or how much it weighs. The sites that are still mostly reliable for quality require you to shell out the cash.
There was one site, fabrics.com, I believe, that had a pretty good search feature and pretty affordable deadstock fabric, but it got bought by Amazon and eventually they shut down the website and subsumed it into Amazon marketplace, where it's impossible to search for anything and get reliable results.
Couple of tips:
First: All of the above is correct. Fabric quality has gotten worse. One thing you can do to keep your clothes going longer is DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER!!!!!! Fabric softener works by gradually dissolving the fibers, which contributes to faster wear, holes in clothes, etc. FABRIC SOFTENER IS THE DEVIL. You know those Tide Pods? They're so convenient, right? Make sure you get the kind that is JUST detergent (the one-color kind), not the kind that also has the fabric softener in it (the kind with two or three "sections" of different color fluids).
Second, a couple recs for online fabric stores I like:
1. If you're the sort of person who is already looking for fabric to buy your own clothes, then I'm gonna assume that you're not necessarily fundamentally against the idea of dyeing your own cloth, and therefore I will recommend dharmatrading.com as a great place to buy a huge selection of fabric of all fiber types (they've got everything from burlap to silk veiling). Most of it is undyed, but i think they do have some dyed silk fabrics as well. Their prices are really fair IMO, but yeah you will have to dye it yourself. (Dyeing not that hard, though, as long as you follow the directions and enter into it with a spirit of cheerful experimentation and willingness to be flexible on the exact, precise outcome -- at least the first couple times!)
2. fabricwholesaledirect.com -- all sorts of fabrics at wholesale prices, I've bought from them a couple times (velvet and flannel for curtains) and I've been reasonably pleased with the quality -- YMMV probably depending on what you're buying. They do sell by the yard, but if you're planning on getting a huge amount of fabric (ie: if you're making floor-to-ceiling curtains) then I recommend waiting for one of their big sales. I bought mine around Black Friday and the sale prices were bonkers.
5. tandyleather.com for leather and leather-related tools
6. Joanne.com -- yeah, their prices aren't as good as they used to be, but they do send out a lot of coupons and have regular sales, so you gotta make use of those for it to be worth it.
if you live in the Boston area, Sewfisticated has discount designer fabrics for great prices- $10/yard 100% silk, for example. the colors/patterns can be limited, since it's bolt-ends from big fashion and design houses, but still worth looking into!
Don’t overlook quilting cotton, either — quilters won’t put up with poor-quality fabric, so anything considered “quilt shop quality” should hold up well. You can use quilting cottons anywhere you’d use lightweight or medium-weight wovens in garment sewing — they’re great for things like button-downs and structured dresses.
If you look for sales, there’s a ton of good stuff out there for under $10/yard. Hancock’s of Paducah and Brooklyn Fabric both have tons of good sale options. Small local quilt shops usually also sell online, and frequently have sales.
Most of my dresses are made with quilting cotton, although admittedly that’s more because no one will make the aggressively whimsical novelty prints I want in other fabrics. But I also paid $6-9 /yd for most of it!
Meet **Lisa** 🐾, my sweet and spirited kitty who has brought endless love and joy into my life. 💖 With her playful purrs and gentle headbutts, she’s been my constant companion, brightening even the darkest days. Right now, however, my heart is heavy as she’s facing a serious health crisis. 😿
Before:
After:
We’re in urgent need of medical treatment to save her life, and I’m reaching out to you for help. Please consider donating to support Lisa’s care here: [PayPal Donation Link] 🙏💙
Watching her struggle is heartbreaking 💔, and I know there’s a chance we can turn this around together. Even the smallest contribution can create a ripple effect of hope and healing for her. Your support means everything right now. 🌈
If donating isn’t an option for you, I’d be so grateful if you could share this post 🐾. Spreading the word is just as powerful, and every share brings us closer to saving Lisa. Let’s unite our hearts to give her the fighting chance she deserves! 🐱💕
Your kindness and compassion can help restore Lisa’s spirit and bring her back to her playful, loving self. Thank you from the depths of my heart for considering helping us. Together, we can make a difference! 💖
#SaveLisa #CatLovers #DonateForLisa #HopeForLisa
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A Personal Note from Me ❤️
Hi everyone,
I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out during a difficult time for my beloved cat, Lisa. My family and I are currently in Gaza, surrounded by turmoil, and Lisa has fallen gravely ill. She desperately needs medical attention to survive. I’ve shared her story on Blue Sky, and I’m hoping to raise awareness and funds for her urgent care.
🕊️
Here’s the link to my Blue Sky post: https://bsky.app/profile/ahmadturk.bsky.social/post/3l6abb5c7xf27
🆘 URGENT: Help Save Lisa 🆘
This is Lisa 🐾, my sweet kitty who has filled my life with love and happiness. 💕 She’s now very sick and needs im
Please consider donating here to help Lisa: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZQ2ACNKMG5KP2
Help support mohammed turk by donating or sharing with your friends.
Link GFM: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-aseel-and-family-leave-gaza-before-its-too-late
Urgent Appeal: Save My Family in Gaza!
*Your generosity can be our lifeli… Neveen H needs your support for Save Aseel and her Family fr
Do you know anyone who might be willing to help cats in need? The veterinary costs for Lisa’s treatment are significant, especially amidst the challenges we face here. While we’ve set up a GoFundMe page, it will take time to process, and we’re worried about securing funds quickly enough for her core
LINK GFM OR LINK PAYPAL 🔗🕊️🥹🙏🏻
To expedite this process, we’ve created a PayPal link to raise the funds more swiftly. Every contribution, no matter how small, can bring us closer to ensuring Lisa receives the treatment she urgently needs.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Your generosity truly means the world to both me and Lisa.
With heartfelt appreciation
Ahmad Al-Turk
__________________________
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Everyone who sees us or hears about us in Gaza, I hope that you will be with us, support us and help us. Share our story with us, write it down, and don't forget us in your prayers.🥹💙
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