[No Future]

I realise Topshop isn't exactly haute couture, however I went into a Topshop yesterday after having not shopped there for a long time and some of the clothes and shoes looked really badly made, poor quality materials and cheap.

e.g.

- Flat shoes even though leather look wonky and poorly made.
- Blouses/shirts badly cut
- Dresses look cheap and flimsy

I never noticed this before. A few years ago, the quality seemed reasonable for the price, now it seems like a joke.

Might as well shop in H&M if Topshop quality/price ratio is so poor.

Maybe I am seeing the past with rose tinted spectacles?
Maybe I was a naive teenager some years ago and couldn't tell?
Maybe I have become too used to designer stuff?
Maybe I have developed a better eye for fashion quality and design?

Thoughts?

[OSharp]

Hasn't it always been like this?

[No Future]

(Original post by OSharp)
Hasn't it always been like this?

Dunno, I thought the quality used to be better a few years ago.

[rawragee]

Honestly, TopShop was a lot better before it became far too popular and started trying far too hard to be hipster really. The prices have gone up while the quality has gone down considerably imo.

[OSharp]

Well topman, has always been overpriced and pretty sub par, its just a shame that I cant seem to find clothes to fit anywhere and occasionaly topman is the place to go.

[Natalie21]

Topshop quality is awful.

[jumpingjesusholycow]

Let's face the honest and brutal truth here.

They're all made in the same sweatshop factories in Bangladesh and Cambodia anyway. Whether you're purchasing from H&M, Zara, New Look or Topshop - they're all made within the same factories. Your perceived level of quality at certain brand name stores are irrelevant.

Some clothes will of course be sourced from different places which means the quality of textiles and manufacture is always going to change. 10 years ago, east-Asian textiles were cheap and easy to manufacture. Taiwan and China have now become expensive to buy from, and so between then and now, manufacturing has probably moved between several countries.

The quality of clothes at Topshop has nothing to do with your perception, or 'eye for designer brands'. It's got everything to do with the economics of the industry and people saying that Topshop is inherently 'good' or 'bad' when it comes the quality of manufacturing don't have a clue what they're talking about.

Most likely the same places you think offer top quality clothing source from the same factories that produce for Primark.

[GPH92]

I dont know any high street stores with good quality sewing/materials. Although what did make me laugh, in Topman they have a brand called Ragged priest and on the back of each shirt it says something along the lines of 'everything on this shirt is a deliberate design feature'. I doubt the poorly stitched and in some cases only half stitched and prematurely cut into leather was deliberate....
You'd be better off going and buying some fabric and making your own stuff.

[Anetata]

I have always avoided topshop and the only item I own from there are some beach havaiana type flip flops from there, because I needed some and it was the nearest shop lol. It has always been so whored out by people, and everyone always ends up looking the same because it is so popular. I think it is awfully overpriced, probably due to the fact they're so popular, they felt that they could charge people stupid prices.

Yeah some clothes can be nice from there, but the idea of everyone wearing the same hipster ****e really puts me off it.

I have had a look there a few times though and I thought the quality was alright, nothing amazing but better than H&M or Primark, but don't know what it is like now tbh. You can probably get better for the price you are paying though in a different shop.

[No Future]

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)
Let's face the honest and brutal truth here.

They're all made in the same sweatshop factories in Bangladesh and Cambodia anyway. Whether you're purchasing from H&M, Zara, New Look or Topshop - they're all made within the same factories. Your perceived level of quality at certain brand name stores are irrelevant.

I realise most (highstreet) clothes are made in such factories.

However, some items look really badly made and some look quite well made. Sometimes cheap looking materials are used and sometimes better quality materials are used. Sometimes the cut on clothing is very poor and sometimes it is quite good. There are differences in quality.

Not all factory produced clothes look badly made. Some look reasonable.

[jumpingjesusholycow]

(Original post by No Future)
I realise most (highstreet) clothes are made in such factories.

However, some items look really badly made and some look quite well made. Sometimes cheap looking materials are used and sometimes better quality materials are used. Sometimes the cut on clothing is very poor and sometimes it is quite good. There are differences in quality.

Not all factory produced clothes look badly made. Some look reasonable.

I agree, and that's exactly the point I'm making. They have most likely switched sources to capitalise on a better price. Whilst there are of course a myriad of factors involved here including the training of staff and level of pay they get, they are most likely benefiting from a better rate for the clothes you're perceiving as 'badly made'.

It's hard times for retailers now, so they're doing all they can to squeeze every drop of profit out of the chain :/

[No Future]

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)

The quality of clothes at Topshop has nothing to do with your perception, or 'eye for designer brands'.

So you think there is no difference in quality between a Dior skirt and a Topshop skirt? That there is no difference in quality between Ferragamo shoes and New Look shoes? I find it hard to believe that I am the only person who sees that certain designer items are much higher quality than the average high street item.

In my opinion, a few years ago the quality of clothing in Topshop was reasonable. Now, the quality seems to be a lot worse than it used to me. Am I imagining this? I don't recall seeing wonky looking shoes, cheap looking dresses and badly cut shirts 5 years ago. I realise that this could just be my perception so that's why I asked for other opinions.

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)

It's got everything to do with the economics of the industry and people saying that Topshop is inherently 'good' or 'bad' when it comes the quality of manufacturing don't have a clue what they're talking about.

Most likely the same places you think offer top quality clothing source from the same factories that produce for Primark.

I don't know who is saying Topshop is 'good' or 'bad'. I was just asking for opinions on my observation that quality seems worse now than it was a few years ago.

Really? I didn't know Primark was made in Italy/France.

In any case, same factory doesn't mean same quality. A factory is a building with machines and staff. There are a lot of other variables that affect quality.

[Kruz]

I've only bought 2 hoodies from there ,besides that I don't shop there.

[jumpingjesusholycow]

(Original post by No Future)
So you think there is no difference in quality between a Dior skirt and a Topshop skirt? That there is no difference in quality between Ferragamo shoes and New Look shoes? I find it hard to believe that I am the only person who sees that certain designer items are much higher quality than the average high street item.

No... I'm saying the disparity between the quality of garments isn't dependent on the retailer. It's dependent entirely on the economics of the garment and textiles manufacturing industry. Some retailers will source from China and some will source from Bangladesh, but regardless the quality isn't pegged to the shop, but the intricacies of international trade and employment.

In my opinion, a few years ago the quality of clothing in Topshop was reasonable. Now, the quality seems to be a lot worse than it used to me. Am I imagining this? I don't recall seeing wonky looking shoes, cheap looking dresses and badly cut shirts 5 years ago. I realise that this could just be my perception so that's why I asked for other opinions.

I understand and I'm trying to teach you in as simple a manner as I can, that the reason that the quality has changes is because the market has changed. The cost of employment and manufacturing in any given nation will have completely changed within a few years, and the disparity you're perceiving is the difference between garments manufactured in different countries.

I don't know who is saying Topshop is 'good' or 'bad'. I was just asking for opinions on my observation that quality seems worse now than it was a few years ago.

Posts above and below mine specifically made comment that "Topshop quality is awful" and "sup-par". Again, I'm not trying to convince you that you're wrong in your assertion. I'm trying to explain why you've made that assertion, and dispelling the myth that quality is somehow pegged to the brand and/or retailer.

Really? I didn't know Primark was made in Italy/France.

Okay, I can sense the sarcasm. In reality, almost all high street brands manufacture in Asia or Latin America, focusing mainly in areas of cheap employment such as Cambodia or Ecuador.

In any case, same factory doesn't mean same quality. A factory is a building with machines and staff. There are a lot of other variables that affect quality.

It really, really does given that within the several year gap that you're allocating for your experience of varying quality levels, the clothes sourced most likely would have turned over several factories. Why exactly you expect an inherent quality based specifically on the brand or retailer is beyond me and demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic Economics and labour markets. Honestly, some people only see what they want to see

[Ham22]

I haven't noticed any change in quality. The places I think are over priced for the quality of the clothes are New Look (overpriced chavy ****e), and sometimes Warehouse.

[Astronomical]

(Original post by No Future)
I realise Topshop isn't exactly haute couture, however I went into a Topshop yesterday after having not shopped there for a long time and some of the clothes and shoes looked really badly made, poor quality materials and cheap.

e.g.

- Flat shoes even though leather look wonky and poorly made.
- Blouses/shirts badly cut
- Dresses look cheap and flimsy

I never noticed this before. A few years ago, the quality seemed reasonable for the price, now it seems like a joke.

Might as well shop in H&M if Topshop quality/price ratio is so poor.

Maybe I am seeing the past with rose tinted spectacles?
Maybe I was a naive teenager some years ago and couldn't tell?
Maybe I have become too used to designer stuff?
Maybe I have developed a better eye for fashion quality and design?

Thoughts?

Congratulations, you've developed a sense of taste.

[No Future]

(Original post by Astronomical)
Congratulations, you've developed a sense of taste.

Haha, repped!

[elixira]

I feel exactly the same, used to love it during my teen years but now it's all horrible garish crap and it's overpriced and awful quality.

[tu_es_jolie_x]

Topshop has always been overpriced.

[sarahthegemini]

I don't think the quality is terrible, but a lot of the items are over priced. But then, it's better quality than **** at New Look (a lot of the stitching is just awful) and Primark, well I don't think I need to list the reasons why that's terrible ... H&M is getting over priced too tbh.