The Fashion Racket Is A Rip-Off or Why I Only Buy US or EU-Made

The Following is a Yelp review that I just posted.  It's on the Theory clothing store (Maiden Ln.) page, but it could just as easily be on Betsey Johnson's page or Elie Tahari's or St. John's or Calvin Klein's or on any/all big name fashion house pages.  (*Please see helpful links at the bottom.)

"Made (Not Just "Designed") In USA" Matters!

"Full Disclosure: My review concerns the quality - or lack thereof - of "Theory" clothing, not the store.  I'm sure the shop is lovely: it's on (high-rent) Maiden Lane.

"Theory" is a fairly pricey, off-the-rack (it's fairly mass-produced) clothing line.  It always has been and remains so.  And, I wouldn't have a problem with that IF the quality of the materials/fabrics and the quality of the workmanship were still... well, Quality.

Please Note: "Theory" clothing used to be manufactured in the United States of America - specifically in New York City!  Theory CEO Andrew Rosin was crowing about this fact in interviews as recently as 2012.

In Case You Missed It: If you remember, not that long ago, most of your favorite clothing lines were manufactured in the USA or somewhere in Europe.  And, there was a standard of quality that buyers could rely upon: predominately natural fabrics/textiles that felt substantial/didn't feel "cheap"; clothes were often lined, any visible stitching was even and unbroken/patterns were lined-up; and the clothes lasted.

Today, if you look at the labels of most - if not all - of your favorite higher-end clothing lines (including Theory), they all say (with rare exceptions) "Made In China".  And, even THAT might not be a problem IF it weren't for the fact that - across the board - the quality of the materials/fabrics and the quality of the workmanship of the clothing produced under these labels have all gone down the toilet!

But, the thing that really pisses me off - and should piss You off, too - is that we're all still paying the kinds of prices we were paying when the clothes were "Made In USA" or "Made In France" or "Made In Italy" and they actually looked and felt like it.  Hell, even mall-store brands were being manufactured on either side of the pond!

As I said, the problem isn't just with Theory - it's virtually all fashion magazine- and runway OTR-level labels (Betsey Johnson, Elie Tahari, St. John, Calvin Klein, etc.. Levi-Strauss from China is abominable.)

The Problem: They're ripping you and I and everyone off:  We're still paying premium prices and they're giving us garbage.  And, we (well... you. I boycott "Made In China"/ only buy "Made in USA" or UK) just keep taking whatever crappy scraps they deign to give us.

Also worth noting: The sea of plastic and "pleather" footwear that has replaced leather uppers and leather-soled shoes/boots is impractical, tragic and environmentally-toxic (now, often promoted as "VEGAN", but at same price point as before).

Many of those clothing labels/companies were making millions of dollars, before.  Now that they've moved manufacturing to China, many are raking in billions of dollars.  And, still, they expect us to keep giving them our hard-earned money for crap-quality clothing?

I - for one - am sick of it.  And, I hope you are, too!

I'm not giving them my money anymore."

"Made In USA" Matters Helpful Links:

1.) THE AMERICAN LIST: A guide to great things still made in the U.S.A.

2.) 35 Fair Trade and Ethical Clothing Companies

Everytime I shop for clothing or accessories in one of those high-end department stores, I find myself becoming more disheartened, disgusted and depressed.

Has Anyone Else Noticed That The Quality/Workmanship Of Many Designer Labels Has Gone Down. 

And, Significantly So?

Yet The Prices Of Their Products Are The Same As When They Were "Made In Italy" Or "Made In France"?

The Designers Get Cheap Labor and Save/Make Millions Of Dollars More In Profits.

While We Get: Ripped Off.

I Hate That.

Whatever Happened To "Getting What You Paid For"?

When I Pay For Quality, I Expect To Get It.

Hello? Designer Clothing/Accessory Manufacturers?

Either Get The Quality/Workmanship Back Up To Par... Or, Lower The Damn Prices!

If Only Consumers Would Boycott Designers Who Rip. Them. Off.

Here's 7 Examples:

7 High-End Brands That Are (Now) 'Made In China'

Betsey Johnson?! I Must've Bumped My Head...

Greetings & Salutations, Beautiful People!

I'm not feeling particularly politically or socially outraged at this moment...It's about 12:45am on Monday... Er, No... Make that Tuesday.

So, in lieu of my usual Blog M.O.... Here's something I hope You (or, at least Some of You) Really Like:

A Spectacular BETSEY JOHNSON Black & White Dress!

It is Brand & New/Unworn. I bought two dresses at a Betsey Johnson store recently... Gd, I must've bumped my head or something... And, now that my mental clarity is returning, I've decided to keep one and sell the other.

It's available on my eBay page. Seller ID is: vintage_u_luv.




Cheers!

Peace.

L.

O.K....

I have a piece "under construction" about Bush Inc., torture and racism...
Heavy stuff.
Important, Yes!
But heavy...

So, after the previous two entries - about Torture Air and Abeer's rapists/murderers' sentencing...

I need something a little on the lighter side... Don't you?

This one's really brief, but funny. And, taaa-daaa!, it's from my personal direct recent experiences...

So...




It was a sublime night in San Francisco...



It had been raining earlier...



I had been waiting impatiently until it was dry enough to get my skate on. (I skate a 87 Caballero - bonite included - so I don't want to get it damp.)



After a while, I decide to make a run to Trader Joe's. Besides, the grab-it-when-you-can SF Muni bus I needed was right there. (Miracle of miracles!)


No, not this bus... but I wanted an interesting Muni photo.

So, I step up to pay my fare... And there's this crazy old man sitting right near the door - in the first seat...


No, not that crazy old man... a different one... one with a walker in front of him. I'd seen him as I skated by an earlier bus stop shelter.


Yeah, something like that

Pertinent side note: I don't dress like most other people. I have my own unique style of dress, one which may change on a moment-to-moment basis. Let me put it this way... When I'm figuring out what to wear on a given morning... my main objective is to not look like I shop at the Gap or Ubercrumbie. On this particular evening, it was cool out.. and a bit damp. I had black bondage pants on, some shirt - not sure which one - and two jackets. The first jacket is one I Love... it looks like something Trinity would wear... made of thin, black latex/pleather, long-sleeved, zips in the front...the top is snug like latex is supposed to be, below the waist is a full length, full skirt - cut open in the front... Over that jacket... my worn in motorcycle leather, with all its patches. It's the perfect combination when it's damp out and there's a chill in the air. Insulating, but not too much, and most important: water-proof... Oh, and it adds a dramatic touch.


I wish! Close enough... but gravity doesn't let me get away with as much as she does.

Back to the story...

So, I get on the bus. I'm putting my money in the contraption by the driver - balancing without holding onto anything - I needed both hands to dig out the money. As the door closes and the bus lumbers onward, in a zig-zagging sort of way... the crazy old man says - innocently enough - "Hello."
Surprised that someone spoke to me... and that I was actually paying attention enough to notice... I respond in kind, "Hello."
Silly me... I thought that would be the beginning, middle and The End of that conversation.
But, No... the old crazy fart had to go on to toss one at me from out in Left Field.

Left Field seats at SBC Park.

Next, he asked me a Really Stupid Question...

WRONG!!

He inquires of me - Matrix latex-wearing, slightly askew me - "Are you wearing a trash bag?"...



First lightning-fast flash though me... right after re-playing the scene over in my head to make sure I heard crazy old man correctly... was a flash of Anger..."What the fcuk did he just say?!"



I was aware that I was at that fraction of a nanosecond moment when you are still in complete control of yourself and you have a brief window of "time" where you can make the conscious choice between choosing A.) Offended, Angry and Getting Your Evil On...



And B.)Pulling all that back. Talking yourself down..."Listen... he's a crazy, old dude...with a walker! His eyesight's probably poor. It's dark out. He's probably never even seen The Matrix! He could have dementia. He could be head injured... so... lighten up. He meant no harm. Besides... there are other people on the bus - who probably never heard the question, but who would notice little, dark, sk8rgrrl me going off on him... Bad form.
So, wratcheted myself down, from that precipice, quickly.
All of this took place in the expanse between his question, it registering with me and my taking a quick breath, and letting it out... microts, as it were.
There should have been a choir of angels singing in the background.
Because, I simply stated, without any animosity, "No, I am not. It's a jacket."




All the aggro was gone...A good thing because once out, it doesn't go back so easily... Whew!

I Should'a listened to my Mother...



Re-reading this... I can laugh at it now... A 'trash bag'... what a comedian!


The End.