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Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

nytimes.com

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Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#121

Post by [deleted] »

nateweiss wrote: post #117
noodlesUK wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m familiar with Patagonia, but I’ve mostly seen them as an outdoor clothing company, not anything that I’d consider (non SV tech) business casual/smart. Are there any companies that make that sort of stuff that aren’t evil? Like more what you’d find at GAP or a department store, but not made by slave labour.

I personally like American Giant [1] and Flint & Tinder [2]. Neither has as wide a selection as GAP, and are more on the casual side, but have stuff that can work as business casual. The latter is menswear only, so if you're female not so useful. [1] https://www.american-giant.com [2] https://huckberry.com/flint-and-tinder

[deleted]

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#122

Post by jetrink »

Frondo wrote: post #106
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Three sources of very durable clothing are: + Expedition-clothing brands like Fjällräven, whose clothes are meant to serve a person for years trekking in the outdoors. + Specialist shops for clothes for certain professional and industrial careers + Military surplus shops. While none of these are good sources for clothes that will make you look trendy and stylish to impress, they are great options if you just want som…

I don't know if I've just lucked out with my Uniqlo purchases, but I could also recommend them for good-looking basics that last a long, long time. I've had a couple pairs of Uniqlo jeans for several years now, and they don't have any of the wear in the crotch my Levis used to get. When I was buying Levis, I might get two years out of them before the fabric at the crotch thins and eventually rips. The Uniqlo jeans ar…

I think this is true of their men's clothing, but not necessarily their women's. My girlfriend's Uniqlo clothes have not lasted as long as mine and they are visibly more cheaply made. For example, one trip, we bought the same coat at the same price, but where mine used three lines of stitching, hers used only two. Her coat started losing down almost immediately. I just pulled the coat out of the closet to wear again this year, but hers only lasted two seasons.

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#123

Post by journalctl »

furyg3 wrote: post #39
ehnto wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I have been reading, quite a bit. The plastic lint ends up in the water ecosystem pretty quickly compared to other plastics through washing and drying, and they're not obvious being so small. I imagine most people don't think about their plastic fabrics being plastic at all, they really don't feel like plastic. So when you see lint balls or bits of lint floating about the house you don't think to yourself "…

Somehow in most of the apartments I've lived the toilet was always really close to the dryer. So for many many years I would just throw everything from the lint trap into the toilet to be flushed next time I use the restroom. Without thinking about it, it seemed like 'organic' material. Probably most of it was (I tend to use the dryer mostly for towels and bedding, which is mostly cotton). One morning it occurred to…

It’s also really bad for the pipes. There’s a reason why toilet paper falls apart pretty quickly when it gets wet. Generally only waste, water, and toilet paper should go down that drain, unless you want to make some plumber very happy.

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#124

Post by journalctl »

bloak wrote: post #40
coldtea wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've been trying to get 100% natural materials (cotton, wool, leather) and they seem more comfortable, less stuffy (especially for sleeping) but that might be a placebo. Natural materials are obviously more comfortable, more breathable, hypoallergenic, etc. These fabrics are literally the product of millions of years of evolution for putting on top of an animal's skin, and work well with its physiology.

Lots of people are allergic to wool. Perhaps as much as a quarter to a half of the population will have a mild allergic reaction if they have ordinary coarse wool rubbing against their skin for a long time, like wearing a woollen collar or scarf while trudging through the snow all day. Some people can recognise whether fabric contains wool just by touching it with their fingertips: an immediate itching sensation. So…

Looks like it’s closer to 6% [1]. A lot of people self-diagnose wool allergies, but they really just get crappy wool, or they mistake itchiness caused by the coarseness of the material for an allergy. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it’s unfair to call it an allergy.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23665833/

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#126

Post by prolepunk »

noodlesUK wrote: post #60

I’ve seen a lot of people going on about fast fashion recently. I’m aware of lots of shops that are considered fast fashion, but which ones aren’t ? Where should I be going to buy more durable clothes that are made of nicer materials? I’m genuinely curious. I’d like to change my buying patterns (I’m really not that fashion conscious, so long as I can have some nice button ups and trousers I’ll be happy).

Costco.

Wait hear me out. I haven't tried jackets or outwear they sell, but they always stock up of decent quality underwear, t-shirts and jeans. Their Levi's last me about 4 years.

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#127

Post by epicide »

Robelius wrote: post #82
atoav wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My girlfriend worked as a weaving technician and she said the H&M stuff got much worse over the past decade and subjectively it is true. The stuff literally disintegrates if you have it in the drier to often. Sadly enough this is also true for the men’s wear. I certainly try to spend a little more and get quality stuff. Second hand stores can also be great because you can find great quality stuff that feels better af…

I have similar experiences with H&M, and a lot of other cheap basically colored shirts. It’ll feel great at first. Then I’ll leave it in the dryer for a few minutes too long, and the fit completely changes while the material looks degraded. I’m more than happy to spend $30+ on a simple shirt that won’t change its fit after a few cleanings, but struggle to find a consistent brand. If anyone has recommendations, please…

I actually really like Goodfellow & Co. (Target's clothing brand).

The men's clothing are on the cheaper side but still feel like decent materials. I mostly just have t-shirts and a few polos. The t-shirts have lasted at least a couple years so far and have gone through many washes.

Most of the styles are nothing to write home about, but if you just want a simple shirt that looks decent and doesn't fall apart, I've had good luck. I think it might be US-only being that it's Target?

For pants, I've put a couple pairs of Lucky Brand jeans through hell and back and they barely show any wear. I'm sure there are more durable ones out there, but these are by far my favorites.

For jackets, it's either Goodfellow & Co. again or a couple of Polo Ralph Lauren zippered jackets that I got for a good deal secondhand. They are soft and feel like they'll last a good while.

This whole comment feels like an ad, but you did ask for brand recommendations. I'm sure someone will tell me how H&M or F21 either owns all of these or use the same factories. I've at least had good luck with them.

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#128

Post by appkate »

jesterson wrote: post #47
atoav wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My girlfriend worked as a weaving technician and she said the H&M stuff got much worse over the past decade and subjectively it is true. The stuff literally disintegrates if you have it in the drier to often. Sadly enough this is also true for the men’s wear. I certainly try to spend a little more and get quality stuff. Second hand stores can also be great because you can find great quality stuff that feels better af…

I personally can see how H&M quality went down in last 10 years. Around 10 years ago it was decent quality for reasonable price, not it's just things I'd avoid even touching.

Same experience. Never buy anything from H&M again.

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#129

Post by atoav »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #77
atoav wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My girlfriend worked as a weaving technician and she said the H&M stuff got much worse over the past decade and subjectively it is true. The stuff literally disintegrates if you have it in the drier to often. Sadly enough this is also true for the men’s wear. I certainly try to spend a little more and get quality stuff. Second hand stores can also be great because you can find great quality stuff that feels better af…

> The stuff literally disintegrates if you have it in the drier to often. Sadly enough this is also true for the men’s wear. H&M stuff for me never tears or gets holes. Mine just stretches in places where it shouldn't stretch (eg. T-shirt sleeves - how the hell do those stretch?! I don't have steroid-monster arms. I have a <1 year old t-shirt where I can put my whole head through the sleeve (usually by accident), and…

Depends on the time scale. H&M shirts I have are extremely thinned out over the years compared to other shirts I have since more than a decade. I cannot eliminate the possibility that the quality varies with the area where they sell it (I am in Europe).

Re: Forever 21, Which Helped Popularize Fast Fashion, to File for Bankruptcy

#130

Post by mikestew »

donkeyd wrote: post #54
fiachamp wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dated a top F21 buyer for a few years and I can say that: 1) Prototype to street was way more than 3 weeks. More like 3 months (still faster than most fashion which makes buys 6 months ahead). Zara is the main large retailer that is actually about 1 month from concept to store. 2) The quality of their men's wear was pretty good for the price. 3) They worked their corporate employees to the bone and paid them 60-70% a…

> Prototype to street was way more than 3 weeks. More like 3 months (still faster than most fashion which makes buys 6 months ahead). Those are different things, right? From what I understand, Apple works on a phone for about 3 years, but they cycle every year. You can have multiple 'prototype to street' cycles running that deliver a new collection every 3 weeks. I'm not sure that's how it works in fast fashion, but…

My understanding of the difference is that Apple doesn't have "Phone Fashion Week" defining what their phones should look like this year. They get to make that decision on their own. As opposed to someplace like Forever 21, where Fashion Week comes and says, "ready...go!" and now they have to go make clothing.

The caveat is that this is just what I read. I wear 501s and a non-print shirt (yes, sadly, it's sometimes black) to the office every day, what do I know?

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