Just because clothing is expensive doesn’t mean it’s well made, and vice versa. Here’s how you can spot quality items that will last longer than poor-quality ones:
Check the quality of the fabric by holding the item up to the light
The thicker the material, the longer the item will withstand washing. Clothing made from thinner material might snag or fade more easily.
Turn the item of clothing inside out to check the seams and stitching
The quality of the seams and stitching is a telltale sign of whether you have an item of quality clothing or a badly made garment. Check for seams that aren’t straight and for loose strands in the stitching.
Check for synthetic fabric blends
Those labels are not only for washing instructions. Spot a quality item of clothing by looking at the percentage of synthetic versus natural materials. This will determine whether the fabric will feel scratchy against the skin and won’t retain its shape or elasticity for long.
Test the fabric by gently scrunching and pulling it
Bundle up part of the garment in your hand to see whether the fabric remains wrinkled. If the fabric can’t withstand a couple of seconds of being scrunched up in your hand, imagine how it will last after a couple of washes? You can also test whether a garment will retain its shape by gently tugging the fabric. If the material doesn’t ‘bounce back’ to its original state pretty quickly, chances are that this item won’t retain its shape for long.
Check zip, buttons and buttonholes
These elements are telltale signs of how garments were made. Zips should lie flat against the fabric and be covered with a placket (strips on either side of the zip that lie on top of it and hide it). And unless it’s part of the design, stitching should be in the same colour as the fabric. Buttonholes should have tight, neat stitching. Gently tug the buttons to see whether they are properly sewn on, and check for any loose, untidy threads.
When shopping for jackets or coats, check for a back seam
Autumn will be here soon and this means investing in winter clothes that can withstand the test of time. A sign of a quality jacket or coat is definitely a seam that runs down the centre of the back. This seam follows the curve of the back all the way down and ensures that the garment will fit properly and not look boxy.
Check for room at the hems
There should be a bit of fabric beneath the hems, especially if you are tall and need a skirt or a pair of pants to be taken down a couple of centimetres.
PHOTO: iStock/pixelfit
ALSO READ:
- Laundry hacks to cut out your ironing
- 13 clothing hacks to make your life easier
- 5 clothing care myths you should stop believing
