How to Identify High Quality vs. Poor Quality Clothing | Slow Fashion

Thank you for your input! May I ask what is the name of the class you took on Skillshare? Thank you!

Thank you for these great tips Alyssa. When I recently learned about all the cons of polyester, I was shocked to see how many of my items were made out of it. Now a days, I am opting for more natural fibers and checking labels before purchasing.

You covered it all.....love watching your videos every Sunday....

🌷Thank you for this very important and interesting information. I appreciate all the tips and also the tips from the viewers... now to find the garments with these qualities... ❤️

That synthetic vs natural fabrics topic is such a complex one. I also prefer natural but I guess the main message really is no matter what you buy, buy it with the intention of having it for a very long time and care for it accordingly. Another great video.

My grandmother knitted and embroidered and sewed so this is music to my ears. I too miss the darts in the breast area. I wish I had taken up the skill. I still have a wool sweater that she made that she gave me when I was 12. It still fits and goes into the washer and dryer and has never shrunk or changed shape. It's a classic natural color with a popcorn stitch. It's priceless.

I agree with you about the feel. If it doesn't feel nice against my skin, then I don't buy it.

I agree with you about the feel. If it doesn't feel nice against my skin, then I don't buy it.

Brilliant, Alyssa!! These are the reasons why I love to grab vintage pieces from thrift stores (we call them op shops in Australia). I like natural fibres and I look at the label for material composition, look inside the garment at the construction. I agree wholeheartedly that those items made 20 plus years' ago are of superior quality than those made today. I rarely buy anything new anymore as the workmanship just "ain't what it used to be". The vintage items have already stood the test of time.

I was in need of a black linen short sleeved button up top. I was waffling between Everlane (lower cost) and your recommendation of Power of My People brand. This was before the controversies about Everlane came to light, btw. I am so glad I went with your recommendation. As a Canadian, it was great to shop from a made in Canada brand. Secondly, when it arrived, it was immediately apparent that this was a high quality garment. The cut and the seams were done "right." The quality of Everlane has fallen off from where it once was. I think they got too big too fast and have not been able to adequately maintain quality control. Also, I find almost everything they make is too cropped now. I guess that is to accommodate the trend towards pants being high-waisted, but that doesn't work for me as most of my jeans/trousers are not actually high-waisted. Anyhow, all this is to say, I am super pleased with Power of My People. Yes, it is a higher cost but because it is cut and sewn well, it will be in my closet long term.

Thanks for another great video. I wish you had discussed the third category of fabrics: those man-made from plant fibers. They are not completely “natural” because they undergo some processing, nor are they synthetic (made from petrochemicals). They include Rayon, Viscose, Bamboo and Lyocell, among many others. The plant fibers come from a variety of “bast” fiber-producing plants, and have differing degrees of processing (the man-made element). While I prefer silk, cotton and linen, the man-mades generally have the same qualities of breathability (rayon is the most breathable of any fabric), soft hand/drape, machine washability sometimes dryability, and the ability to withstand vigorous stain-removal techniques (unlike silk), etc. They do vary in quality, but most are lovely, hardwearing, wrinkle-resistant and inexpensive (Woven rayon/viscose can sometimes shrink, go limp (Magic Sizing is the cure for that), and can be difficult to hem/sew because of its tendency to unravel, but it’s no worse than woven cotton or silk. Probably the biggest advantages are the lower cost and the huge variety of styles that come in man-made fibers; the selection of garments in silk is extremely limited, and usually to darker colors, and quality cotton is getting more and more expensive. My favorite man-made is rayon knit/jersey with a few percent Spandex/elastane, which barely ever wrinkles, and is super-cool and breathable for summer dresses, tops, cardigans, joggers, etc. It is the very best fabric for packing and traveling, cotton shirts are a nightmare for looking fresh while traveling (linen jersey is nice for traveling also). My very first favorite fabric is silk jersey, followed by rayon jersey. Lyocell also has a very minimal environmental impact, is the highest quality if the man-mades, is beautiful, but can be expensive.

New topic, new comment, from my seamstress/quality connoisseur background. On the subject of seam finishes, a covered seam is best in most cases, but the flat seam with separately overlocked edges (like you showed) is a high-quality finish that is more appropriate than a covered seam in many applications, especially in the long seams on pants or trousers. These need to be ironed side-seams together, and other seam finishes create excessive bulk or puckering. The worst finish is the minimal, both edges overlocked together seam that is used on cheap jeans and other pants - it is impossible to get them flat enough to do a good job ironing them. The very worst seam finish is where the edges are covered with that clear plastic trim, these can’t be ironed, or sometimes even machine-dried, are are really irritating on skin. For Part 2, when you address knits (sweaters), the single best quality indicator is the fully-fashioned, or knitted, seam. It surprises me how many people have never heard of full-fashioning (but I am older, women in my youth knew about it), and buy loose-knit sweaters that have the parts cut and stitched together, especially at the shoulder/sleeve seam; these are guaranteed to quickly unravel and are very unlikely to be (successfully) machine-washable.

A much needed subject 👌🏻

Thank you for the comparisons.

Excellent video, Alyssa! I'd love more like this.

So interesting, as usual 😊👌

Invisible zippers! OMG, I hate the trend of zippers that lay on TOP of the fabric. It looks like it is inside out! Great video!!!

💖💖💖👍

I'm glad I ran across this channel. New subbie.

Im so happy this popped up on my timeline.

Nerd out!? Where? I love this.

I enjoy this video but more video like this help you shop wise 🎯🎯🎯🎯👀👗🧥🧵👖👕👚🥼👒🧦🛍🛍🛍🛍🎁🎁🎁

This was very informative and fascinating! I used to wonder why synthetic fabrics from forever21 would shrink after one wash no matter what! Its all about the quality and stitching. Please do more videos like this!

My French Canadian grandmother was a seamstress and hat maker who made all my mother’s clothes before she got married at age 27 and left Canada for New York.. My mother always stressed the importance of excellent quality workmanship. I have a 100% white linen shirt I both 20 years ago in Florida from a store called Petite Sophisticate... It is still in 100% perfect shape - no holes, no threading issues... I wear it as a cover up at the pool, breakfast outside, etc,

Very enjoyable and practical

btw, people in the comments WOW, you have the best audience, I'm learning so much reading about everyone's experience, how their family members were tailors or seamstresses and what they look for in a garment. Thanks to everyone <3

I am a textile specialist, and what you say in this video is soo applicable and true.! But, my personal viewpoint is that regenerated materials would surpass the 100% natural materials in the near future (It kinda already has). Natural fibres are comfortable, definitely. But the extreme lengths that we take to harvest natural fibres, especially in fast fashion industry, is so not good from a sustainable point of view. But in fact, synthetics are uncomfortable definitely, and the pollution is high when synthetics are used. Regenerated fabrics and yarns are degradable to some extent, and we can achieve the same comfort as in natural fabrics.

Hello Alyssa, (for nearly a year now) I am in the market for a maxi flowery summer dress. Your blue shirt dress caught my eye. Mind sharing where you got it from? Thanks

Great information! Thank you
I hate when clothes fall apart after a few years

My mother worked at a garment factory and she made most of my dresses when I was a child! She teaches me how to check the details of the clothes every time we go shopping and it's really useful. Hopefully one day I will have time to sit down and learn to sew from her.

Love this post about the pants comparison, Alyssa. I did not know about the back darts. That makes a big difference in fit.

I do not know if it was a misunderstanding, but it takes waaay less water to produce polyester than cotton.
Plus Acetate is not artificial, it is the best lining. It is made out of Cellulose, like viscose.

I won't buy acrylic. Had a college professor tell us how cheap this fabric is. Heading her advice 40 years later. It doesn't hold shape.

Excellent video! Thank you!

Back buttons on garments that have stress. Prevents the thread from pulling through the garment.

Problem with most natural fabric, I think, is that it needs to be ironed. Like linen: I only have to look at it and it has wrinkles :-( How do you solve that problem, Alyssa?

I’m new to buying quality items. Can you suggest any brands or stores that generally carry better quality items? I know every item will be the best quality but I live in an area without quality shops and have no idea where to start...especially during this pandemic where I can’t shop in person anywhere. Thanks!!

Just caught up on this one- loved it! More of these 'what to look for'!

It is very hard to find good, well made clothing and fabrics ordering things unseen online. One has to try things on in the store and really inspect them. I guess that is where knowing good labels and sizing comes in. Everything is made in Vietnam these days. Not to disparage those beautiful people, but they are not told to take their time with seems and such.

Think natural fibers!!! Seams and textures!!!!

I love the nerd out! SUPER helpful!

Excellent tips thank you

I'm an avid sewing and knitting enthusiast, I learned from my mother, and my great grandmother was an acclaimed tailoress. The best indicator of garment quality, particularly with knit fabrics, is determining the grain lines. If you look very closely at a knit fabric such as jersey or t-shirt material, you will be able to see vertical lines where each knit stitch lines up. On the reverse side they will appear as horizontal lines. They should run exactly vertical top to bottom or side to side with no diagonal tilt. It's really important to cut your garments exactly parallel (or perpendicular) to these grain lines to ensure the garment hangs properly, but manufacturers will try to play tetris with the pattern pieces. If they can save 2cm in length of each sort by slightly tilting a piece it will save them a lot of money over the entire manufacturing run, but you'll get a garment with side seams that twist on the wash. If the grain lines are out I take it as a sign that the manufacturer is cutting corners on quality and will not purchase

Found your channel today & I love it.

I just want to add the conventional cotton is one of the crops (all cathegories) that are the most treated with pesticides and insteicides and millions of people die each year from working on cotton fields or living near one. Please try to use only organic cotton!

If a pair of jeans has "fashion rips" or is distressed, I will not buy it.

This was so helpful! I shop almost all second hand for clothing.

I know this is an older video. However, I was curious if you have an alternative to rayon fabric? I have eliminated polyster and nylon from my wardrobe, but still can't seem to give up rayon fabrics, I find them great for hot weather.

I just found your channel ❤