Another "Duh!" moment in journalism!

OK - I shouldn't be so cruel.

But I can't help myself.  True confessions:  I love to gloat!

This was just to rich to read through.

 

In case you need some teasing....here are a few choice quotes from the article:

or how about this one.....

Here's another favorite:

Not only would this type of construction not be acceptable for my clients, it sure wouldn't be acceptable for anything I might do for myself.

It's sort of scary to think that American women's  expectation of clothing has declined so significantly that they would settle for such poorly made garments.

The article is well worth reading, because another thing we sewist get in our clothing is well-made garments.

From the Wall Street Journal Fashion Section, click here.

 

 

Comments

[Karin]

Yes, yes, yes! Too right.

[BetsyV]

Most American women cannot afford to shop at Louis, nor can they afford custom made clothing unless they do it themselves. The occasional special garment is one thing; one's entire wardrobe is another.

I think your quotes from the article are actually pretty accurate. Women ARE willing to buy uncomfortable clothes or they wouldn't be generally available; women's fashions ARE trendy and short-lived compared to men's; and it IS important to look at the inside of a garment to assess its quality.

"It's sort of scary to think that American women's expectation of clothing has declined so significantly that they would settle for such poorly made garments." You can say the same about American's expectation of the food they eat. Only a small %age of the population actually knows how to buy food and cook it. When you don't know how to cook, it's difficult to evaluate the quality of what you eat. The same applies to sewing and clothing.

There are, BTW, 2 commenters who mention making their own clothes, one has done so for years and the other is going to dust off her SM in 2011. I find that very positive.

[Rose in SV]

Hi, Claire,

I read and enjoyed the article. It's scary and sad to see what shoppers will settle for (probably because they have few options). In any case, I'm glad that I sew.

I was confused by how they described the seam finishes: "Look for seams that have been carefully rolled and folded before being stitched down or have been "taped," or sewn over with a narrow strip of fabric."

I recognize the second seam finish (the hong kong seam), but I do not recognize the first one ("rolled and folded"). Do you know what they are describing? I wish they had put a photo up...

By the way--thank you for sharing your sewing experiences. I enjoy reading your observations and I learn a lot.

Rose in SV

[CHERYL DESIGNS]

I am a self-employed seamstress. I live in Southeastern Ohio. I would LOVE to have more 'custom work', but most of my income is from alterations to ready-made clothing :) Many of my customers would LOVE to wear custom, high-quality garments. They REFUSE to pay the higher price. They will continue to purchase their poorly manufactured,ill-fitting garments because of the low cost. Americans will continue to REFUSE to admit this fact...When we buy FOREIGN-MADE and LOW-COST items...we aren't giving the entrepreneur in the USA a REASON to bring production BACK to AMERICA. I am not a 'political' person, this is just my opinion as a small~~USA~~business-owner/operator :) PS.. Referring to the article..I consider 'wrinkling/crinkling' of a fabric in my hand a GOOD THING :) That means it has a HIGH cotton content :) I consider 100% cotton very comfortable for wearing :) Yes, maintenance requires effort. The BEST things in our lives ALWAYS require some effort :)

[Jean]

I read this article too a couple of days ago. I've seen many men's suits that are ill-constructed and ill-fitting as well, so it isn't just women's clothing. Most people I know do not sew so they are not really focused on many of the details that would catch our eyes --- they choose a style that looks good in a size that they feel they should be (hence vanity sizing). Many women have never worn custom-made garments and, at least in my generation, were not required to take home economics in school, so many don't know about fabric and garment construction. I think it comes down to education and instilling an appreciation for the skill and quality that a well-made and well-fitting garment represents.