What is quality clothing? The author believes that ” whether or not time is on one’s side ” is the key that separates the good from the bad. Rather than clothes that are worn only a few times and end up in the fodder of the wardrobe, clothes that can be worn for many years without getting tired of them, while enjoying the changes they undergo over time, will make you glad you bought them. However, ” whether or not time is on one’s side ” is something that can only be determined after several years of wear, and it is difficult to spot it at a glance in a store. To avoid inferior clothing, a certain degree of “connoisseurship” is necessary. In this issue, under the theme of “5 NG ways of buying quality clothes that keep you away from quality clothes,” we will introduce the knowledge necessary for adult men to be able to choose quality clothes, while organizing it.
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Buying ways that keep you away from quality clothes 1Decide on price alone
Expensive does not equal high quality. Advertising costs and distribution structure can ride on the price. It is important to choose clothes that most uplift one’s own feelings based on an overall evaluation of materials, sewing, comfort, and other factors. If you want to improve your discernment of materials, we recommend that you check out luxury brands and other products such as ” MARKAWARE,” ” Cornier,” and ” GENTLEMAN PROJECTS,” which carry detailed material specifications, to get a feel for high quality materials. It is also a good idea to check ” Everlane,” which publishes the cost of all products manufactured and sold by the company, to get an idea of the approximate cost of clothing.
How to buy quality clothes away 2Blind trust in brand names
There are quality differences even within the same brand. Please check the country of manufacture, factory, and even the model number, and be aware of judging quality by the actual product. Also, some famous brands sell licensed products, which are “products that are not directly made by the brand, but are allowed to use the brand name. What we want to convey here is not that licensed products are inferior goods, but rather that you should choose clothes with an understanding of the different roles played by each line.
Licensed products are not inferior. In fact, in many cases, such as sunglasses and perfumes, specialized makers take advantage of their specialties to produce them. In most cases, however, licensed products play the role of “gateway” to the brand’s worldview and allow consumers to interact with the brand on a daily basis.
The core of the brand’s history and craftsmanship resides in the products of the major brand. Therefore, it is a bit different to show off licensed products on the same level as the main product. The style of an adult is to understand the differences and use them lightly. I believe it is a smart attitude to enjoy licensed products as “side dishes that add a world view to your daily life,” while respecting the soul of the brand.
3 ways to buy quality clothes away from homeDecide immediately based on trends and social networking
Designs that focus on appearance will be short-lived and out of style by the next season. Do not make a quick decision just because “it’s a hot topic on SNS” or “it’s a trendy design.” Imagine yourself wearing it five years from now, and give priority to the consistency of your own style. On the other hand, it is also important to have the spirit of “fashionable fashion. There is no need to reject trends completely, but rather choose ideal clothes based on whether or not they will fit naturally into your wardrobe. By doing so, you can build a style that is timeless and sophisticated, rather than being a mere “consumer of fads.
Photo: Hideki Yoshihara/Afro
How to Buy Quality Clothes Away 4Size Compromise by Omitting Try-Ons
The cost of choosing clothes that are not the right size is high. Even if the materials and sewing are good, if the shoulders and sleeve lengths are not correct, the clothes will look ” borrowed. If you are aiming for a “daring look” like Thom Browne’s suit style that is shorter than the appropriate size, that is a different story, but the basic rule for adult men is to avoid clothes that look too big or too tight. Instead of making a selection based on a “medium size, so it will fit me,” men should make it a habit to always try on clothes at a physical store or check the size measurements of each brand at a mail-order store.
How to buy quality clothes away from 5Believe the tag labeling
Even if words such as “cashmere” or “made in Italy,” which have a strong image of quality clothes, are displayed on the tag, it is dangerous to judge them as quality clothes based on those words alone. For example, cashmere varies in rank at the raw material stage, and the feel and texture vary depending on how it is spun (the process of turning it into yarn) and woven into fabric. Even for Italian-made clothes, it is not uncommon to find the back of a garment to be poorly finished, with the emphasis on appearance only. It is important to make a final check using your sense of touch and vision.
If the garment is to be used for a long period of time, it is also important to check that the garment is durable enough to withstand washing. Many reputable brands use a sponging process, in which steam and heat are used to eliminate distortion, stretch, and shrinkage of the fabric before sewing, in order to minimize shrinkage of the fabric due to laundering. In many cases, such innovations are not indicated on the tag, so it is necessary to ask directly from the producer or staff, or go and get the information by yourself. We hope that you will consider the information on the tag as only one of the factors for judgment, and select quality clothes after checking from multiple perspectives.
The time will come when “good shopping” will form a style not only for you but also for society!
Since the documentary ‘ The True Cost: The True Cost of Fast Fashion’ was released in 2015, interest in ethical and fair trade has grown even more in the fashion industry. I feel that it is becoming a part of modern style formation that we should not simply rely on brand names and place of origin labels, but also look for transparency in material procurement and whether the craftsman’s skills have been duly compensated.
Even for items that claim to be luxurious, it is important to keep in mind the question of ” who made it, where it was made, and how it was made ” as much as possible. In an age when information on production backgrounds can be obtained with just a little research, ZEGNA will make cashmere and linen fully traceable from 2024, and PRADA has introduced jewelry made from recycled nylon derived from waste and 100% recycled gold. Meanwhile, it was reported that in July 2025, Loro Piana will be placed under judicial supervision for one year by a Milan court for overlooking the exploitation of migrant workers by its subcontractors. Similar interventions have occurred in recent years, with Valentino, Dior, and others also under judicial supervision for their working conditions.
The meaning of consumer behavior is very different between buying without knowing and choosing with an understanding of the background. The act of choosing truly fine clothing is not only a mirror of one’s own aesthetic sense, but also an expression of one’s attitude toward society and the environment.
