Some of the clothes from my childhood are still in good condition. They weren’t expensive, but they were well-made. They didn’t loosen, fade, or tear easily. They were made to last.
I can’t say the same about the clothes I buy today.
These days, buying clothes feels frustrating. After a few washes, they’re no longer the same. Some change colour, some grow or shrink, and others turn into cleaning rags. If you’re lucky, you buy a regular fit t-shirt and, after a few washes, it magically transforms into a trendy oversized one.
At first, I thought the problem was me.
I tried changing brands. It didn’t help. I spent a little more than my budget. Still no real difference.
Eventually, I realised something uncomfortable: many clothes today are made to fail — just like a lot of other things we buy.
Earlier, most of my buying decisions were based on how clothes looked on me. I rarely thought about how long they would last. Now, durability is the first thing I care about. And on the rare occasion when something doesn’t fall apart easily, I feel an odd sense of joy.
As consumers, if we keep buying disposable products, companies will keep making them. Fragility has become normal because we’ve accepted it.
What’s the point of spending time and energy choosing clothes that won’t survive a few wears? Don’t we have better things to do than constantly replacing our wardrobes?
If we want companies to care about quality again, we have to care first.