According to the fashion designer, when shopping, you should definitely take a look at the label, and in online shops also at the description: “Terms such as cotton mix or linen mix often mean that a synthetic material such as polyester is mixed in with the natural fiber. These material mixtures are cheaper, but also represent inferior quality.”
As a designer, the feel of a fabric is particularly important to Marketa Schroll: “High-quality and natural fabrics feel better on the skin and also fall more beautifully.” She recommends rubbing the fabric on your neck to see if it feels smooth and soft or itchy and rough.
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3. Expensive does not mean better
Even if we believe that expensive labels are always worth their price and offer high quality, this is not always the case, says Marketa Schroll. “Are you paying for the brand’s image and philosophy, or the true cost of production?” she asks. Nevertheless, the designer has made the experience that well-known designer brands attach great importance to perfect fits and control the comfort and quality of workmanship more than mass production lines. Important to know: “There are also differences in quality within a brand, so it is important to pay attention to the interaction of processing, country of production, material and fit to find out whether a price is justified.”
4. Only buy clothes that fit really well
The fit is the magic word. Not only for your own well-being and the long-lasting enjoyment of a piece of clothing (we all know how annoying it is when we have to pull on our jeans and straighten our blouse), but also in terms of quality. Because a sophisticated and flattering fit equates to effort and dedication during the design process.
Brands that have to launch a large number of new collections in a very short time simply do not have the time to produce a really well thought-out cut. “In the end, you get more out of it if you spend more time looking for the perfect individual fit,” says the expert. “My credo is: It’s better to have really great jeans, which can sometimes cost more, than three pairs of pants that don’t make you happy.”
5. Where something is made – the “made in” myth
While it might have been true 20 years ago that a “Made in Italy” label indicated a high level of craftsmanship and quality, that is not necessarily the case today. Knowledge and experience vary greatly between factories and countries – and so there are now advanced technologies and skilled workers in China and other parts of the Global South.
But there is more to consider, such as environmental protection and labor law. Also, the “Made in” info doesn’t always indicate where the piece was made from start to finish. For example, manufacturers are allowed to declare their products “Made in Portugal”, even if only part of the production – such as sewing on the buttons – takes place in Europe. Sustainable brands now disclose their production facilities on their websites, while many of the major fashion players find it more difficult to obtain information. Thorough research can at least give an impression of the conditions under which a piece of clothing was produced.