Thread: Quality control on clothes

Originally Posted by BMKal

Sometimes their "quality control" can work in your favour.

A while back, I bought a nice looking windcheater down in Perth. Now, I would normally be a good fit into an "XL" or sometimes even a "2XL" (loose fitting, for comfort).

But the one that caught my eye was a perfect fit, and when I checked the label, it stated "Small" - so I bought it. When I got it home, SWMBO reckoned I had changed the label - some people are just never happy to believe what the evidence it telling them.

Wait till you put it through the washing machine ....

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I guess if you're being paid $1 a day or whatever to make clothes in a Bangladesh slum factory or a Chinese prison then you might find it hard to pay attention long enough to sew the right labels on jeans.
Of course, we could just pay a fair price and get them made right here in Australia by Australian workers who would then spend their wages in Australian shops and so the money would go around and we would all be better off.

Great in theory Mick, we used to do that. Then the manufacturers moved offshore, chasing the slave wages and lack of WH & S, but didn't drop the prices.

Originally Posted by 87County

Wait till you put it through the washing machine ....

Done that, a number of times now. Still fits.

Speaking of overseas versus local quality, About a year ago I bought a pair of work shoes locally made in Sydney. The brand is "Mongrel Boots" and I am very happy with them, good fit and very comfortable. This was after buying cheap overseas work shoes and having the soles crack through after only three months wear. The "Mongrels" brand have a double leather toe cap which adds extra protection. Yep, I paid more for them but it's been worth it.

Yep - I have a pair of Mongrel boots as well. Have had them for a couple of years now. Bloody good quality and comfortable.

Another good Aussie brand is "Fuglies" sunglasses in Queensland. Good quality products, a bit different from what you can get at the local sunglasses shops or the optometrists - and they will make them with your prescription lenses.

Ya get what,s you pay for , I will not by china anything unless it is not available au made , which is getting bloody hard these days . I stoped buying Mentos mints as they are now made in China .
I often wonder where our grandkids are going to get jobs .

I had a pair of 'Oliver' brand high-side lace-up boots. Most comfortable I've ever had. But, the "urethane" sole started to break down, and eventually the black bottom- layer would adhere to a smooth floor as I walked...and they cracked and crumbled through.

Fast forward to recent times, and TWO pairs of 'Rivers' brand shoes have died in similar fashion. - Had them both re-soled by a REAL boot-maker, as they were incredibly comfortable and virtually un-worn.

Seems it all has to do with the quality of the sole material, it can have a shrt life and how it's stored accelerates the chemical breakdown. - Not in enclosed space.
The Bootmaker showed me some soles that had died... before being sold ! (Pun not intended...)

It's not brand-specific, but country of origin was a common thread...

Start here...

http://www.mongrelboots.com.au/retailers.php

http://www.mongrelboots.com.au/about.php

We were told by a local manufacturer, whom we have engaged to make our line, that clothing brands are beginning to come home to manufacture because they can't get the quality over seas.