All jeans are not created equal. Even two pair from the same manufacturer and of the same style... can be vastly different. And what I’m about to share with you doesn’t only apply to jeans. A lot goes into determining price for an article of clothing. Not just what it’s made out of, but how it’s made. Was is it made using organic or recycled materials? Was it made using sustainable methods? Was it made using higher quality materials and workmanship?
Let’s use Levi’s for example. They are an American icon, legendary in the world of denim. They have several lines. Among them are Levi’s, Levi’s Made & Crafted, Levi’s Vintage Clothing and Levi’s Authorized Vintage. Each offers something different to the consumer. The Levis’s Made & Crafted, LVC and Authorized Vintage are all higher end, meaning higher quality denims, more stitches per inch and higher quality finishing. What most don’t realize is that you’ll find big differences even within Levi’s own mainline jeans - depending upon where you buy them. There’s a reason a pair of Levi’s 501’s cost $60 to $80+ at a department store and yet only about half that at the big box “club” stores. And that reason is because they are not the “same”.
Same company, same style number but half the price. The same jeans, but with shortcuts. The jeans at the department store are “full quality” while the jeans at the big box club store are made to be sold at the discounter and are not the same quality. It’s not just the finish where corners are cut, but in the denim itself (lower quality) and also in the manufacturing (less stitches per inch. etc.). So while they may appear the same at a glance, the discounter line will not wear or last the same as the department store line.
You don’t need to be a tailor who can identify different types of stitching, anyone can see the differences just by looking. Roll up the cuff a few inches on a pair a jeans and look at the stitching. It’s readily apparent and easy to compare with other brands. This will at least show you the differences in the stitching. Which one uses more stitching per inch? Is the stitching loose or tight? Sloppy? Etc. I’ve included a few sample pics below to illustrate what I’m talking about.
The same rules would apply to any clothing you buy, not just jeans. Everything from T-shirts to sweaters are going to be made to different levels of quality. Look at the stitching and look at the finish. Are they made from natural or man made fabrics? Is the shirt reinforced on the inside at the hem and/or collar? What about collar stays...included? Plastic or metal? Is the collar even designed to accept them? How much attention to detail?
This doesn’t mean that you can’t get amazingly high-quality designer clothing at discounted pricing, you just have to know where, and when, to look. I’ll cover that in another blog post.
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