How to identify quality clothing: 8 tips

How to know if a garment is quality

Know if clothing is of good quality does not depend of a single detail or price that marks the label. Many times, what really makes the difference is how it is made, how it responds to the touch and what sensation it conveys when you look at it carefully. A piece can seem pretty at first glance and still not be of sufficient quality.

The good news is that You don't need to be an expert to detect it.. There are very specific signs that help you buy with more discretion and distinguish a garment that only looks good on a hanger from another that really adapts to the body and lasts over time like the first day. Reviewing them takes little time and can save you money in purchases that disappoint after two washes.

Touch the fabric and read the label

touch the fabric It is one of the first checks that should be done if you want to know if a garment is worth it. 

Before even looking at the price, Pay attention to how it feels in your hand: a pleasant touch, a certain consistency, a natural fall and the absence of rigidity or that too plastic effect, these first checks usually give a good clue about the quality of the garment.

It is also worth checking cHow the fabric responds when moved, folded, or lightly wrinkled, because there it is also appreciated if it has a body, yes recover good the shape and if it conveys a careful sensation. It does not decide on its own whether a garment is good, but it does allow you to make a fairly judgmental first assessment before moving on to other details.

Read the composition

After paying attention to the touch, it is advisable to move on to the label and review the composition of the garment to know what materials it incorporates and in what percentage. 

In general, a garment with a good weight of cotton, linen, wool or silk usually transmits more quality than another made entirely with lower quality synthetic fibers such as some polyesters or acrylics. There are also options like viscose or lyocell which can work very well for feel, fit and comfort.

That does not mean that the mixtures with other materials are bad. In some garments, a small percentage of elastane can contribute elasticity, and certain synthetic components can help the piece hold up better to use or maintain shape. The important thing is assess whether that composition makes sense for the garment what you are buying. A fluid dress is not the same as a firmer shirt, nor everyday pants as a blazer.

Therefore, the key is not only to see what materials a garment contains, but also to assess if that composition makes sense for your design, its fall and its use. Know the qualities of each fabric It helps precisely to make that reading with more discretion.

Some of the most recommended fabrics if you are looking for quality clothing are the following:

• Linen: It is a highly recommended option if you are looking freshness, breathability and a natural finish. It works especially well in summer dresses, shirts or pants. 

• Cotton: It is usually a very reliable bet due to its comfort, versatility and ease for everyday life. Fits well in T-shirts, shirts, dresses or casual pants. 

• Viscose: It can be a very good option if you are looking lightness, softness and a nice fall. It usually works very well in flowy blouses, skirts or dresses. 

• Tencel or lyocell: It stands out for its softness, your comfort and his natural fall. It usually fits very well in flowy shirts, dresses or pants who are looking for a polished finish without losing lightness.

• Ramie: It is a less known fabric, but very interesting for its freshness, your lightness and its natural appearance. Works well in clothes for warm weather and has a certain relationship with linen. 

• Lana: It is one of the best options when you are looking shelter, structure and durability. It is very suitable in sweaters, coats, jackets, skirts or pants of mid-season and winter. 

• Silk: It stands out for its softness, its fall and its refined finish. It usually works very well in blouses, dresses or tops where it matters a lot how the fabric moves and how it feels on the skin.

Test the garment against the light

Once its composition has been analyzed, the third step is put the garment in front of a light source and see how the tissue responds. It is a very simple and quite useful check, as long as the appliqués to garments that should have some coverage. It is not the same for chiffon, lace or a fabric designed to be light, but it can give you interesting clues in shirts, pants, skirts or dresses that they would not have why let in so much light.

If when the fabric is held up to the light lets in more light than expected, it may be a sign that you have little body and a weaker structure. In many cases, that translates into a garment that feels less consistent in the hand, falls worse, and feels flimsier. It is not an infallible rule, but it is an indicative sign that should be taken into account.

In general, when a fabric offers good coverage, it also usually gives an impression more solid and stable. Instead, if it looks too light For the type of garment it is, it may give way sooner with use, deform more easily or accuse more wear with the washes.

This little test alone does not decide whether a garment is worth it, but it does help you decide. detect if the fabric transmits resistance and good presence from the first glance.

Check the seams carefully

The seams are another of the indicators clearer for know if a garment is well made. Even if the fabric is nice and the composition seems correct, if the joints between pieces are poorly made, the garment will lose shape sooner, it will fall worse and will resist use less.

Notice that the clothing lines look straight, regular and clean. We seek that the stitches are small and uniform, without tight areas, without tense threads and without visible irregularities.

It is also advisable to make a very simple test: gently stretch the fabric on both sides of a union. If gaps appear, if he thread seems too forced or if the finial opens easily, probably that garment is not so well constructed as it seems.

On the other hand, when the joints are well finishedyes, the garment keeps its shape better, feel better on the body and usually last longer. Stay with this idea: If a seam already fails in the store, it is unlikely to improve with use.

Look inside the garment

To know if a garment is well made, it is not enough to touch it and look at it from the outside, it is also important turn it over and check the inside. You don't need to understand clothing to see it: when a piece is really cared for, the internal finish transmits order, cleanliness and attention to detail.

When reviewing it, look at the edges, in the auctions and in the general feeling. The ideal is to find a clean finish, no loose threads, no areas what is unravel and without that impression that everything is resolved quickly. 

When a garment looks polished on the outside but when you turn it around poor finishes appear or a sloppy finish, usually indicates that the brand has put more effort in the appearance than in construction.

It's also worth it look if it has a lining and, above all, if that lining it makes sense. Not all good clothes need it, but in skirts, dresses or jackets can improve the fall, result more comfortable when wearing it and providing a more careful finish. 

In the end, it is one of the quickest and most revealing checks when purchasing: when the interior is well resolved, the entire garment usually conveys more quality.

Look at the eyelets

other small detail, but very revealing are the eyelets. You just have to look at it closely to detect if the garment is well finished or if the finish has been resolved with less care than it seems.

A good buttonhole has a tight stitching, a clean finish and a regular shape. It should not look loose, warped or have a loose finish around it. When this area is poorly resolved, it usually indicates a more careless construction, even if at first glance the garment appears correct.

The check is quick and worth it. In the end, in clothing as in almost everything, small details usually say a lot.

Check if the prints fit

This advice applies especially to garments with visible stripes, checks or geometric designs. In this type of pieces, a quick look is enough to detect if the finish is well resolved or if less attention has been paid to the cut of the fabric.

When a garment is well made, the lines they usually match on sides, pockets or lapels. For example, on a striped shirt or a checked jacket, the ideal is for the drawing to follow a certain continuity and does not cut off abruptly when changing parts. It is not necessary for everything to fit precisely for the garment to be worth it, but it should be seen as a sign of care.

It is a very visual detail and easy to check. When the pattern fits well, it usually also gives off a more polished and cared-for feel overall.

Look at the hem size

This last tip is one of the least obvious details, but it can also give clues about the preparation. In garments like pants or skirts, a low with some margin usually favors a cleaner fall and, in addition, leaves more options if at any time you need adjust the length.

It is not necessary to take it as definitive proof, but as a complementary sign. In pieces that seek a more polished finish, this finish makes more sense because helps the garment look better finished and have a little more time for repairs.

It's one of those details that go unnoticed until you get used to looking at them. And, many times, you can also see the care with which a garment is made.

The next time you go shopping, put these tips into practice and take a moment to look at the item more closely. Over time, this small gesture will help you buy more confidently and better recognize which pieces are really worth it.