Ever thought that spending more on clothes means they’ll last longer?
A new study by the School of Design suggests that the price tag doesn’t always determine the durability of clothing.
This research was part of a project by environmental charity Hubbub and clothing giant Primark, aimed at figuring out if more expensive clothes are truly more durable.
Durability refers to how long clothes can last through normal wear and tear without needing a lot of repair or upkeep.
In one of the biggest studies of its kind, the team tested a variety of clothes from different brands at different price points.
They wanted to understand if there’s a relationship between price and durability. And guess what? They found out that the price tag doesn’t indicate how long your clothes will last.
Dr. Mark Sumner, who supervised the research, explained that how long clothes last depends on several factors. It’s about the types of materials and fabrics used, how the clothes are made, and how we wash and care for our clothes.
The study revealed that both expensive and less expensive clothes could range from being super durable to very fragile. It showed that price doesn’t predict which clothes will last longer and that value for money can greatly vary across different clothing prices.
Moving forward, the team plans to help people extend the life of their clothes. This includes exploring how we feel about taking care of our clothes and finding easy steps we can all take to make our clothes last longer.
The research was done by independently testing 65 items of clothing, ranging in price from under £5 to around £150. They tested items like denim jeans, hoodies, and t-shirts from a range of brands. Each item went through repeated washes and visual assessments, along with specific technical tests, under lab conditions.
Some cool findings include:
A women’s t-shirt priced under £10 outlasted one priced at around £40.
Women’s hoodies priced between £11—£20 ranked higher on durability than those priced at about £50 and £100.
There was barely any difference in durability between a pair of women’s jeans priced at around £15 and one that was more than ten times the price.
A men’s t-shirt costing under £5 was the second most durable item out of 17 tested, beating one that was ten times its price.
The only item where a higher price seemed to equal better durability was men’s hoodies.
This study has reminded us that no matter what the price tag says, all clothes should be cared for properly to make them last as long as possible.
So next time you’re shopping, remember that a higher price doesn’t always mean better quality!
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