Seams pretty good: how to know you’re buying quality clothes

Fast fashion caused production and consumption to rise and prices to plummet, leading to a decline in the quality of our clothes.

Despite this, well-made garments do exist, if you know what you’re looking for.

• The initial inspection. Check if the hem and seams are thoroughly sewn down. There should be no raw edges. Examine the stitching. Small stitches are durable. Inspect for flaws or loose threads.
• Check the tags. If you want to wear the garment on a day-to-day basis, steer clear of garments labelled hand wash or dry clean only.
• Check the seams to see if they are bubbling. See if the side seam hangs straight and the fabric isn't off-grain. See that patterns match along the seams.