Vintage Clothing

[floridaorange]

Is this clothing fad ever going away? And why doesn’t it make any sense to me? Anyone here into it care to explain?

[spazzyfry123]

I’m not sure I follow? Like people wearing old, used clothes from Goodwill? Collectors?

[Watching The World Burn]

I'm into it. In the sense that I still have T-shirts I bought well over 20 years ago that are still functional so I still wear them.

But I'm only a part of the vintage clothing bit by happenstance. Never would go to buy old clothes.

[M_Six]

I have a pair of faded, ratty looking jeans. I usually won't wear them when we go out to eat or when we travel. Wifey keeps telling me people pay big bucks for that look.

[mattanderson]

Real fabrics (cotton, wool) vs. synthetic + made in USA are the crux of the appeal for me.

If you're just talking about thrashed band T's going for $500, then I'm kinda with you.

Worn-in denim has always been cool.

[avantegardestyle]

the whole "vintage" thing is complicated. some good, some rubbish


In times gone buy, buying vintage was a way to find and purchase (not so expensive) interesting clothing that had decent quality. It was a fun thing to do and was for people who were genuinely interested in unique and interesting clothing.

Our society has gotten to be such a mess, that the powers that be, convinced the masses that its not virtuous to buy NEW CLOTHING (something erm...yes, overconsumption) and buying vintage was virtuous because you were saving clothing that was pre-loved from going into landfills.

My problem was when vintage clothing became "professionalized" meaning big companies started to sell it, some alongside new clothing, they duped the consumer into purchasing by attaching virtue signaling to it.

there is a bigger problem at stake, and I don't know how it will be resolved.
People are not making enough disposable income, to purchase new, high-quality clothing at full retail. Personally, i think designer clothing should be 30 - 40% cheaper and there should be less sales and deep discounts, but that's another discussion altogether.
the lack of disposable income (partly because the cost of real estate is too high) makes secondhand clothing attractive, but it masks the bigger problem of cost of living, especially in major US cities is too high and it starts with home prices and rent as the biggest culprit.

[mattanderson]

I think that explains part of the socioeconomic landscape, but I'd argue that "disposable" culture has a lot to do with it, as well. They just don't make 'em like they used to, if you will. Folks used to own fewer, higher quality things, and keep them for longer.

Even if I had $1500 disposable income to burn on an RRL sweater, a new one costs $1500 yet is made in China, whereas "vintage" ones would be made in USA.

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by mattanderson

I think that explains part of the socioeconomic landscape, but I'd argue that "disposable" culture has a lot to do with it, as well. They just don't make 'em like they used to, if you will. Folks used to own fewer, higher quality things, and keep them for longer.

Even if I had $1500 disposable income to burn on an RRL sweater, a new one costs $1500 yet is made in China, whereas "vintage" ones would be made in USA.

of course disposable culture has a lot to do with it, but how did disposable culture come about?

Disposable culture came about because it became too expensive to make things in America and product were outsourced where human capital and labor could be exploited to make "cheap" goods

The focus became more about "looks" and aesthetics rather than quality. as time passed, people were convinced to own more stuff than they needed because it was cheap to own. Now customers don't know what quality is, and some would argue that "quality is subjective"............i guess its a feature of post modernism that people ascribe their own meaning to things, rather than there being a clear criteria independent of the individual's judgement.

Capitalism has peaked and globalism has come full circle, made in China is not cheap anymore, but made in America can bring prices to absurd levels.

one of the downside of vintage is the stagnation of innovation and that needs to be thought about and discussed too

[mattanderson]

Interesting thoughts and I agree.

Perhaps my only difference of opinion is that I don't see vintage clothing as "virtue signaling" -- I can't imagine anyone knowing or caring if my faded Type III is vintage or not.

To me, rejecting "fast fashion" for something objectively higher quality and more sustainable is genuinely virtuous, for lack of a better term.

[floridaorange]

Seems to be a massive move toward 90’s hats, jackets, jeans and shoes lately - some are made new to look old, as mentioned already - particularly shoes. I guess I wore some stuff like that in my 20’s. Come to think of it. It’s like dressing ironically just to throw the older generation off.

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by mattanderson

Interesting thoughts and I agree.

Perhaps my only difference of opinion is that I don't see vintage clothing as "virtue signaling" -- I can't imagine anyone knowing or caring if my faded Type III is vintage or not.

To me, rejecting "fast fashion" for something objectively higher quality and more sustainable is genuinely virtuous, for lack of a better term.

not everywhere but for a lot of people it is
the argument being that (a) buying new is overconsumption and the world doesnt really need new clothing
(b) preloved and especially "upcycling" is "ethical" and "sustainable" two words that are carelessly and deceitfully used at time to do exactly that.............virtue signal.

People also use fast fashion ignorantly
for example, while Zara functions in the manner of a fast fashion company, it is one of the most efficiently organized and vertically integrated company in the world. less wasteful than a lot of big brands like say Burberry or Chanel who actually burn clothing so as to not put it on sale.........

I do agree that fast fashion is a problem, but there is also some good to it.
Disclaimer, I work in fashion, but I was born in A "DEVELOPING" COUNTRY and saw some of the good, fast fashion companies did, albeit indirectly at times