Knowing if a garment is going to last more than 2 wash cycles is a whole heap of happy.Knowing how to check a garment you are about to buy (or steal from the bargain rack) will cost you a heap less, make you look a heap better and save the planet a heap as well.Here are a few simple tips that anyone can use to size up a garment in less than a minute. Price: Don't think that price is a guarantee of quality. Many of the most expensive garments are made in the same factories as the cheapest. Thin fabrics: Generally the thinner the fabric, the lower the quality and the higher the likelihood it will fall apart, lose shape and be harder to fix.Thread: Checking that the stitching thread appropriate for the fabric. If it is too thick, it will start to tear the fabric after a couple of wears & washes. Check also the type of stitching is appropriate for the fabric, especially if it is a stretch fabric that needs movement.Buttons & Zippers: Check the 'sign off'. If the thread on buttons and zippers isn't backtracked once finished, buttons will fall off and zippers unravel.Stitch count: Check the stitching. If there are wide gaps between stitches, your garment is more likely to unravel at the seams quickly.Pattern match: One clear indication of time invested in detail and quality in a garment is if the patterns match at the seams.Well made clothes tend to have french, flat felled or bias seams to cover the raw edges of the fabric and reduce the risk of the garment unravelling. Fabric should also be fit for purpose - tougher & thicker fabric for pants, good quality cotton for shirts and t-shirts.
Levi Strauss say that a pair of 501 Jeans uses 3,781 litres of water in it's full life cycle. And a TShirt is surprisingly similar - mostly because it gets washed more often.