Nine Ways to Spot High Quality Clothes

Ever since Eve convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, a problem arose – the need to wear clothes. While the initial plan was to hide...

Ever since Eve convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, a problem arose – the need to wear clothes. While the initial plan was to hide nakedness, times have changed. Currently, every man is looking to stand out from the crowd. While most men are attracted to donning three-piece suits, watches, and denim shirts and shorts, 2019 has come with its fine share of new styles that will probably blow men’s minds. From African print cardigans, Cuban collars, French collar shirts, messenger bags, to matching denim designs, men's fashion has a lot to say. Nonetheless, picking a high-quality fabric can be a hassle. Here are nine ways to identify top quality men’s garments.

Metal zipper

Plastic zippers damage easily, and apart from being short-lived, they also tend to follow their tread. This not only damages the cloth, but the zipper also gets damaged. High-quality designs have metal zippers for easier zipping and unzipping. Additionally, they tend to have more longevity even when worn by oversize individuals.

Matching fabric pattern

According to Grailed, one of the easiest ways to identify whether a fabric is of high quality is to check whether design patterns match. For top quality fabrics, a lot of work goes to matching patterns. For instance, if a T-shirt has black and white strips, look whether the black is connecting clearly with another black stripe. If you find that there is a mismatch, then your "designer" T-shirt is probably a knock-off product.

Natural fibers

Before settling on a specific cloth, look at its fibers. If you pick a fabric with synthetic fibers, then you need to be aware that they pile, which in turn requires you to have them cleaned by a dry cleaner. Additionally, they tend to be uncomfortable during hot weather, since they don’t allow evaporation to take place. This leads to a build-up of sweat which is annoying. Cotton, silk, cashmere, and wool cloths are great since they tend to remain woven after every wash.

Strong stitches

Strong stitches are typical signs that you just picked a high-quality cloth. Missed, unraveled and other imperfections are significant signs that your fabric is days away from complete disaster. When making a purchase, grab your garment on every side of the seam and tug it to see how well it holds together. In case of any signs of pulling apart, leave it.

Perfectly cut

Low-quality brands tend to save money by limiting the fabric size they use. This means that you will either have to encounter too short pant legs, less room for shoulders, or even shirt sleeves. Consequently, ask to try them before making a purchase. If they don’t drape and fit comfortably, then leave them. Ensure to check that they match your body size; they might look good on a hanger but not on your body.

Extra buttons

If you have come along a fabric that has extra buttons, then it has probably lasted you several years. Designers who place extra buttons are aware that the garment can last for a long time. Other signs for high quality garments are a spare thread. These are simple repairs that the designer foresees.

Perfectly finished seams

Garments with finished seams tend to last longer. Ensure to check that they are free from irregularities such as creases and imperfect layouts. Flip your garment inside-out, look at how they are finished. Improper finishes and edges are usually a sign of poor quality. Felled and bound seams are accurate quality markers.

Thread type

The type of thread used determines whether a garment is of top-notch quality or wimpy quality. Take your time going through each detail. Does the thread cover where they should, does the fabric seam strong? All these questions should help you learn whether the garment is of excellent quality.

Button and buttonholes

Delicate fabrics have buttons that tend to break off if slightly stressed. Look at all buttons, examine if they are strong enough to hold under pressure, check whether all buttonholes fit their respective buttons. If they don’t, then that is the first sign that you have poor quality.