As a person who sews for herself and occasionally does custom work for others, I'm no longer amazed at how little people are willing to pay for my work. They think that because they can order a custom technical outerwear piece online (which is mass produced and 'customized' by stamping a logo on it right before delivery) for $180 Cdn, that they should expect an ACTUAL custom outerwear piece, fitted to their exact measurements with specific design features chosen in consultation, for the same price. I'd love to see you comment in a future video about the difference between mass production and one-off custom pieces... our fabric costs are way higher, we don't get the benefits of assembly-line production efficiencies, and we have to do multiple fittings to deliver a perfect fit. We also tend to need higher hourly labour prices since rent ain't cheap, yo.
You're so spot on , Which is why I rarely to do custom sewing. I tired of hearing oh i can get that at (plug any fast-fashion store here) for way cheaper.
Can we address bridal "made to order and the difference between true one of a kind custom and the made to order with bust, waist, hip and how the girls think that IS true couture made to order.
I find that focusing on quality helps a lot with buying less. I take my time to find quality items that I know I'll get a lot of use out of. I dont have a lot, but I have the right things.
and as ridiculous as that sounds, I hope it's a sign that some consumers are reflecting on and becoming more aware of their own consumption habits. Hopefully it leads to less overconsumption and more thoughtful, meaningful consumption in the near future.
Hi Zoe 👋🏽 I appreciate the segment about the stigmatized reputation of Chinese produced goods and the range of quality Chinese production offers. That stigmatized perception has been a bee in my bonnet for a while and I'm glad you've addressed it in this video :)
I am definitely buckling in for long haul with managing my consuption, to the point that I did full breakdown of what I spent on last year, with monthly averages and what we really need monthly on different spreadsheet. With projected income I hope to end this year financially healthier than last one. I got sincerely horrified once I saw the total in certain cathegories - like even in trifting clothes you can massively overspend. I am not attempting no buy, but definitely soaking up all the approaches and go with low buy, or more mindfull buy, because we are also planning wedding, so I can not overtask myself :) And I am collector, so if certain opportunities arise, I will not hold myself back. Thank you for great video!
Oh wow, thank you Zoe Hong for clearing the stigma of Made in China! But it is very true, in the end manufacturing companies in China make the product based on what the brand specifies that has to do with cost to them(brand). Funny, my dad was Chinese and my sister that grew up in Hong Kong whenever she visited USA(1980's)she will see the difference in products. The same item will be made for export and another for local and my sister often commented on the colors selected for items that will make them better. What your father said Zoe Hong holds a lot of truth, for the economy to thrive the middle class must be present. Thank you for all the great content and information you share on this great channel of yours!
The other issue is that people aren’t wearing or using the items you already have rather they are constantly buying new items in order to feel a temporary feeling. Instead of buying things really appreciate the items you have and use it!
I'm glad you are tackling this topic. One of the major factors why I chose not to follow a career in fashion was because of materialism, waste and ethical issues in the industry. I know now that all industries deal with these concerns so, yes, I regret not following my original passion. I would love for more videos on this topic, your opinions, and suggestions for how to navigate these concerns. My experience with people avoiding made in China was the fear they had about economics, not necessarily quality, but these people also didn't understand GDP.
PREACH!!!!!! I've been a quiet listener for months and love all your material, but this segment on China is gospel. I'm a Latino designer and focused on this piece and how the false flags as tags from Made In.... is just insane. The innovation happening in China and other areas of Asia and other emerging economies is second to none, and is light years ahead of many US based suppliers. Kudos on this video, and so glad you brought this to light. Thanks for validating the voices in my head!
Love your final question. IMO, if you ask financial analysts/pundits, they would say that the economy has never been better. But if you asked the everyday person on the street, they would say that they are buckling in for the long haul. I think the difference in opinion between these two groups of people is stark and worth noting, as it also highlights our modern day class structure.
Well, the "experts" have an interest in keeping the rest of us spending the way we used to. But they can only lie or tell half truths for so long. The average person knows this economy ain't it.
I effing love you Zoe!!! The first few secs and I'm like whatever she is saying or selling I'm freaking buying and completely here for, hahaha. Ok back to the podcast 😂
I just heard about "underconsumption core" on tiktok and thought to myself "this sounds like what most people did before 1950". We're so used to haul videos that ordinary consumption seems strange. I wonder what would happen if regular consumption became the norm??? 😮
From "underconsuptiom" to "Made in China", agree! What I have realized over the past few years how uniformed consumers are when it comes to 'quality'. I love some China made items and I loathe some "Made in Italy" items. That nuance is often lost on the majority of consumer base because people are largely detached from the production of the material world and skills.
@@DownwiththeRabiit here in Australia we also get 'Made in Italy' on tiny tags clothes, but I think they are fake. Real EU clothes come with multiple over descriptive tags and they are usually better quality too.
I've worked in a range of Canadian factories. Metals, plastics, food, and one of the very few garment factories. It's DEFINITELY about the specs. But also, the label doesn't mean much. In-house store brands may have their own specs and materials. Or they may be absolutely identical to another brand. This is very common in food manufacturing. The line is paused for a couple minutes - with the same product waiting, the labels or packaging are swapped for a different brand. And suddenly the product has a 25% price reduction on the shelf. Other product categories may swap some components, but definitely not all. And with items which contain metal or plastic components... Put it this way... Factories that make some part of the guts of a vehicle often make that kind of part for multiple competing brands. They're different, but enough of the equipment, and the training processes are the same. Although, many of the brands we believe are competitors, actually aren't. It's all the same company now at the root. Labels don't mean much.
I am with you on brands to spec. I work as a bridal seamstress and i recently got to inspect some randy fenoli line dresses. The sewing was not as good as some of the gowns i see for half the price. A ton of these dresses are made in china but honestly i see a wide range in quality and price does not seem to be as big as brands. I think the fenoli dresses focused on external embellishments like 3d laces and very little on internal construction where i go to look for quality. I am with on EVERYTHING here you pointed out.
Hi Zoe !!!!!! U R Dee Bomb !!!!! Pretty Please take as much videos as can, fashion garment tours, interviews with ateliers, fashion designers, students, garment quality distinction, etc. It could be super rough draft, we don’t mind if it’s not edited. Thank you Zoe !!!
I pay for quality, whether made in China or made anywhere. I don't go to work for free, so I don't expect others too. I like to invest in garments when companies invest in their people and quality of their production.
Re made in china quality: Some chinese or wherever factories are what we would consider tiny cottage businesses. Like how many people have made in America etsy horror stories but it doesn't besmirch the made in america label because we know the difference between some guys with a laser cutter and glue in a shed and a company with 100s of employees.
haha I also have "DO NOT BUY PANTRY ITEMS" posted on my fridge where I make my grocery lists. how did i get so many cans of beans? bags of grains? do i just keep forgetting i have them?
1) Polene review are not so great now, a lot of people say their quality is declining since 2021-2022 .... 2) I think people smell a recession and with war in Ukraine, Israel, et now with Trump election I think people sense harder time coming up.... I dont think the ''save our planet'' mentality is bringing any consumption down anytime soon it is still a minority. 3) A friend of mine worked for Cirque du Soleil and went for 3 months to China to help teach their technique to Chinese artisan to make costume for some shows of Cirque du soleil that was suppose to play for several years (that was before COVID) and she was amazed of their skilled and quality of their products so since then it almost a chant when we look down on clothing 'made in China' she always say their is good quality stuff coming out of China ....
I keep hearing Polene is not as good as it used to be but that it's still good. I think some it is quality struggling to keep up with demand, some might be "resting on their laurels" a little bit, but maybe the investment from September will help them bring the quality back. Polene is not alone though, I think a lot of mid-tier brands are stealing the spotlight from luxury brand bags these days.
However, the supply chain that is the fabric, interfacing, zippers, button, tags etc has limitations and deficits. Lots of nickel or lead in buttons and some zippers. It is certainly something that happens. Wool coats made in China are uniformly awful because of the fabric used. This is not true of everything but there was a higher quality supply chain in the USA 50 years ago.
But stocks of “Polene” are falling from 2021 peak…. It terms of quality they might be good but in terms of business it seems they aren’t at good place.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
As a person who sews for herself and occasionally does custom work for others, I'm no longer amazed at how little people are willing to pay for my work. They think that because they can order a custom technical outerwear piece online (which is mass produced and 'customized' by stamping a logo on it right before delivery) for $180 Cdn, that they should expect an ACTUAL custom outerwear piece, fitted to their exact measurements with specific design features chosen in consultation, for the same price. I'd love to see you comment in a future video about the difference between mass production and one-off custom pieces... our fabric costs are way higher, we don't get the benefits of assembly-line production efficiencies, and we have to do multiple fittings to deliver a perfect fit. We also tend to need higher hourly labour prices since rent ain't cheap, yo.
This is a great video idea!
You're so spot on , Which is why I rarely to do custom sewing. I tired of hearing oh i can get that at (plug any fast-fashion store here) for way cheaper.
Can we address bridal "made to order and the difference between true one of a kind custom and the made to order with bust, waist, hip and how the girls think that IS true couture made to order.
Yeah@@zoehongteaches
@@zoehongteaches follow up to a comment here: could you cover the “Wedding Tax” on bridal wear and if it exists?
I find that focusing on quality helps a lot with buying less. I take my time to find quality items that I know I'll get a lot of use out of. I dont have a lot, but I have the right things.
This is what I do.
Buy it once.
Investment in quality that will end up costing less and produce unecessary waste over and over.
People out here thinking if you don't buy over what you need, you're under purchasing things.
and as ridiculous as that sounds, I hope it's a sign that some consumers are reflecting on and becoming more aware of their own consumption habits. Hopefully it leads to less overconsumption and more thoughtful, meaningful consumption in the near future.
Hi Zoe 👋🏽
I appreciate the segment about the stigmatized reputation of Chinese produced goods and the range of quality Chinese production offers. That stigmatized perception has been a bee in my bonnet for a while and I'm glad you've addressed it in this video :)
Thank you Zoe! Love to hear about this topic from a fashion industry expert rather than another tik tok influencer
I am definitely buckling in for long haul with managing my consuption, to the point that I did full breakdown of what I spent on last year, with monthly averages and what we really need monthly on different spreadsheet. With projected income I hope to end this year financially healthier than last one. I got sincerely horrified once I saw the total in certain cathegories - like even in trifting clothes you can massively overspend. I am not attempting no buy, but definitely soaking up all the approaches and go with low buy, or more mindfull buy, because we are also planning wedding, so I can not overtask myself :) And I am collector, so if certain opportunities arise, I will not hold myself back. Thank you for great video!
Oh wow, thank you Zoe Hong for clearing the stigma of Made in China! But it is very true, in the end manufacturing companies in China make the product based on what the brand specifies that has to do with cost to them(brand). Funny, my dad was Chinese and my sister that grew up in Hong Kong whenever she visited USA(1980's)she will see the difference in products. The same item will be made for export and another for local and my sister often commented on the colors selected for items that will make them better. What your father said Zoe Hong holds a lot of truth, for the economy to thrive the middle class must be present. Thank you for all the great content and information you share on this great channel of yours!
The other issue is that people aren’t wearing or using the items you already have rather they are constantly buying new items in order to feel a temporary feeling. Instead of buying things really appreciate the items you have and use it!
I'm glad you are tackling this topic. One of the major factors why I chose not to follow a career in fashion was because of materialism, waste and ethical issues in the industry. I know now that all industries deal with these concerns so, yes, I regret not following my original passion.
I would love for more videos on this topic, your opinions, and suggestions for how to navigate these concerns.
My experience with people avoiding made in China was the fear they had about economics, not necessarily quality, but these people also didn't understand GDP.
Wonderful economic overview! "Made in Japan" used to mean junk, then later it meant high- quality.
PREACH!!!!!! I've been a quiet listener for months and love all your material, but this segment on China is gospel. I'm a Latino designer and focused on this piece and how the false flags as tags from Made In.... is just insane. The innovation happening in China and other areas of Asia and other emerging economies is second to none, and is light years ahead of many US based suppliers. Kudos on this video, and so glad you brought this to light. Thanks for validating the voices in my head!
Love your final question. IMO, if you ask financial analysts/pundits, they would say that the economy has never been better.
But if you asked the everyday person on the street, they would say that they are buckling in for the long haul.
I think the difference in opinion between these two groups of people is stark and worth noting, as it also highlights our modern day class structure.
Well, the "experts" have an interest in keeping the rest of us spending the way we used to. But they can only lie or tell half truths for so long. The average person knows this economy ain't it.
I effing love you Zoe!!! The first few secs and I'm like whatever she is saying or selling I'm freaking buying and completely here for, hahaha. Ok back to the podcast 😂
Yeah... She's the kind of person who makes you stop whatever you're doing & truly listen to what she's saying...
@SachikoMiwako888 COMPLETELY!!
I just heard about "underconsumption core" on tiktok and thought to myself "this sounds like what most people did before 1950". We're so used to haul videos that ordinary consumption seems strange. I wonder what would happen if regular consumption became the norm??? 😮
From "underconsuptiom" to "Made in China", agree! What I have realized over the past few years how uniformed consumers are when it comes to 'quality'. I love some China made items and I loathe some "Made in Italy" items. That nuance is often lost on the majority of consumer base because people are largely detached from the production of the material world and skills.
@@DownwiththeRabiit here in Australia we also get 'Made in Italy' on tiny tags clothes, but I think they are fake. Real EU clothes come with multiple over descriptive tags and they are usually better quality too.
I've worked in a range of Canadian factories. Metals, plastics, food, and one of the very few garment factories. It's DEFINITELY about the specs.
But also, the label doesn't mean much. In-house store brands may have their own specs and materials. Or they may be absolutely identical to another brand.
This is very common in food manufacturing. The line is paused for a couple minutes - with the same product waiting, the labels or packaging are swapped for a different brand. And suddenly the product has a 25% price reduction on the shelf.
Other product categories may swap some components, but definitely not all.
And with items which contain metal or plastic components... Put it this way... Factories that make some part of the guts of a vehicle often make that kind of part for multiple competing brands. They're different, but enough of the equipment, and the training processes are the same. Although, many of the brands we believe are competitors, actually aren't. It's all the same company now at the root.
Labels don't mean much.
A perfect example: Samsung and Apple. We think they're competitors, but actually Samsung makes all kinds of parts for iphones.
I have a bone to pick with the people who wrote the spec on my crappy new washer, dryer, and dishwasher… looking at you LG. 🧐
I'm side-eying my stove pretty hard these days myself!
I click on your videos and say "hey hey party people" so cheerfully before you get to say it, lol. I love you Zoe Hong❤
Hahaha love that!
Happy New Year Zoe!
Happy New Year!
Great insights, thank you. I’ll def be reflecting a lot on what you shared.
I am with you on brands to spec. I work as a bridal seamstress and i recently got to inspect some randy fenoli line dresses. The sewing was not as good as some of the gowns i see for half the price. A ton of these dresses are made in china but honestly i see a wide range in quality and price does not seem to be as big as brands. I think the fenoli dresses focused on external embellishments like 3d laces and very little on internal construction where i go to look for quality. I am with on EVERYTHING here you pointed out.
Your makeup looks so nice, thanks for the video Zoe!
Hi Zoe !!!!!! U R Dee Bomb !!!!! Pretty Please take as much videos as can, fashion garment tours, interviews with ateliers, fashion designers, students, garment quality distinction, etc. It could be super rough draft, we don’t mind if it’s not edited. Thank you Zoe !!!
Excellent! As always
I pay for quality, whether made in China or made anywhere. I don't go to work for free, so I don't expect others too. I like to invest in garments when companies invest in their people and quality of their production.
Thank you for your very good and useful channel 💞💞
"Things are only what you need them for, what matters most is who needs them more"
-Into the Woods
6:54 Speaking of, if anyone has any cashmere or other items they're no longer wanting, I'm more than happy to consume. 😄
I got a lot of jokes in the comments today! hahahaha~
@zoehongteaches I'm brand new to sewing and I just found your channel. It's pure gold. I'm planning on watching every video. ♥️
100% spot on about made in China!
Re made in china quality: Some chinese or wherever factories are what we would consider tiny cottage businesses. Like how many people have made in America etsy horror stories but it doesn't besmirch the made in america label because we know the difference between some guys with a laser cutter and glue in a shed and a company with 100s of employees.
Buy less but buy better quality.
That 'Made in China' part. 👏👏👏 Amen!
The lipstick was in sale. I bought a tone of pat magrath during covid because she was having a mega sale!
Became the addict to learn from your videos
You’re iconic in the best way
I’m focusing on only buying the necessities. Nothing more. I did an inventory of my products and pantry. I’m good for at least 2/3 of the year.
haha I also have "DO NOT BUY PANTRY ITEMS" posted on my fridge where I make my grocery lists. how did i get so many cans of beans? bags of grains? do i just keep forgetting i have them?
I am trying to more curated in what I am buying looking at quality over quantity.
I’m gonna be honest. I held a Chanel Caviar leather bag and I didn’t like how it felt. I was like, “people pay $6500 for this?!”
Same, I held and tried on a $6k bag in the LV store, and it didn't even feel as nice as my reduced to $120 Kate Spade...
Same, squared. I went with a friend who wanted to buy a Chanel bag for her sister. I was not impressed.
That WSJ podcast did not mention where the fabric came from.
Yeah, I have a lot of issues with that story.
Very informative content as always 👏 but this one is 🔥 I felt like I’m listening to an economic professor but fun 😍👄
1) Polene review are not so great now, a lot of people say their quality is declining since 2021-2022 .... 2) I think people smell a recession and with war in Ukraine, Israel, et now with Trump election I think people sense harder time coming up.... I dont think the ''save our planet'' mentality is bringing any consumption down anytime soon it is still a minority. 3) A friend of mine worked for Cirque du Soleil and went for 3 months to China to help teach their technique to Chinese artisan to make costume for some shows of Cirque du soleil that was suppose to play for several years (that was before COVID) and she was amazed of their skilled and quality of their products so since then it almost a chant when we look down on clothing 'made in China' she always say their is good quality stuff coming out of China ....
I keep hearing Polene is not as good as it used to be but that it's still good. I think some it is quality struggling to keep up with demand, some might be "resting on their laurels" a little bit, but maybe the investment from September will help them bring the quality back. Polene is not alone though, I think a lot of mid-tier brands are stealing the spotlight from luxury brand bags these days.
However, the supply chain that is the fabric, interfacing, zippers, button, tags etc has limitations and deficits. Lots of nickel or lead in buttons and some zippers. It is certainly something that happens. Wool coats made in China are uniformly awful because of the fabric used. This is not true of everything but there was a higher quality supply chain in the USA 50 years ago.
People are buckling in for the long haul.
I agree. Prices have been too high, and wages have been too stagnant for too long. The cracks are starting to show.
But stocks of “Polene” are falling from 2021 peak…. It terms of quality they might be good but in terms of business it seems they aren’t at good place.
Don't you think that Polène bags got the sale and recognignitions just because LVMH invested partially in the company???
No, LVMH only invested 5 months ago.
Fast Fashion is children in Myanmar forced to work 12 hour days in decrepit conditions for $2.80 a day
I over consumed cheesecake yesterday. What will the economic result be? 🩷
You'll probably need to buy new pants. 😅
hahahahahahahaha omg you two
I alrady have them in all sizes.@alli_mode
hahahaah~