A common question that is asked by consumers is does price reflect quality in the fashion industry. Many misconceptions and misunderstandings stem from this area of consumerism. The answer is more widely understood by those who are knowledgeable in the fashion industry and know what goes into each product.
Product design starts with figuring out what a consumer is willing to buy and how much they want to pay for it. Other aspects of preliminary design include the advertisement for the product and even its packaging. This may be the single most important factor to influence the customer to buy the item at its full market value.
Getting items out of the factory is another step into the process of consumerism. The season in which new items are released is an age old technique of getting the most sales of the season. A piece of clothing designed for winter use but sold in the summer will be a financial pitfall for the designer.
The final suggested retail price of an item is dependent on a few different factors involving labor cost, materials used, and the amount of those materials present on the final piece of merchandise. Exotic animal skins and leather tend to sell better but at higher market value than garments made of other materials.
Labor and creation cost involving the item are something else driving the final price. Handmade items require more hours, and thus more wages for the workers, in creating the final product. Thus, handmade materials and garments cost slightly more than machined ones.
The common understanding of the industry is that the more expensive or exotic materials used in the product, the more valuable and durable the life of the garment is. This is a generally acceptable opinion when regarding age old brands that have consistently put out products that are popular with consumers. However, without proper care and cleaning, delicate materials used in manufacturing these goods can wear down quickly.
Aside from this, some luxury or expensive fashion goods can be extremely durable and long lasting. When in doubt, the customer should shop around for brands that have consistently turned out valuable and durable products. This answers the question of does price reflect quality in the fashion industry. This method can be applied to anything from clothing to jewelry and women’s handbags. While the disadvantages can result in the loss of a significant investment, proper care and cleaning will surely bring a long lasting, valuable work.