It isn’t just about looking good—you need to invest in timeless looks that last.
The concept of “quality” is something that we think about frequently in our everyday lives. From the food on your table to the décor around your home, quality is the often-ambiguous concept that guides many of our decisions. Sometimes the issue of quality is easy to discern, but when it comes to garments, the decision is much more personal.
When you make a purchase, you are starting a garment’s “life cycle,” which ends after you fulfill its use and ultimately decide to discard the item. Consumers are often presented with the dilemma of cost versus clothing use time and need to decide how much they’re willing to spend, depending on how long a piece of clothing can be expected to last. It might seem attractive to buy something that won’t affect your budget, but if you don’t get much use out of it, the cost is really much higher than you think.
The importance of perceived quality
Most, if not all purchasing decisions come down to perceived quality and immediate value. When it comes to clothing, quality can quickly become subjective, depending on several different factors. This kind of assessment comes down to attributes and features that are most valuable to the consumer, like brand and reputation or fabric and materials.
When speaking about quality in the more traditional sense, we’re usually talking about the fabrication process. In the garment industry, quality plays a direct role in the longevity of each item, creating a larger carbon footprint with items that need to be discarded after a shorter time.
According to a report by CNN, almost 70% of global clothing donations end up in Africa, but they actually just create waste and hurt the surrounding economies. You might think that any unused clothing is better than nothing, but it can disrupt communities that don’t have the proper infrastructure to handle unwanted materials.
In other words, you’re better off investing in something you’re going to want to hold onto for a longer period, or at least something that will last long enough to be worn by someone else. It’s all well and good for there to be plenty of secondhand clothing out there, but if it isn’t built to last, it quickly turns into someone else’s garbage. At the end of the day, we’re all on the same planet, so minimizing this should be a goal for us all.
Luckily, a lot of brands are turning to small-batch manufacturing methods to decrease their own carbon footprint and contribute to a society with a healthier mindset around consumption. The best part? This all means a better product is being produced for the customer and a move towards more thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Why are small-batch goods important?
Small-batch production is essentially the opposite of fast fashion—the main goal is to improve quality and ensure integrity in the production process. Larger retailers will mass produce their products and wind up with a ton of leftover inventory that ultimately gets discarded. When products are made on a smaller scale, companies can reduce waste and even prevent their own financial loss.
If you think about the clothes people already have that are being thrown out, try to imagine massive retailers like H&M and Target just frivolously discarding items no one will wear, just to make room for new inventory that will eventually need a place to go.
As production rates continue to rise, now is the ideal time to start making changes to your purchasing habits if you haven’t already. As long as there is consumer demand for fast fashion and mass-produced items, there will continue to be an endless, wasteful supply. So, the customer really holds the power to make a difference in local and global communities.
Benefits of small batch production
While it might not be an instantaneous process, small-batch production opens a wide range of opportunities for both brands and their customers.
Improved quality control
Working with smaller batches makes it so much easier to catch mistakes and guarantee quality in each garment. Not only does this create less waste due to errors, but brands benefit from becoming more reliable. Customers can rest assured that they know exactly what to expect and will be free of disappointment.
Flexibility
Brands can be more adaptable to changing trends because there won’t be a ton of overstock and it’ll be easier to move on to the next collection of items. If changes need to be made to any designs, there isn’t the concern that thousands of items we already made with the previous design. This makes it easier to meet customer expectations and keep up with changing market demands.
Improving the second-hand market
If more people opt for higher quality garments, it will drastically reduce waste in the second-hand market. Customers will be able to make use of items instead of the clothes hanging on a rack for days or weeks until they are ultimately donated to a region that really won’t benefit from them. You even have an opportunity to resell your own items if they’re made of quality materials that retain value and are durable over time.
Locally sourced clothing, made in small batches at Amanda Maria
If you’re looking to invest in high-quality clothing that empowers you as much as the environment, look no further than the collection at Amanda Maria. Our brand is solely focused on sourcing the highest quality materials while supporting local communities and contributing to a greater global cause. We believe in empowering women everywhere by helping them look their best while giving them a reason to feel good about their purchases.
With our sustainability mission, we create designs that are meant to outlast trends and withstand years of wear. By reducing the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills, we can build toward a better future without sacrificing style.
Whether you’ve always been a conscious shopper or if you’re just starting to become aware of the impact of fashion on the environment, Amanda Maria has a look just for you. From casual chic to sultry and sophisticated, you won’t just look your best, you’ll feel your best.