Reasons for the High Prices on Some Fabrics

Have you ever questioned what it is that draws you to certain clothing items? Whether it is the color or the style that first catches your eye, the material always seems to be the deciding factor in your decisions on whether to head to the dressing room or not.

Photo credit: Splendid

Our sense of touch is just as important as how visually pleasing something is when discussing clothing. When you feel something as soft as a ’Splendid’ T-shirt, there’s a sense of warmth and comfort drawn from it. These clothing items that seem so plain and simple can cost more than you would think and you might question yourself as to why a basic T-shirt would be more than $20. The answer is simple; it’s all about the fabric.
 
The fibers that are used to make simple fabrics are actually quite complex. The natural fibers can be extracted from plants such as cotton or linen. Fibers also can be from animals for example wool or silk from insects. There are also synthetic fibers such as nylon, spandex and polyester. 
 
Manufactures spin the fibers into thread, yarn or rope and then weave it into clothing to produce textiles or fabric. The fabric is then dyed and once completed, the fabrics are then used to create the clothing you see in department stores.
 
This lengthy and delicate process made with natural resources adds to the price increase seen on the tag. After doing my research, I went out around ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus to see if fabrics and their link to higher prices affect college students’ purchases and if in fact fabric matters to them.
 
When I asked Malcolm Brinkley, a freshman at ASU, if fabric plays a role in his purchases he said, “I go for affordable clothing that feels nice. Fabric does affect the purchase for me, but I like to go for deals. If it feels good it feels good.”
 
When asked how important fabrics were in her clothing choice, Harley Zugbaum, a freshman at ASU, said, “Fabrics have a huge effect on what I buy. If something doesn’t feel good to me then I don’t feel good when I’m wearing it.”
 
Kathleen Etzel