Buy Less, Choose Well

New Look Dresses, photos courtesy of www.newlook.com

By Alexandra SUHNER ISENBERG

Editor-at-Large

May 15, 2011 - Fashion trade press has been reporting for some time on the rising costs of cotton, and according to the Financial Times, the wholesale cost of clothing is set to rise 10 to 15 percent by the end of this year.

This could mean a rise in garment prices of anywhere between 5 and 20 percent, and many retailers are debating how much of a rise they can pass on to consumers.

So what does that mean for us? More expensive clothing. But is that a bad thing?

It is unlikely that many of the luxury brands are going to see steep rises in garment prices, this will likely have more of an impact on fast fashion and mid range clothing. I think that this might be a very good thing, as this may encourage us to buy less...read more