Well the answer is yes! But not to you the consumer, you are still getting a great deal. Just think about it, you can still buy a t-shirt, a pair of jeans or a dress and none of them have really changed in price over the last 20 years!

So how can this be, with the cost of living rising all the time, the dollar being weak against the rest of the world? Is the Apparel business making any profit?

Oh yes, believe me some of them are. I have worked as an apparel designer on both sides with retailers and with the manufactures. The retailers are still making their 200/300% mark up, its the manufacturers and the fabric mills that are taking the cut. Back in the 80’s when business was booming manufactures could make a decent mark up on their garments, which gave them a safety cushion in case any think went wrong. Now days they are lucky to cover their cost. So many garment manufactures in America and Europe who were known for quality and reliability have gone out of business. Why because they just can’t compete. More and more business is going to China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and so on.

Company’s such as Forever 21, Wal-Mart, H&M, Primark(UK), Top Shop(UK) to name but a few, are really destroying the industry. Yes their delivering cheap disposable fashion, but at what price? If the public were made aware of what really goes on wouldn’t you be prepared to pay a little bit more if you knew it would save thousands their jobs and preserve our own factories right here in our own country.

In England where I grew up, we had some of the best fabric mills in the world, our quality wools and cashmeres were considered among the best, but now only a few survive and only designers like Armani and Ralph Lauren can afford them.

No the rip off is for the manufacturers fighting to survive! Even the big factories in China are fighting, as the retailers put more and more pressure on. Canceling orders, if the style isn’t selling, demanding discounts if the delivery is late. Were will it all end?

So next time you buy a garment and it costs you $20, just give a little thought to all the people that made it possible for just a few cents.