Fashion is a very important part of many cultures, but is society completely brain washed into thinking that a big price tag comes with better quality? 

Abercrombie & Fitch, Hot Topic, Hollister, Pac Sun, American Eagle, American Apparel, and Aeropostale are stores that attract the majority teenagers. Although most prices are reasonable, some are just ridiculous. 

“Hollister is over priced. They have ripped jeans that are like fifty dollars and up that you could do yourself. They have thin tank tops for like twenty dollars each when you can get more at different stores that are thicker and are less money,” said Allie Tolmich (‘13)

The big question is, are people really paying for the quality, or the brand name? When anyone shops at the stores listed above, almost every single garment on sale is made in a third world country, except clothing from American Apparel which are made in downtown LA. What this means is that it is much cheaper to construct almost everything in a different country, especially ones like Vietnam which are not exactly thriving and still believe in child labor laws. Why do you think Wal-Mart is so cheap? Even their apple juice is from China. 

“I would pay seventy dollars for a pair of jeans, no more than that ‘cause I don’t have a job,” stated Andre Fowler (‘12) “Hollister is my favorite store, it’s the best.”

Everyone has their own opinions on what is too expensive. If you have the money and you want it, then buy it. If not, do not put yourself in debt after buying a $150 Tote bag that just says “Abercrombie and Fitch” on it. Chances are the clothes sold in all of these stores cost a fraction of the selling price to get it made.

The best thing to do is shop the clearance rack, unless you really need something that is not there. Just because it is clearance does not mean that it is cheap. It usually just means that they are last season, no one is buying them or many other reasons that prevent sales from flowing. 

All in all, clothes are clothes. Everyone can look like a very stylish person without wearing a pair of $400 jeans.