Oh no, Joules is one of my favourites.

I get mail order joules sometimes. I find it is good quality but the design and fit isn’t the best. They use very thick fabric which is a bit heavy for Australia . Having said that, you can’t go past their rain gear because it is actually waterproof unlike most of the stuff here!

Succame! Love it 🤭

Callistemon the conditions in the Leicester sweatshops meant that the city had to have really harsh lock down measures.
It had the highest rates of Covid at one time due to social distancing just not happening in the factories

I have succumbed (succame?) to a cardigan in the Black Friday sale.

I bought a lovely Joules yellow raincoat - wind and waterproof - recently. It was the most expensive jacket I've ever purchased but we were going on an Alaskan cruise and I was determined that the weather wouldn't stop me from getting the most out of it. As it was, we got sunburn on the cruise and I never got to wear my lovely jacket. Thank goodness for British weather! I'm finally getting my money's worth out of Joules. Lovely jacket with lots of fun detail. So disappointed that they may be going out of business.

Fleurpepper

Oh I so agree. I remember the days when Leicester was full of quality clothing companies, including Corah that made all the clothes for M&S. The factory shop was a real help for us young mums.

But even if the clothes were made here (with much higher wage costs, social security contributions, etc,) - much of the materials have to be imported.

I remember not so long ago there was a news item about sweat shops in Leicester. Workers were being made to work during Covid lockdowns, I think.

I try to avoid most of the usual chains and supermarkets. There are a whole range of online stores and charity catalogues that sell clothes, which, if not trading as ethical, are in fact doing so. Culture Vulture and the Amnesty catalogue are two.

Yes, they are more expensive than the chain stores, but the £80 sweater I bought this autumn is the only item of winter clothing I have bought, so overall, for one year's winter spend on clothing that is not much.

Like others I use charity shops, but find them somewhat random, if you ar looking for anything specific, and I usually am, they are not very useful.

I have bought second hand items on Etsy and ebay and have generally found them very good.

My wardrobe is mainly Asda Sainsbury Matalan charity shops and occasionally Primark where I have bought tee shirts, always 100% cotton, some are 10 years old, and still look fine. I don’t throw anything out unless it’s in holes, when it’s turned into cleaning cloths for dh to use in the garage.
I will not miss Joules as I have never shopped there.

However earlier this year was in Cornwall, it was a tad chilly so ventured into Seasalt for shelter. It was the first time I had been in there, had no plans to buy anything but saw a dress, which to my surprise I bought, adding a nice matching scarf. Both in the sale, still over my usual budget, but it fitted and was the right length fir a shortie like me and had pockets. So I bought another last week, ditto to above., but sadly not in the sale.
Now I need a cardi to go with both as plan to wear over winter with boots but the one I saw in Seasalt was £80 ( for a cardi?!).

MawtheMerrier

Well I seem to bestow the kiss of death on clothing firms - I used to find great trouser suits from M&S, buy smart but comfy shoes and boots from Hotter, always found something I liked in Joules and when all else failed I could rely on John Lewis.
See what I mean?
Based on my current shopping I would advise anybody NOT to buy shares in White Stuff or SeaSalt.

Aha! So, this is why White Stuff has gone downhill recently! I thought it was because the quality of the designs and fabrics seems to be slipping while the prices rise but it must be something else....................

Oh I so agree. I remember the days when Leicester was full of quality clothing companies, including Corah that made all the clothes for M&S. The factory shop was a real help for us young mums.

But even if the clothes were made here (with much higher wage costs, social security contributions, etc,) - much of the materials have to be imported.

Fleurpepper

Sarah74

But from what I can gather on this thread, much of Joules’ stuff is manufactured in places such as China, so no real excuse go4 their high prices?

The cost of importing has gone up hugely recently, for all sorts of reasons. A major factor is the fall of Sterling value, which has made importing anything much more expensive. Same for medicines, vaccines, EVERYTHING. With very tight margin- enough to tip the balance.

But my point was, they shouldn’t be importing - they should be manufacturing their clothes here….

Maybe Ted Baker, as a British fashion brand, could step into the place of Joules? Its not as luxury as it tries to make out and I believe the company is keen to work towards reducing its environmental impact.

Most of us are guilty- mea culpa too

fb.watch/gRXeK5x7k-/

Sarah74

But from what I can gather on this thread, much of Joules’ stuff is manufactured in places such as China, so no real excuse go4 their high prices?

The cost of importing has gone up hugely recently, for all sorts of reasons. A major factor is the fall of Sterling value, which has made importing anything much more expensive. Same for medicines, vaccines, EVERYTHING. With very tight margin- enough to tip the balance.

Joseanne

Doodledog ....... Hobbs and Reiss, nice taste of clothing in your wardrobe!
But Joules is preferable for me when dog walking.

I deliberately picked items I've had for ages but are still in commission - a Hobbs coat and LKB shoes came immediately to mind. I don't wear either every day - I'm more a leggings and long jumper sort of girl .

Greciangirl

Far too expensive.
They should have lowered their prices. There is a lot of competition out there.

A ot of very unfair competition- based on polluting other countries and using slave or borderline slave labour. We customers have a responsibility to try and understand this.

Remember the 'it is that 1£ t-shirt' monologue?

I wonder if they may go on line like Debenhams, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins etc but I wouldn’t risk purchasing gifts or vouchers for other people just in case.

Just checking here, if we buy stuff from Joules now as Christmas presents, can the recipients exchange them or get a refund if the company goes bust?

used to find great trouser suits from M&S
Per Una did soft (Italian) ones in the 90s and I had 3 such smart suits for work.

Doodledog ....... Hobbs and Reiss, nice taste of clothing in your wardrobe!
But Joules is preferable for me when dog walking.

Well I seem to bestow the kiss of death on clothing firms - I used to find great trouser suits from M&S, buy smart but comfy shoes and boots from Hotter, always found something I liked in Joules and when all else failed I could rely on John Lewis.
See what I mean?
Based on my current shopping I would advise anybody NOT to buy shares in White Stuff or SeaSalt.

Oh, possibly . I am not a fashionista by any means. I was just mentally going through my wardrobe thinking of things I've had for ages that have lasted well.

Didn't LK Bennett go into administration a few years back? I remember them closing several stores. The saving grace for LKB is that the Duchess of Cambridge is fond of their clothes and often wears the label.

I think there will be a shake-up in retail soon.

There will be a few good, higher end (but not 'designer') brands selling quality items that people expect to last, and cheaper 'fast fashion' for the young who want to change their look more often and for those who can't afford the better things. The rich will continue to spend thousands on clothes, shoes and bags as always, but the current 'mass market' will either move one way or the other, or will lose out.

I predict that Next, White Stuff and similar will struggle to hold market share, as their things are not well made and are pricey for what they are. Shops like Hobbs, Reiss and LK Bennett will probably manage but with lower profits, and Peacocks, H&M etc will continue to sell to the younger/cheaper market.

Clarks will probably broaden its appeal as it seeks decent shoes to a wide range of markets, and other stores will have to do the same to survive.

Thing is a lot of them now charge too much as folk cant afford to pay those prices.Not if its between buying an expensive jumper etc or paying for food & fuel.