@Joe Al I buy tons of Brooks and nothing I have is from Bangladesh. That's something I always check for because it's a huge red flag as far as sweatshop labor. (Having said that, I tend to stick to the Golden Fleece line.)

Exactly I rather buy one shirt for $100 that’ll live for half a decade instead of buying 4 $25 ones that’ll be done after 10 washes.

This is the same way I shop for attire. Cheap is expensive in the end. I have Brooks Brothers attire & Johnston & Murphy shoes that I've had for 5-10 years and are still in perfect condition. I also have hand me downs from my dad. Same brands... Still looking great!!

@Joe Al Brooks Brothers manufactures all over. I have sweaters that were made in Scotland or Italy. I have ties, jackets and shirts that were made in the US. (Although I think they stopped all US shirt production a couple months ago.) They also do some production in China, but that's really not bad in this day and age. Most large scale Chinese manufacturing is no longer done in sweatshops. Some customers are very upset that Brooks no longer does the bulk of their manufacturing in the US, but that doesn't really bother me. (More to the point, that's pretty unrealistic at their price point, and with the volume they sell. They've said multiple times that they'd like to do more American manufacturing, but the workforce just isn't there, and it's difficult to do some shirts in the US and some in China.) They make a genuine effort to produce ethically.

And the idea that in far east are not able to make good products is a false myth unfortunately

i have never heard of brooks brothers, and i have never owned a suit. muscular guys look stupid in a suit, even if custom made. suits are for guys with dad bods, they are an equalizer. if you have a built physique, why cover it up with a suit. i have never worn a suit, a shirt, a tie, not to perform classical music on stage, not to my wedding. not necessary.

@@louiscyfer6944 if you’re muscular then why do you have to have all those muscles on display the whole time? Unless you’re incredibly vain, a suit is great for muscular, slim or fat people because it evens all discrepancies. I appreciate that not everyone likes suits, that’s ok, and in the workplace their relevance is fading. But this is allowing those who are enthusiasts in style to truly express themselves in their clothing. Also, if you’ve never worn a suit before how can you judge that you already hate them? When a man wears a comfortable, well fitting suit it’s like no other feeling - granted, if you go into Poundland and grab the nearest one-size-fits-all neon polyester suit, you’ll hate it. But when carefully trying to find a nice bargain for a sturdy ready-to-wear suit from a second hand shop, taking each fabric, colour and pattern into consideration you feel great!

I still purchase suits

@@Sikpoop101 What brand do you recommend? I’m looking for one, my first one.

I'm a muscular guy and I love suits. For me it's harder to fit into a suit due to the v shape of my upper body. This is because dress shirts and suit jackets are always cut square for dad bods and skinny dudes. That said, a high quality well fitted suit looks great on any man especially a fit muscular guy.

now they have shifted all their production to China , Vietnam and Indonesia and their quality has gone down , prices up and up

@M Detlef in Washington DC, they do, we probably are the sole city keeping Brooks Brothers open..😆

Exactly! I went there last November for my boyfriend to get him nice sweaters and polos and a coat. Guess what? They all had insanely high % of polyester, nylon, etc. They felt so cheap. Getting a polo at walmart would be better value than getting one there. In addition the salesman was rude af. Treated me like I wasn't worth being a customer. He's the one selling plastic clothes but hey... let's treat the her like some lowlife.

@M Detlef oh I don't shop there. But all the wonks do...

That's the problem, not the virus!

]©}}}©}kzllgkvl Penthouse in netflix.k we trust. Every new dollarxmwl interest. Bill. Clinton. Clothingwl

I can say that the women’s section has expanded greatly, and I am very happy to say I finally open my first Brooks suit

Research clothing manufacturers in India who work for the American labels. There & Pakistan is what I believe this company may resort to.

that's what I bought from them a female polo shirt loved the stitched crest.

@teri agins... Thank you for your insight.

👏👏👏 Thank you for sharing. Great insight!

based

@teri agins A very interesting and unique perspective. Thanks for sharing!

Interesting perspective. I live in California and seeing someone in a suit indicates they’re likely on the way to a funeral. Otherwise, suits are just out of place. Even when attending a wedding, jeans and a button up are the norm.

Thank you Regina. I agree. Just my opinion and will probably offend some, but I think people have just become lazy in their approach to dress, men and women. They like what’s convenient and they just don’t care what others think.

I agree. Nothing like a well dressed person to brighten up my day. That's what I love about Milan and Paris. Everyone so well put together and elegant. Just sitting in a cafe watching people is a treat. After lockdown in NYC it was so depressing to see everyone continue to wear leggings and sweats! And btw, leggings must the THE most uncomfortable and sweaty, smelly thing to wear in the summer!

I agree Regina. I've made this comment to my wife. Men and women both generally dress so sloppy now. Its not expensive either to present yourself in a reasonable manner.

@@michaelhoppe3436 its the same in the south. a polo shirt and khakis is all you need

Depends how high end. Middle high end like brooks brothers yes. High high end like Hermès. No, they are doing fine. I think we are going to see more and more “accessible” high end brands disappear like brooks brothers disappear.

CraftingKaria But oddly in the UK Mike Ashley of SportsDirect fame is focusing on brands and the higher end believing it's the future. His Flannels stores are miles away from the others in the group. Thousand pound suits with good tailoring are something else when worn and it's quite possible this sector will fare well. However run of the mill office wear may have run its course given the homeworkers revolution. Hawes and Curtis, a UK outfitter, has an ace up its sleeve with flamboyant shirts that take true guts to wear and state the wearer is confident and assured. What's really looking dubious is the diffusion brands made in cheap labour countries that present bad value for buyers seeking quality. If buyers of high end become educated in tailoring then some brands will face oblivion as the illusion of buying quality with a brand fades. A lack of money will hopefully result in a move toward genuine quality rather than cheap buy now throw tomorrow with some blatant branding. Burberry comes to mind as a brand that's resorted to cheap manufacturing and high image but low quality. It's going to be interesting to see who survives.

@@ColoringKaria Yes, this is right. Luxury brands are actually doing really well. Don't forget people, wage stagnation does not affect top earners, who have actually seen their wages go up faster than at any other time.

Most relevant issue, who's spending?

If you look at middle class spending, clothing spend has gone down proportionally to internet phone and subscription services going.

I think it’ll survive and make a comeback one way or another

@@aaronv4805 I doubt it. The world has moved on. BB tried to move on but the name and image were a curse. The old guard hated the 'make-over' and younger men were finding their style elsewhere.

Me neither it’s such a staple in American Fashion

kenneth bworggah it really is

Sham they closed the store in SF, but now I go to another store.

Nah…you can get the same quality from Lands End.

The non-iron shirts didn't hold up well and even though they were "all cotton" they were treated with chemicals. Similar quality shirts could be gotten at Costco.

Omg. They were able to do that thanks to toxic chemicals coating the fabrics.

Thing is that the era of Classic Clothing has gone past us It's more of Athleisure which is trending now

Sure, but the type of guy who bought a Brooks Brothers suit is not the same guy who pays $500 for a pair of Air Jordans.

There is a big difference in the reasons and the people who plunk down 500 bucks for a pair of sneakers, and those who buy suits. The sneakerhead buys them as a collectable, and maybe as an "investment". the market is completely different.

@@SmithMrCorona These are not collectors or sneaker heads that buy those air Jordan retro 1 for $500. They just want the sneakers and not for an investment. Its a cultural change. Young guys just don't wear shoes or dress up. Guys are walking around in public with Nike shower shoes , sweat socks and funky looking shorts and wrinkled t shirts.... Just bums

@@phillyguy2157 I think your idea of dressing up will differ from others. A new pair of expensive sneakers would count as such for many, while others would prefer a suit.

Go figure. I really can’t understand the trend.

Three piece is definitely overdressed. Just wear the usual suit and tie.

Granted, the vest can be excessive but I gather any suit was perceived as overdressed.

The lady needs to be fired.

@Dojocho sexist man should be fired!

Agreed. Loved their signature cologne. Absolutely used 1818 as my personal signature cologne.

I would add approachable

I agree totally Mark. Though don't see how the tight suit of today could be comfortable.

A properly fitted suit makes the wearer stand taller due to the construction. The Italians have kept this posture form but added a softer construction elsewhere. Due to this they are absurdly comfortable and light like a second skin. But, as you say, starting at around a thousand pounds, so not inexpensive, but an absolute dream experience to wear.

the thing is, they are so expensive that people buy cheap terrible quality alternative, find them uncomfortable, and probably never step up to the real thing believing the price is not worth it. And honestly, for some, maybe it isn't. Not very many people have the luxury to buy custom clothes...And even if they did, maybe they'd rather spend it on a vacation.

Ive the same thing for decades. I'm amused and aggravated by men who say, "I feel like a tie is choking me." Really? Try getting a shirt that fits properly. The same goes for suits and trousers. Get clothes that fit. Buy a suit and have a tailor fit it to you. Buy trousers and have them fitted. Proper fit makes a world of difference.

Amen to that!

suits are silly. i need a size 64 jacket and size 32 pants. when you don't look like all the sheep who need shoulder pads to look like they have some shoulders, covering your body up with a suit is criminal.

China is perfectly capable of creating quality clothes. There's a reason why my bank's execs get their suits and shirts done in Hong Kong. The issue with Brooks is that they relied on selling their brand and decided to cheap out on quality hoping it wouldn't drastically affect sales. It worked. Recently people have been buying Brooks for the name and not for the quality.

isn't sea island cotton absurdly expensive for...being cotton? I really wonder. The most I've tried is Supima cotton and can't *really* tell the difference from any standard cotton. On the other hand, I've tried lyocell underwear from CDLP and I could definitely feel it's softer. But even then 22+€ a pair seems expensive to me for an item I don't really notice much through the day, though I'm sure it's reasonable in the grand scheme of things.

Burberry is absolute junk and likely to be a loser if quality of manufacture becomes a buying prerequisite. I'm unsure "cool" will be a survival tactic in a market where money is limited. In recessions, or a depression, quality and durability will win.

Also employers are skimping on cooling and ventilation.

Exactly

You should still!

I don't agree with you . You have to pay for good quality clothing. When I graduated from high school I stopped wearing sneakers when I entered college. I dressed in Polo Ralph Lauren button down shirts, Polo Ralph Lauren brogue lace up shoes etc. Back in the 1980s when Perry Ellis introduced his menswear collection his Oxford cloth shirts were $80 and his wool trousers were $160 to $200. I bought some on sale. And let's not forget when Giorgio Armani hit America his clothing was even more expensive. And of course I was a Brooks Brothers fan. I loved the Brooks Brothers classic oxfords shirts and wool trousers. Men today especially young men in this generation dress like bums in their sloppy gym shorts and funky sweat socks in locker room shower shoes! This generation destroyed mens fashion!! I remember guys in my generation collected GQ magazine. Guys today don't read or even pick up a book so they'll never look at a fashion magazine because their heads are glued to their cell phone. Brooks Brothers is not too expensive. If a guy can pay $450 for a pair of Air Jordan's he can also invest in a nice suit!!

@@phillyguy2157 stop with the younger generation bashing. If humans went by your definition of fashion, we will still be wearing sack clothes like medieval Europeans. Poeple nowadays prefer function over form and will happily ditch uncomfortable wear for a more comfortable one

Overpriced? I don’t agree. I remember buying their shirts as early as for my graduation from high school, paid around $110 for a very high quality shirt (still sits in my closet 6 years later). Recently I bought some simple trousers from them from one of their outlets, got it for a steal price of 60/70$. Overall solid 9/10 in terms of quality. Much much better than Polo & Ralph (considering their prices are similar)

@Selim Sultan Akbar akhi, class is a social construct

Their issue isn’t pricing. It was probably their inability to adapt to changes in demand. Their quality is far superior to that of similarly priced (successful) new designers COS, Rag & Bone, Michael-Michael Kors and Theory. Many of my favorite classic fall skirts, jackets, silk scarves are from BB. Their fabrics are lovely and the craftsmanship is equal to that of many high end designers.

Fred Flintstone any brand you recommend offering quality and style men’s ware?

@@beetlespacexdragon7815 www.ivy-style.com would be a good place to look for recommendations. I'm on a similar search for women's wear.

I tried to have a custom blazer made. (Beautiful cloth!) .... Their measurements were off. The cut and fit were terrible. After the third try, I gave up. I have off-the-rack jackets from England (Neapolitan cut) that were a better fit.

how do you tailor a suit to 55" chest, 22 inch arms and 34 inch waist? even a size 60 jacket will tear on my back and arms, buy it looks like a tent. i went to a restaurant with a jacket requirement, and they offered a jacket. the jacket tore in the middle of the back and they said they will overlook the jacket requirement.

that really is the way to go with clothing if you want both quality and affordability, as long as you can find your size in reasonable time. I am quite sad I can't seem to find any quality shirts second hand here, let alone my size (I'm even between sizes usually, so even harder to find them). Or much of anything, really, it seems all stores near me have is an endless supply of jeans and maybe some dresses. And not really thilled about buying second hand online.

ibur But plenty of toxic chemicals to kill you and the environment to get that no-iron look!

As an italian, I find it bizarre how you use the drier for everything. I don't even have one, we usually line dry our clothes, which is much better for their longevity btw. Ofc that takes some time though.

Dheeraj More 😂

No kidding.

His eyebrows need help 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Exactly how I feel. With the relentless domination of Athleisure, where are people like us going to shop?! I'm afraid in another 20 years we're all going to end up having to make our own clothes, like the people from nowadays who love to dress historically (see "Bernadette Banner" here on KZfaq).

A real pity, indeed.

@@jaygatsby9751 Thank You dear Friend ! We are in the same boat and sailing the right course in this life ! Have a nice and prosperous evening !

@@vlado2701 You too, Old Sport.

@@jaygatsby9751 My best friendly hugs dear Friend !

@@vlado2701 You think suits will really make a comeback? Because Suits are business casual, not to mention the attire of a man who runs a corporation.

Exactly!

can't you just buy one MTM from a local tailor at that price?