How can you tell if clothing is good quality in the store?
Check the seams, the fabric hand, the label fiber content, and the hardware - four tells, thirty seconds.
The 30-second inspection: (1) Seams - look inside; you want dense stitching (10+ stitches per inch), finished edges (French or overlocked seams), and no loose threads. (2) Fabric - scrunch a handful for five seconds; quality fabric releases without deep creases, and holds back light better (thin fabric is see-through). (3) Label - natural fibers first, elastane under 5%, and a care instruction the garment can actually survive. (4) Hardware - zippers should be metal (YKK is the reliable stamp) and glide without catching; buttons should be sewn with a shank or thread wrapped stem on coats. Pattern matching at seams - stripes aligning at shoulders - is the bonus tell that a factory cared.