All clothing is handmade (2022)

Human vs. Machine in Clothing Production

• Strong consensus that most garments (shirts, jeans, underwear) are still sewn by humans using machines; true full automation is rare except for certain items like socks or some knitwear.
• Key technical blocker: fabric is deformable and stretchy, making it hard for robots to handle with the precision needed for consistent sizing.
• Some argue the “all clothing is handmade” framing is fuzzy—by that standard, cars are also “handmade,” since humans still do final assembly. Others counter that if operating a loom counts as “hand weaving” (e.g., Harris Tweed), then sewing-machine work should count as “handmade” too.

Quality, Durability, and Inflation

• Long, heated subthread on whether clothing quality has declined while prices (adjusted for inflation) stayed similar.
• Many report older workwear, shirts, jeans, shoes, and underwear lasting dramatically longer than modern equivalents; elastic and socks are cited as especially degraded.
• Some attribute this to “enshittification”: quality quietly cut to disguise real inflation, while CPI uses hedonic adjustments that may understate true same-quality inflation.
• Others argue survivor bias and rising incomes: cheap junk has always existed, but we now have far more ultra-cheap options. High-quality garments still exist, but price is no longer a reliable quality signal.

Labor, Skill, and Inequality

• Core article thesis—workers in Cambodia/Asia are not inherently less skilled than Western ones—is seen as obvious but necessary to restate.
• Several note that the same contempt for labor behind exploitative outsourcing also hit domestic textile workers.
• One commenter’s failed attempt to sew underwear highlights how extremely skilled factory workers are, despite very low pay; this shakes faith in “hard work → wealth.”
• Discussion of “unequal exchange” and how most value is captured by brands/marketing, not by the people who sew.

DIY Making and Craftsmanship

• Multiple hobbyists (garments, leather wallets) report being able to make extremely durable items by using thick, high-quality materials and slow, careful techniques.
• Watching industrial operators reveals their higher technical skill, but mass-market designs often prioritize look, trend, and margin over longevity.

Fit, Tailoring, and Customization

• Many complain that RTW clothing never fits; suggestion to buy off-the-rack and tailor, though realistic alteration prices are debated and often high.
• Some turn to sewing their own clothes to get both good fit and interesting fabrics, gaining empathy for how much labor is embedded in each garment.