I'd pay more. If we're talking about the same quality in garment. Its important to support British industry I think. Though if the shirts were double the price I'd perhaps think twice. The sort of clothes I buy tend to be made in Europe anyway so price isn't so different.

Last edited by Bishop of Briggs (2013-05-25 04:05:48)

Yes happy to  buy British and pay the extra when we make a good product. Shoes is but one example.

Tried to post this earlier but the site was down


Is the quality of UK made stuff any better?

I often look at Loake made-in- India shoes (most of my shoes are Loake) and wonder if they are any different  - all other things being equal - than the made-in-Kettering shoes.

But GW does have  a point about supporting local industry. If price is the only consideration for the buyer, British makers can only decline  further, I suppose.

Sadly I already pay for stuff made in USA and UK!

The whole scene here is a bit silly and I expect the same themes as everywhere else.

The ignorant mercantilist retailers demand government protection via tariffs, barriers to trade and tax breaks, R&D breaks etc,  from any and all competition. Despite simultaneously railing against taxes, big government and red tape and demanding unfettered right to treat both customers and employees as indentured serfs. Never get in between a free market capitalist and a government handout.

So we have billionaires whinging about an overseas firm winning a contract by supplying better goods, on time and cheaper. And the radio, and media shock jock rightwing populists whip up  hysteria to "Buy Australian Made"

At the same time we export nearly all our wool, wheat and much meat. This is celebrated as we have better wool, meat etc than others and we do it cheaper.  See any disconnect here? _ when we do it better, cheaper and on time its good for other countries to buy it but if they do it in return then that is bad "unaustralian"

Same with dairy products  - we export to the world because we are better , cheaper etc. Not to mention Wine. Oceans of it. Good and cheap. We displace other countries wine on UK and other shelves - oh but thats good. But let anyone supply the Australian consumer with what they want at the right price and high quality and out the protected millionaires go on TV , shock jocks foam and froth at the mic, and politicians cave in. And silly consumers buy all the nonsense.

As far as clothing goes - its no idle hubris to claim that Australia produces the finest merino wool in the world. Not only that we supply the MOST of it in the world. But can we add value - no thats not our (lazy) way. We just rip it off the sheep, push it into bales and ship it over to Italy and UK where its woven into the finest fabrics then shipped to Spain, Romania, Italy, China and made into suits and jackets etc. The its shipped back here and sold at prices dearer than anywhere else in the world.

Australian made clothing - bah - barely exist these days and what exists isn't much chop.

Oh theres RM Williams - world renown for a unique product - there simple isnt a Chelsea boot (or Work boot actually) that is Bus/Cas made as well anywhere. Or as good looking. . Otherwise SFA that I can see.

But don't get me going

I bought three polos in Sunspel yesterday - made in England and half price at £37.50 each.

Sadly, Tricker's have again lowered the quality of their summer sale shoes. The leather on the soles was much inferior to those on the normal stock. They will last only a few wearings and I will complain to the head office again.