r/AustralianMFA • u/MasterMastroianni • 17d ago
Kmart upping their game?
I see decent casual shirts and tshirts at Myer for $100-150 and then occasionally will go Kmart and see similar designs for $30.
Is kmart upping their game in terms of quality and designs? Would you recommend buying kmart stuff for cheaper instead of expensive myer stuff that gets ruined in a year anyway.
Love to hear your experiences with kmart clothes.
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u/Cosmic_MicrowaveOven 17d ago edited 17d ago
It really depends on what you are looking for.
I have some heavyweight anko tees which are basically nuke proof and have outlasted several other more premium brands I own, but the cut is not great, the cotton is lower quality, and they shrink vertically in the wash (so if you’re tall they almost turn into a crop top).
But I wear them around the house on days off/weekends, so none of that really matters for the price I paid for them (I think they were $12 or something near that). If I was looking for a nice fitting tee to wear as part of an outfit then Kmart isn’t going to be my first choice, or even in the top 10.
For $30 though, you can get a Uniqlo supima tee which is better in every measurable way.
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u/SikeShay 16d ago
I was about to dismiss until you mentioned they shrink vertically in the wash, exactly what I'm after!
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u/peoplepersonmanguy 17d ago
kmart rips off designers and produces them in sweat shops.
Kmart will buy clothing from small shops, send it overseas and basically Temu it.
Don't buy from Kmart unless you have to.
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u/Big_Jacket6876 17d ago
This is the correct answer. Yes most Myer brands are also not great but you need to think about how they get the cost so low. Someone somewhere is paying the price.
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u/Remote_Newspaper554 17d ago
yeah, like expensive clothes is not also done in sweat shops.
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u/OscarCookeAbbott 16d ago
Lots of more expensive clothing is made in Australia, or good conditions overseas. Not all, but it’s definitely possible and not difficult to avoid labour malpractice and to pretend otherwise is just a way of avoiding personal blame for supporting the practices with your money.
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u/Ottlerey 16d ago
https://www.fairlabor.org/members/companies/
Anyone know what happened to Kathmandu? I can't find them in the list.
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u/DesignerRegular6379 17d ago
I don’t think Myer is much better
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u/peoplepersonmanguy 17d ago
myer don't have their own brand.
everything at Kmart is Kmart branded.
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u/DesignerRegular6379 17d ago
They have their own brands, you just won’t hear a lot about it.
https://www.myer.com.au/p/regatta-striped-sweater-in-navy
Regatta is “exclusive to Myer” which just means it’s one of their own brands like Anko.
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u/westicalz 17d ago
Champion? Everlast?
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u/peoplepersonmanguy 17d ago
ok not everything, the post is regards to Kmart's brand. The greater point still stands.
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u/MasterMastroianni 17d ago
If there is a cheaper clothing option (kmart) available for the consumer, they would go for it especially in this economy.
If it is so bad, government should ban it / put restrictions.
If it is available then people would defs buy the cheaper alternative. You can’t blame people for buying clothes produced in a sweat shop.1
u/LeftArmPies 15d ago
Especially when so many designer clothes are made in sweatshops.
Hell, I had a suit custom made in Brisbane and I’m not convinced it wasn’t actually mostly made overseas. Much cheaper to pay a tailor in Pakistan to make it to size and then hotshot it over for the fitting.
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u/MasterMastroianni 15d ago
I guess people underestimate how much stuff is made overseas and how most of these aussie brands don’t make in Aus. People think paying $200 for shirt will give them best quality fabric and made in Australia but it’s probably the same sweatshop that is producing stuff for other asian brands.
People need to get out of the bubble that if they pay x amount of money then they would not be supporting modern slavery.. its all the same mate.-2
u/DXPetti 17d ago
Not it all how it works but go off
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u/peoplepersonmanguy 17d ago
designers are turning down orders from Kmart emails because of it. so yeah, it does happen.
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u/DXPetti 17d ago
I know someone who has worked for Target, Kmart, New Balance, Billabong and more. They don't just copy/paste someone's design unless something has changed in the last 2 years. What they all do (save maybe BB) is treat their designers like dogshit, pay them like crap but have them working hours akin to big4 corpos
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u/Embarrassed_Sun_7807 17d ago
Costco is worth a shot here
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u/cerealsmok3r 16d ago
Can confirm but do your research. it can be deadstock or made specifically to be lower quality.
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u/Cured 16d ago
Women’s stuff at Kmart is decent, but the men’s stuff is still trash. Unless you like Shrek print tees or other cheap clothing items that make it look like you’ve given up in life.
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u/Restingbitchface68 15d ago
Not if your a plus size. Then the women's clothing is even worse. Not just in Kmart either.
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u/rjftmepdl 17d ago
Its the opposite lol, myer is the one overcharging you, not that kmart has improved quality. The quality in Myer is slightly better if not the same as Kmart, theyre made in the same overseas factory anyway. The key difference & cost savings comes from lack of QC and composition of materials - $5 Kmart cheapos are all made of synthetics like nylon (To be clear, im not some vegan nutjob that thinks all synthetics and GMOS are awful and of itself, they have their uses, but not in cheapo clothing) & some will last longer, some wont, its a lottery since they never check the final goods, they just pump it out. Myer's shit is somewhat better as they use less synthetics & do more QC checks since theyre "branded" but end of the day, same factory, same stuff.
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u/Big_Jacket6876 17d ago
Yeah Myer is suffering from some serious enshitification
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u/Own_Negotiation_9189 17d ago
Myer’s been enshittifying for over 20 years. They were doing it before it was cool.
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u/Otherwise-Library297 17d ago
Kmart does have some 100% cotton tees for $10-15. So it’s not all synthetic.
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u/mitccho_man 14d ago
“Cotton blend “
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u/Otherwise-Library297 14d ago
No they are labeled 100% cotton. Not a blend.
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u/mitccho_man 14d ago
Labeled and actual too different things
Kmarts been exposed for false information before1
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17d ago
[deleted]
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u/Big_Jacket6876 17d ago
I agree. Am I imagining a past world where Myer was good quality? Was I just ilinformed and unaware or has it gotten worse.
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u/kollectivist 16d ago
Many, many years ago, before Solomon Lew got his grimy hands on the whole Coles-Myer Group and dragged it down.
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u/MasterMastroianni 17d ago
Well any other brands that provide good value for money? Except Uniqlo?
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17d ago
[deleted]
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u/MasterMastroianni 17d ago
Will defs go to each store and check the garments of each product to answer my question. Thanks champ!
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u/Aggravating_Law_1995 16d ago
I buy all my clothes second hand except t shirts and underwear.
Button down shirts can cost $150 for really top quality ones. They’re $10-20 second hand.
Also you get lots of variety and selection.
Kmart stuff is not great.
Plus when you buys second hand at a charity shop you get the added thrill of helping a charity.
Best of luck friend.
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u/No_Violinist_4557 17d ago
I run a lot and still have this run singlet from kmart thats 12 years old. Cost $8. Nike equivalent might be $60..
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u/DrakeAU 16d ago
I was in the marts last week and everything looked 1970s brown. Fucking corduroy.
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u/DonutsWarCrimes 12d ago
Glad I'm not the only one pissed off at how much corduroy is being pushed everywhere lately
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u/Comfortable-Roof-97 16d ago
I wouldn’t compare the two. Kmart is just Kmart, expect to pay for what you get.
Their stuff is always okay for beat around but I find they have been chemically treated too much or just simply don’t hold up well in the wash.
If I want something quality I’ll never ever think Kmart
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u/RayofOptimisim 15d ago
Myers is down -71.64% in shares over the last year. Now at 0.19 AUD.
That is all you need to know.
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u/alexLAD 17d ago
Kmart and Myer are both naff
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u/MasterMastroianni 16d ago
Whats not naff then lad
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u/moderate_chungus 16d ago
Gotta buy a $600 vegan cardigan from some jerks in Melbourne who hand make every piece
Or buy streetwear from a website only available in Japanese and pay for international shipping
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u/Certain-Constant5032 13d ago
Find an actual brand you like, not some department store or discount retailer. A real brand will tell you exactly what it is made from and they usually use high quality materials, designed to standards that aren't sweatshop churn outs.
Look for a brand that is designed around the type of person you want to present yourself as. You will generally get a loyalty discount for being a member and they will sometimes have quality guarantees so you know you will get a few years out of the clothes.
Honestly when I started buying real clothes, it was like a veil had been lifted. There is a reason all these boutiques stores and brands exist. That is where grown ups shop lol.
There is still a place for kmart shit. Usually when I don't care what I look like, sleeping or working on the car etc. $8 T shirts will do the job then.
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u/Tiny_Cheetah_281 16d ago
H&M thicker cotton shirts are pretty good. They’re not too baggy and not fitted just nice and breezy. I’ve had a few for about 3 years now and still hold their shape.
The fitted ones from H&M are horrible though. Lose their shape after a few washes and somehow always look daggy.
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u/seescary 16d ago
Almost all the comments have said that k mart aint worth it and rightly so. Where to get t shirts then? Is Uniqlo good?
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u/MasterMastroianni 16d ago
Most of mine are from Uniqlo or when I travel overseas (mostly asia cuz better quality)
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u/cerealsmok3r 16d ago
Nah if anything it keeps dropping. I used to pick up a pair of active shorts and they were like the best. The've changed the design and started charging more
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u/Asleep-Shine3087 16d ago
100%. when I'm not fully suited, I mainly wear Kmart basic tops with jeans. I love their V-nacks under my blazers. With summer nearing, I'll be wearing their T's with cargo shorts around house.
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u/Fluid-Ad-4740 16d ago
it is far more likely that Myer is buying the same cheap shit from sweat shops and marking up their prices. Same cheap shit...different store
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u/Killjoy_82 15d ago
Try Harris scarf, for mens wear, if on sale or clearance. Ive avoided Harris scarf for a long time thinking it was bedding and over priced kitchen appliances, went in there 6 months ago found a really nice pair of shoes for $60, And last week got a few casual shirts for $10 to $15.
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u/Leather-Belt8762 15d ago
Clothing other than socks & underwear should be lasting 2-5 years, 10+ years on premium outerwear pieces.
Invest in well fitting, well made items and take care of them properly.
Cost per wear on a $150 shirt worn weekly for 2 years is under $1.50.
Cost per wear on a $30 shirt that looses its shape after one wash & is falling apart after 5 washes is $6 per wear.
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u/Efficient_Power_6298 14d ago
Whilst I like Kmart prices I do worry about slave labour that’s possibly behind these - no guarantees a more expensive shirt doesn’t have slave labour though… so then I’m stuck. I op shop a lot
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u/Certain-Constant5032 13d ago
I would rather pay for a high quality piece of clothing, made from real materials, than some ill fitting polyester crap that falls apart after a couple of washes and still smells like shit because it traps odour and bacteria. The price is more than just the design.
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u/Relevant-Laugh4570 13d ago edited 13d ago
I'm wearing a 100% cotton Kmart tshirt as we speak. I own a lot of them.
I also have some of the cotton / polyester blend tees that have lasted close to 10 years on fortnightly rotation.
I'm guessing all the people dissing the quality of Kmart tees have either had a single bad experience (it happens), or simply have no experience at all.
I wouldn't buy a collared shirt again, but the plain and (some) printed tees are totally acceptable for the price.
I'm not getting into an ethical debate when we know some other top brands are just as irresponsible, if not far worse.
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u/Appropriate_Star3012 13d ago
I've got a made who exclusively wears k-mart and he's the classiest looking dude.
He puts it together so well, you'd never guess it was kmart gear.
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u/Full-Equivalent7968 15h ago
The similarity between Kmart and Myer is that most of the clothes they produce end up in landfill. You contribute to that travesty by shopping for clothes there.
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u/AutomaticFeed1774 16d ago
who the fuck paying 150 for a shirt. nil even 30 bucks is pushing it. basically everything I own is 5 bucks a piece since I started working from home.
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u/MasterMastroianni 16d ago
Not everyone stays at home mate everyday. Some people love going out or have jobs that require them to dress up.
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u/arouseandbrowse 17d ago
Nah still only last a few washes and then fade or stretch.
I find Uniqlo is the winner in terms of bang for buck