Guest: Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic. They discuss the decline in clothing quality, reasons behind it, tips for buying quality sweaters, the decline of ironing and domestic care tasks, the evolution of flattering clothing, and upcoming changes to the podcast.
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Impact of Global Trade on Sweater Quality
Quality in sweaters has declined significantly over 20 years due to changes in production and materials.
The expiration of the multi-fiber arrangement in 2005 shifted garment manufacturing and trade, affecting quality worldwide.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Old vs New Sweater Fibers
Amanda found older sweaters from the 2000s often 100% natural fibers like wool or cotton.
Today's typical sweaters include synthetics like nylon or polyester, reflecting material and manufacturing shifts.
insights INSIGHT
Environmental Cost of Rayon Fabrics
Viscose and rayon are plant-based but chemically intensive fabrics causing environmental and health harms.
These materials are cheaper to produce in countries with lax regulations, driving their prevalence.
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For the maiden voyage of the Culture Study podcast, we’re taking a hard look at a problem that plagues us all: terrible clothes. Why are shirts falling apart or pilling after just a few wears? Why does Gucci charge $3200 for a polyester sweater? What happened to ironing and will we ever dry clean en masse again?
Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins me for a deep dive into the past twenty years of fashion production (and consumption) trends.
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Show notes:
The tweet I describe in the beginning of the podcast
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