Comments on: Primark

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:23:54 +0000

Have you tried Peacocks?

In the words of Aled from Radio One, to the tune of Amarillo, Tony Christie and Peter Kay…

“Theres a shop called peacocks… where I get my underpants and cheap socks..”

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:29:23 +0000

I’m sure you’re probably right. Looking a couple of Diesel t-shirts in my wardrobe (probably cost £25-30 each), they were made in Hong Kong and India. For the same money I could have ten Primark t-shirts, and presumably the workers would earn far more money from those ten t-shirts in total.

I like H&M too, but in the last year or so their prices seem to have risen, and I’m finding less that I like to buy. I still check them out on a regular basis though.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:54:08 +0000

“It’s not all perfect though… I do have some worries about how much the workers making the clothes are earning.”

Enough to make a better living than if Primark weren’t selling their clothes. This is what’s lifting so many in China out of abject poverty. The wealth isn’t shared well, and people are having to work very, very hard for their money, but at least the money is getting there. The clothes are still more expensive in Primark than their equivalents in China too. I remember buying two decent shirts and a pair of jeans from a smart (but Chinese-branded) shop in Xian for just over £10.

Anyway who isn’t selling clothes made in China these days? When the more expensive shops do it, how much of the markup goes to China? I doubt if it’s any more than Primark.

(Though I must admit - I prefer H&M. Not quite as cheap as Primark, but still very good value)