Shorts, shirts, skirts, tops, gowns, jeans, or traditional outfits that are region-specific, one has a lot of options available on hand in terms of clothing and apparel. As per individual preferences and societal rules, people can choose to wear anything that they like. The market is filled with diversities in clothing.
One generally looks for certain traits when it comes to choosing an appropriate cloth. If these traits are found, they choose to wear the selected apparel. The said traits include good quality, cost efficiency, and the glamour to make a good impression before a mass of people. If any piece of clothing has these qualities in it, it is likely to be purchased.
The market is filled with two categories of clothing: machine-made clothes and hand-made clothes. One can opt for any type of clothing. Both are comfortable and beneficial to the wearer in their own ways. The basic difference between the two is that hand-made clothes are made entirely by human beings while the other is made with the help of machines.
Longtime back, before the invention of textile machines, only hand-made clothes existed! Later on, machine-made clothes ruled the entire clothing market. But hand-made clothes never went out of demand. It still exists with a huge fan following all over the world. People prefer to buy them over the former because of the strength, durability, and uniqueness it encompasses.
Machine-made clothes, however, undoubtedly rule the apparel market. Major apparel manufacturers and retailers of the world deal in machine-made clothes. They are inexpensive as compared to the latter. They can be availed in all sizes and patterns. But they do not encompass any aesthetic value like the latter.
It is true that people think twice before purchasing hand-made clothes in comparison to machine-made clothes. This is because they cost way more than the latter. Preparing them is extremely laborious and time-consuming. Makers take care of the minutest of details. Therefore, they normally cost more. On the other hand, the latter can be easily prepared with the help of machines.
Machine-made clothes are produced in bulk. They give the same treatment to a large quantity of apparel. It is likely that they miss out on a fair treatment to some out of the lot, but it is unlikely that they give better treatment to some out of the lot. They last only a few months or a few years. On the other hand, the former is known for its uniqueness and for its special treatment.
Generally, rural population around the world prefers to stick to handmade clothes. This is because they make their own clothes. The same clothes when traded outside sell for considerably high cost. Making clothes is a part of the handicraft industry in majority of the rural areas of the world.
The life in the city is fast and hectic. Urban population is occupied with a lot of work and may hardly find time to make clothes for themselves. Buying hand-made clothes may prove expensive to them. Machine made clothes are available in a variety of patterns, sizes, and colors. Urban population resorts to the use of machine made clothes, majority of times.
Overall statistics reveal that the demand for hand-made clothing is increasing. London's Savile Row sells almost 10,000 hand-made garments daily. This is because of its custom made characteristic and its quality. Surveys show that hand-made apparels have a lot of prestige associated with it in modern times.
No doubt, each of the types has its own shortcomings that make it suitable only for a certain number of people. Hand-made clothing may not be desired by people who are not willing to spend a lot of money on clothing. One can only consider wearing it if one has enough time on hand so as to make it, or making it is a profession for the wearer.
Machine made clothes may cause fitting problems, as unlike hand-made clothes they are made to fit thousands of people. One may not get the garment that one had in mind. Majority of the times, people have to be content with what is in front of them and not get to decide what they wear.
One of the biggest advantages of hand-made clothes is that they are environment friendly. Since they are not made with the help of machines, there are hardly any chances of water, energy, land, and other natural resources getting wasted. No toxic chemicals are released into land, air, or water. It is completely eco friendly.
Be it hand-made or machine made, clothes have to be such that serves individual purposes. If one is interested in getting a never-seen-before type of outfit, it is advisable to choose hand-made clothes. But if one is also worried about other things like price and is willing to forego uniqueness for a decent, elegant, and classy look; one may opt for machine made clothes.
References:
- Blog.thesietch.org
- Wsj.com
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