#which require gentler methods of washing because they’re very very special and a lot of work went into making them

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

I got a like-new, hand-crank Wonderwash from a reputable seller for 55 dollars total. Now I don’t have to pay four dollars every time I need to wash/dry my clothes or towels. :D

[yourkeeperoftherunners]

A Brief Commentary on Clothing Construction

I’ve seen a lot of people on here and other social media platforms discuss fashion, especially why things cost so much and why our favorite celebrities spend so much money on expensive brands or goods. I know for many people it’s shocking to see someone wearing something that can cost a month’s rent or even the down payment on a property or car for a single item, but keep in mind the following factors:

Your favorite celebrity was probably borrowing/renting the clothes for free. Luxury brands are striving to get likeable role models wearing their clothes, which in turn spurs their fans and other individuals in that age group to buy or consider their brand.

A stylist probably chose that clothing item or brand so the celebrity looks modern and pulled together. These people are paid to make celebrities look good and photo-worthy – while they may take input from their clients, they’re dressing the celebrity to fit an image.

Based on the celebrity’s profession and net worth, they may have been purchased with their funds based on their personal taste.

Regardless of the reasons, I know many balk at the price tags of things and wonder why spend so much when you can get something cheaper. Below the cut, I delve into some of my learnings from sewing and clothing construction courses I’ve taken, plus general observations I’ve made as I’ve done my own projects and information I’ve read. Please note I am not an expert in this field – these are my personal thoughts.

Back in the olden days, people either made their clothes at home (sewing was a practical skill taught at a young age) or if you had money, you paid a tailor to make you clothes based on your measurements. It wasn’t until the 20th Century when clothing that was made and ready to purchase and wear was sold in designated clothing shops and boutiques. (Ready-to-wear)

Sewing as a skill has evolved throughout the recent years – before the invention of the sewing machine, you sewed by hand, which is a tedious act that requires focus and patience. Modern sewing machines nowadays can create beautiful rows of even stitches that will stay in place with every tug, pull, and stretch that the garment goes through. (Also it requires less time to assemble pieces of fabric into something wearable.)

Rundown of Sewing Methods/Machines

Hand sewing: Takes the longest, requires a steady hand, and a lot of patience and practice to achieve. Ideal for small fixes (Ex. Loose buttons, small holes in clothes, etc.) in a pinch. Often fashions houses will employ this technique when applying a decoration or design treatment to highlight the craftsmanship. (The latter may contribute to a higher price as this cannot be achieved by a machine – often an individual or artisan is doing this one by one.)

Basic Sewing Machine: Good for the home sewer, pre-programed with basic stitches and sewing functions. Anyone from a beginner to an expert can use one. Most of the models are digital and have screens where you tap to adjust the stitch size, width, and type before using a foot pedal to make the machine start sewing. Typically these are suited for lightweight and medium fabrics – exercise caution and care if sewing with heavier duty fabrics like furniture upholstery and leather. (The latter will require special needles.)

Industrial Sewing Machine: Like the name indicates, these are for factories who produce tons of clothing on a regular basis. They are robust machines that can sew any type of garment with any fabric with few errors or issues. There are a few available for regular home sewing purposes, but keep in mind these are going to be bigger and may require more space.

Serger: If you’ve ever seen the hem on a t-shirt and turned it up to see a complex network of threads intertwined in the back, while 2 parallel lines are visible on top, this was done on a serger machine. Often these are in factories and they create finished seams in garments, creating a cleaner look inside the garment. (Also they reinforce the areas where pieces were sewed together – the complex network of threads helps to keep those areas sewed together.) There are home versions of these machines, but smaller.  

Reasons for Higher Cost

Where was this made? Every garment has a tag that states where your clothing was made. If your clothes were made in a first or second world country, chances are the costs are higher to produce that garment, based on wages for the workers, conditions, etc. Third world countries have different labor laws and it’s cheaper to outsource goods – this is why many people will see Made in China/Vietnam/Thailand/etc. on cheaper clothing.

What materials were used to make this? Synthetics like polyester, nylon, and some viscose blends are manmade and they’re cheaper to manufacture. Natural fibers like cotton, silk, and wool came from plants and animals – depending on a variety of factors including weather and conditions where the fiber was produced, the cost of natural fibers can fluctuate based on demand and availability of raw materials.

How was it constructed? Study the seams and the decoration application. One of the basic things they taught me in clothing construction was a variety of seams, from zigzag to French seams. Flat fell seams and French seams require more time to complete and finish than a zigzag seam. The high end designers tend to use these last two seams, along with serger finishing for a clean look. If you’re a woman/identify as one, you may notice some rounded seams in the chest areas of dresses, blouses, and other fitted apparel – these are called princess seams and they’re added to help the fabric lie/drape around your chest in a flattering way. (They can be tricky to construct but they can elevate and improve the fit in a garment – another detail you may find in designer clothing.) If you notice that something is lined (inside of a jacket, inside of an evening dress, etc.), that may be a contributing factor to the cost. Essentially, you’re making a thinner/lighter “shell” of the item to put inside the main garment to give it a more professional finish and feel. In many cases for jackets, linings hide seams and the person wearing it will have something softer against their skin. (Ex. Sports letterman jackets are usually made of wool/wool blend , but the main body of the jacket is lined with a satin or silk fabric so it’s gentler on the wearer’s body and makes it easier for them to slip their arms into it.)

Misc

Leather can be difficult to work with. Based on the animal your hide came from, how old it is, and the treatment done to the leather, prices can vary on leather goods. Those who work in the material tend to make a draft version in a cheaper fabric (a muslin) before they start sewing because once you put a hole in leather, it cannot be removed/disappear like a knit or a woven. No two hides are the same and every single one will have imperfections, unless the designer cuts or treats the leather in a way that hides those imperfections. The trade off with this material is that it is very durable and with proper TLC can last for a long time. (You’ll often see it for motorcycle and biker apparel because it will protect the wearer if they fell from their bike and not rip open.) Doc Martens are known for being made of very stiff leather that requires patience (and pain in many cases) to break in and mold to your feet – the original intention of these shoes was a practical, long-lasting utilitarian shoe for the worker that would protect their feet while working.

Modern clothes are colored with synthetic dyes, which is how you can achieve vibrant colors in a broad spectrum of shades. Anything made with a natural dye (from plants) will have a less vibrant shade, unless the garment has been dyed multiple times to get a deeper/richer hue. Often the natural dyes will be in more neutral colors and the dye job may look uneven, depending on the treatment/process. (Ex. BTS’s RM wears a lot of clothing from Visvim, many of which were dyed using veggie and plant-based dyes, which are gentler on the earth.)

Denim has changed, due to material availability and a broad range of body types in consumers. Previously denim was 100% cotton and was stiff – often it required many wears to soften the denim and mold it to fit your body well. With people being different shapes and sizes, majority of denim seen in regular retailers will have higher percentages of elastic and synthetic fibers that are stretchy to accommodate different wearers. The elastic and synthetics are more forgiving to those with curvier figures and they won’t be as stiff to wear off the rack. (Most Western brands utilize this material composition as it allows them to sell their pairs to a wide range of consumers.) In contrast, Japanese selvage denim is constructed with a higher cotton content and minimal elastic/stretch and in some cases is dyed with real indigo plant dyes. (Western brands are rarely utilizing true indigo dye and rely on a manmade version to achieve the denim blue color.) Japanese selvage denim will have a stiffer feel and will take time to break in, but the pairs may last you longer as there’s less elastic fiber content. (Over time, elastic stretches out and with frequent washing and drying at high temperatures, fibers snap and break, often resulting in the jeans losing their shape and looking baggy.)

[triplejumprunway]

Triple Jump Runway

-Specialist builders ought to be used to undertake any athletics facility installation project. To build a long jump, to begin with you should do will be the prep ground works. The preparation tasks are crucial because they support the rest of the surfacing so they really ought to be done properly. Excavating the prior surface is done first, this involves taking the surface area to the right depth. The sub base ground is made flat as well as compressed, this really makes the substrata solid. Specialized PPC tips will be installed around the exterior of the run-up and also sand pit, and then a geotextile membrane should be put down. The geotextile layer really helps to prevent unwanted weeds from growing up on the long jump space. A natural stone sub-base will then be fitted to produce a effective and also porous layer. Finally, the macadam coating will be included, this makes the outer lining flat, tough and porous. If take off boards are used, they'd be included in this method. The sand pits for long jump facilities can be set up in a range of measurements to match your customers specifications.

There are a few distinct surface specs which can be used for long jump run-ways. Either polymeric EPDM or needlepunch man made turf may be used for the surfacing. Both kinds of surfacing will be porous, that means they will not flood.

Needlepunch surface types will be rolled out like a carpet to the sub-base and fitted utilizing glue. The needlepunch fibres will be woven together to make a sturdy surface designed for long jumps. Fine sand is put inside the surfacing simply because it makes very good surface area characteristics. Numerous schools opt to have this type of surfacing fitted. This is because it is a much softer surface for children to utilize. Athletic centres choose to have polymeric rubber surfaces. As it is used by numerous professionals and industry experts. To make a rubberized surfacing, rubber crumb and then binder will be mixed and then it is rolled out.

It is always advise that you carry out schedule upkeep for the long jump run-way to help keep it in great condition. A maintenance schedule is recommended because you are being proactive with the servicing. This can help to avoid impairments and ensure that the surfacing will be kept safe. Sweeping and then getting rid of any sort of contaminants should be carried out regularly, along with a light jet wash. This could avoid contamination developing and then blocking the water flow structure. Appropriate shoes really should be used on the long jumps seeing that some shoes may harm it. House hold detergent along with hot water can remove surface stains. If any weeds show up, subsequently treatment really should be used. When oil products are being used, it can result in surface area complications so you must ensure these aren't utilised. If any ice or snow is on the long jump surfaces, then rubber edge scrappers and a brush should really be utilized to take it off. It is strongly suggested to never utilize any sort of salt or even grit, as this can create problems for your long jump surface area. There is specialized de-icers intended for surfacing accessible if you want to make use of them.

-Long jump runway facilities should be installed by industry experts to be sure the greatest outcome. The initial component of a long jump pit construction would be to prepare the groundworks. If the ground works are not carried out correctly, it can cause plenty of complications. It is crucial to excavate the current surfacing and then take it to the suitable depth. The sub base floor is made flat and also compacted, this will make the substrata strong. Then PCC solid tips are installed for your perimeter and also a geotextile membrane is put in. Geotextile layers are positioned within the sub base to prevent unwanted weeds growing. To really make the sub base surfacing compact, MOT type 1 stones are positioned in and compacted. A tarmacadam surfacing layer is included to make it a porous and also a level facility and then take off boards could be set. Sand pits are recommended at the end of long jumps, we are able to put in this kind of facility in a choice of models and specs.

There are two distinct floor specs you can use for long jump tracks. Both polymeric EPDM or needlepunch synthetic playing surfaces can be utilized for the surface. Both types of surfacing are porous, so this means they don't puddle.

Manufactured needlepunch surfaces, is a man-made carpet which happens to be rolled out on top of the sub base, they're fitted by applying glue. The man-made materials will be combined using a needling process in which makes strength. Sand is put in the surface as it makes excellent surface area features. This kind of surface will be well-known for educational facilities. As it is a gentle surfacing choice for younger individuals to use. Athletic establishments would prefer to get polymeric rubber surfaces. Professional athletes normally like the polymeric rubber tracks. To produce a rubberized surface, rubber crumb and then binder will be mixed then it's rolled out.

If you need to sustain good condition for the long jump, we recommend routine maintenance. To be proactive with the servicing, we advise setting up a regular plan for the long jump surface. This can help to avoid impairments and ensure that the facility is kept safe. A light jet-wash as well as brushing should be done often. Carrying this out type of servicing can get rid of any sort of debris and dirt stopping the water drainage structure. Appropriate shoes or boots ought to be worn on the long jumps since various footwear may damage it. If your sports surfacing gets any stains onto it, warm water and soap could be used to wash it. It is important to use a chemical substance solution to get rid of any weeds or even moss which show up on the long jump surfacing. When oil products are used, it can result in surfacing problems therefore you must be sure these aren't used. In cold weather a rubber edge shovel along with brush really should get rid of any sort of ice or compacted snow. Please don't utilize sand or grit in the sports run up surfacing because they can damage the product. Specially designed de-icers may be used to remove ice from the long jump runway if required.

-Industry professionals should do long jump development work, simply because they will have additional knowledge and experience. To develop a long jump, the initial thing you must do will be the preparation groundworks. If the ground works are not finished properly, it may cause a lot of problems. It's important to excavate the current surface and also go to the correct level. To make a reliable foundation for your long jump run-up, the ground surface should be compacted. Next PCC solid tips are installed for the outside and a geotextile membrane will be set up. Using a geotextile membrane in the sub-base stops unwanted weeds growing. MOT type 1 stone is commonly used and then compacted inside the sub-base surfacing. A macadam surface layer will be included to turn it into a porous as well as a smooth area and then take off boards might be fixed. Sand pits are offered to be placed in numerous design and style specs.

There is 2 different surfacing requirements which you can use for long jump tracks. Either polymeric EPDM or even needlepunch synthetic playing surfaces may be used for the surfacing. The two surface doesn't keep water since they are permeable which means liquid drains through these.

Needlepunch surfaces are generally rolled out similar to a carpet on top of the sub base and then fitted by using glue. The materials are woven to develop a sturdy floor. A fine sand infill is applied to create very good overall performance properties. This type of surfacing will be widely used for educational institutions. A needlepunch flooring can be used since it is gentler and much more comfortable for younger users. Other sports establishments might have polymeric rubber surfacing installed. Skilled sports athletes often choose the polymeric epdm flooring. It is a hard surfacing which may be installed in various specs to fit each facility.

If you'd like the long jump run-up to keep appearing its very best, regular preservation should be carried out. A repairs and maintenance plan is strongly recommended as you will be proactive with the servicing. This may stop significant and costly maintenance being necessary. Brushing and then taking away any kind of contamination ought to be done frequently, along with a light jet wash. Carrying this out sort of servicing may get rid of any kind of waste and also dirt stopping the water drainage structure. Constantly be sure you wear appropriate boots and shoes while using the long jump surface to prevent deterioration. House hold detergent along with hot water could get rid of surface stains. It is important to apply a chemical treatment to remove any weeds or moss which appear on the long jump area. When oil substances are used, it can cause surfacing issues therefore you must ensure these are not utilized. If any ice or even snowfall is on the long jumps, then rubberized edge scrappers and also a brush should really be utilized to remove it. Please do not use sand and grit on the athletics track surface because they can damage the material. There are specialist de-icers intended for surfaces available if you'd like to utilize them.

-Specialists should do long jump building projects, because they may have a lot more knowledge and experience. Groundworks are the initial stuff that should be done whenever installing a long jump, this is so the area is prepared. The preparation works are essential simply because they support the rest of the surfacing so they should be carried out correctly. Excavating the prior surface area is done to begin with, this involves taking the surface to the correct level. To make a dependable foundation for the long jump run-up, the ground surface area should be compressed. Then PCC solid tips are set up for your border and also a geotextile membrane layer will be installed. The geotextile layer really helps to prevent weeds from appearing around the long jump area. A stone sub base will then get built to make a sturdy and also porous level. Then a tarmac floor coating will be included to make it a permeable and also a level facility and take off boards may be fixed. The sand pits for long jump surfaces could be placed in an array of sizes to accommodate your customers specifications.

There are different kinds of long jump surfaces. Long jump tracks might have man-made needlepunch or maybe polymeric rubber surfacing. These two surface kinds are porous so water has the ability to drain through and to the ground.

Artificial needlepunch surface types, is known as a synthetic carpet that is rolled out on top of the sub base, they're installed by using glue. The needlepunch materials will be weaved together to produce a sturdy area for long jumps. Sand infill should get spread throughout the carpeting to provide excellent playing qualities. Lots of schools as well as recreational establishments have the needlepunch playing surface installed for long jump run-ways. It is because it is a gentler surface area for children to make use of. Athletic facilities would rather get polymeric rubber surfaces. Professional athletes commonly prefer the polymeric rubberized flooring. The surface area is made from rubberized crumb and then binder and then rolled on the surface.

If you'd like the long jump run-up to stay appearing its best, routine upkeep needs to be done. A upkeep schedule is highly recommended as you will be proactive with the maintenance. The proactive schedule, can hold off any sort of severe and costly repairs becoming needed. A gentle jet-wash and sweeping must be carried out routinely. By carrying out this particular routine maintenance you can get eliminate dirt along with leaves and so the tiny holes do not get blocked up. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes or boots while using the long jump surface to avoid deterioration. House hold detergent and hot water could eliminate surfacing stains. If any unwanted weeds appear, subsequently treatment really should be utilized. If oil products are used, it can cause surfacing complications so you should make sure these are not applied. During winter weather, rubberized edges shovels and scrapers may be used to eliminate snow and ice from your sports surfacing. Salt and also grit should not be used as they can create a lot more surfacing complications. De-icers designed for surfaces may be provided if you'd like to utilize these.