I have expensive shirts and cheap ones. Definitely a tangible difference in look and feel, but some of my most functional are a cheap range from uniqlo which do

I have expensive shirts and cheap ones. Definitely a tangible difference in look and feel, but some of my most functional are a cheap range from uniqlo which don't need any ironing and use good cotton. Unfortunately you are usually paying for a double yoke. It's true that what we think of as designer brands in clothing tend to rebadge and sometimes the only value they add is some visual design element. It's a part of why we see a focus on 'the artisanal economy' - a logo can be reproduced easily but somebody who has had decades of sewing shirt collars or handmaking shoes can't and has scarcity as well as quality. Not scalable individually but collectively very high value in much the same way.