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Ralph Lauren underwear costs $11 - 18 a pair (directly, probably cheaper on Amazon), less than half the price this new start up is selling for. Apart from maybe

by bko 5y ago

Ralph Lauren underwear costs $11 - 18 a pair (directly, probably cheaper on Amazon), less than half the price this new start up is selling for. Apart from maybe Avocado, these companies aren't marketed as lifestyle, just sensible products. And note its not complaining. I don't care because I don't buy these overpriced products. I'm just commenting on the idea that all the "innovation" in consumer tech is basically just selling the same shit made in China for 10x the price to people who are susceptible to advertising. It's just weird and not the kind of progress I would expect in a dynamic innovative society. https://www.calvinklein.us/en/underwear https://www.calvinklein.us/en/underwear https://www.ralphlauren.com/men-clothing-underwear https://www.ralphlauren.com/men-clothing-underwear

nikanj 5y ago
That's not the only kind of innovation. There's also innovation in displaying ads, for the same shit made in China for 10x the price.
soared 5y ago
I challenge you to purchase a product from one or two of these brands and compare it to the Walmart/China version. They are not the same. From my experience, the quality has been better than brands I’d usually get at Nordstrom rack.
- bko 5y ago
  You have a lot of faith in these brands. Bombas was founded in 2019 by an MBA grad and a marketing graduate. They have no reputation. These aren't like hand crafted sock makers doing this for decades in Italy. They're advertising companies and they sold you. As to where they're made its unclear: > Where are your socks made? We produce our products all over the world, including the US, Taiwan, China, and Peru at the most technical and highest-rated manufacturers. > We're proud to report that all have passed audits with very strict standards for health, safety, and social compliance. And to note I have both Bombas and Fruit of the Loom currently in my drawer. The difference is negligible in my opinion. You can ask me in a few years if my Bombas held up, but I can tell you my cheap Walmart brand stuff has held up. [EDIT] Bombas was founded in 2013, not 2019. 2019 was the date they started selling t-shirts. Point still holds that they don't exactly have a track record compared to a legacy player and I still doubt they'll exist in 20 years
  - rdtwo 5y ago
    Idk my kid has bombas and Walmart socks and there is a significant difference in quality. Maybe only 2-3x better but still difference is there
    - endisneigh 5y ago
      In what way is it twice as good? Even if it were somehow objectively twice as good, is it really a good value to pay 12X for something 2X as good?
      - rdtwo 5y ago
        Yes it is because I can only wear one pair of socks and if he 1x price socks don’t cut it then 10x it is until we get to an acceptable level of comfort. Paying 1x for socks my kid won’t wear provides me 0 value where as paying 10x but having the kid wear them just means that this is how much socks cost. As to why they are better the toe knit eliminated the seam and hard spot where cheap socks terminate. The fabric wicks moisture better and get material is less abrasive. The knit and fabric all add significant additional cost to the fabrication process. Look up some videos on you tube on how socks are made.
      - johnatwork 5y ago
        I've had many brands of socks, because I'm so picky. Some brands are objectively much better, since they support my feet better, have no seams around the toe area that drives me nuts, wears better (my cheaper socks get holes in them in about a year), it breathes better, it reacts to moisture better, it stays up on my ankle better and doesn't slide down, it doesn't twist on my feet because it holds the shape better, and it's cushioned better among other things.
    - karmakaze 5y ago
      Good socks are exceedingly difficult to find. I'm particular in what I want, something like diabetes socks that breathe and doesn't restrict blood-flow while looking fine to wear with dress shoes. I'd totally pay 3x and buy in bulk.
- jnsaff2 5y ago
  > I challenge you to purchase a product from one or two of these brands Nice try!
- philliphaydon 5y ago
  I buy uniglo which is a Japanese brand. Underwear made in Vietnam. It’s cheap. Hands down 1000% better than any expensive brand I’ve bought over the years.
- robjan 5y ago
  They are still usually made in China, possibly by the same factory who makes the Walmart ones. The difference is usually in the compromises that were made to achieve the target margin.
- __app_dev__ 5y ago
  Lol, premium brands and non-premium will often come from the same factory in China. Source to back up - none! But I do work at a clothing company where we do this and markup is much higher for "premium" - 20x.
Aunche 5y ago
There's a difference between Calvin Klein's regular underwear and their premium ones. The premium ones are comparable in price to something like Saxx
FollowingTheDao 5y ago
> these companies aren't marketed as lifestyle, just sensible products. Sensible is the lifestyle they are selling. Sensible is the Tech lifestyle.
revolvingocelot 5y ago
Er, do you live in a "dynamic innovative society"? If so, are they accepting immigration?
- fundad 5y ago
  In a dynamic innovative society aspiration brand's can only use the same tired century old tropes about horsemanship like Polo by Ralph Lauren.

by bko 5y ago

nikanj 5y ago

That's not the only kind of innovation. There's also innovation in displaying ads, for the same shit made in China for 10x the price.

soared 5y ago

I challenge you to purchase a product from one or two of these brands and compare it to the Walmart/China version. They are not the same. From my experience, the quality has been better than brands I’d usually get at Nordstrom rack.

bko 5y ago
You have a lot of faith in these brands. Bombas was founded in 2019 by an MBA grad and a marketing graduate. They have no reputation. These aren't like hand crafted sock makers doing this for decades in Italy. They're advertising companies and they sold you. As to where they're made its unclear: > Where are your socks made? We produce our products all over the world, including the US, Taiwan, China, and Peru at the most technical and highest-rated manufacturers. > We're proud to report that all have passed audits with very strict standards for health, safety, and social compliance. And to note I have both Bombas and Fruit of the Loom currently in my drawer. The difference is negligible in my opinion. You can ask me in a few years if my Bombas held up, but I can tell you my cheap Walmart brand stuff has held up. [EDIT] Bombas was founded in 2013, not 2019. 2019 was the date they started selling t-shirts. Point still holds that they don't exactly have a track record compared to a legacy player and I still doubt they'll exist in 20 years
- rdtwo 5y ago
  Idk my kid has bombas and Walmart socks and there is a significant difference in quality. Maybe only 2-3x better but still difference is there
  - endisneigh 5y ago
    In what way is it twice as good? Even if it were somehow objectively twice as good, is it really a good value to pay 12X for something 2X as good?
    - rdtwo 5y ago
      Yes it is because I can only wear one pair of socks and if he 1x price socks don’t cut it then 10x it is until we get to an acceptable level of comfort. Paying 1x for socks my kid won’t wear provides me 0 value where as paying 10x but having the kid wear them just means that this is how much socks cost. As to why they are better the toe knit eliminated the seam and hard spot where cheap socks terminate. The fabric wicks moisture better and get material is less abrasive. The knit and fabric all add significant additional cost to the fabrication process. Look up some videos on you tube on how socks are made.
    - johnatwork 5y ago
      I've had many brands of socks, because I'm so picky. Some brands are objectively much better, since they support my feet better, have no seams around the toe area that drives me nuts, wears better (my cheaper socks get holes in them in about a year), it breathes better, it reacts to moisture better, it stays up on my ankle better and doesn't slide down, it doesn't twist on my feet because it holds the shape better, and it's cushioned better among other things.
  - karmakaze 5y ago
    Good socks are exceedingly difficult to find. I'm particular in what I want, something like diabetes socks that breathe and doesn't restrict blood-flow while looking fine to wear with dress shoes. I'd totally pay 3x and buy in bulk.
jnsaff2 5y ago
> I challenge you to purchase a product from one or two of these brands Nice try!
philliphaydon 5y ago
I buy uniglo which is a Japanese brand. Underwear made in Vietnam. It’s cheap. Hands down 1000% better than any expensive brand I’ve bought over the years.
robjan 5y ago
They are still usually made in China, possibly by the same factory who makes the Walmart ones. The difference is usually in the compromises that were made to achieve the target margin.
__app_dev__ 5y ago
Lol, premium brands and non-premium will often come from the same factory in China. Source to back up - none! But I do work at a clothing company where we do this and markup is much higher for "premium" - 20x.

Aunche 5y ago

There's a difference between Calvin Klein's regular underwear and their premium ones. The premium ones are comparable in price to something like Saxx

FollowingTheDao 5y ago

> these companies aren't marketed as lifestyle, just sensible products. Sensible is the lifestyle they are selling. Sensible is the Tech lifestyle.

revolvingocelot 5y ago

Er, do you live in a "dynamic innovative society"? If so, are they accepting immigration?

fundad 5y ago
In a dynamic innovative society aspiration brand's can only use the same tired century old tropes about horsemanship like Polo by Ralph Lauren.