An occasional (but indefinite) series featuring things that perplex or annoy me.
Cotton or linen clothes with synthetic trim or labels that melt when you can't help but catch them with an iron that's the correct temperature for the substantive fabric.
Also, while I'm on the subject of clothes...
Why don't people cut out those loops of ribbon whose sole purpose is to keep the cardigan (or whatever) looking nice on the hanger in the shop?
And... the number of jackets I've bought from charity shops whose pockets are still stitched up. Don't people notice? Do they think, 'well, I didn't really need pockets anyway... the maunfacturers must have had a reason for putting in perfectly good pockets and then - very loosely - sewing them up. Better not interfere'?
Dazzling Jewel on test
4 days ago
The stitched up pockets are to reduce the risk of naughty people putting bombs, incendiary devices, mouse traps and other inappropriate objects in them in the (original) shop.
ReplyDeleteAfter a "bomb scare" or animal rights protest, shop staff have to search the pockets of every item of clothing to make sure there is nothing inappropriate in there before the shop can be re-opened.
That check is much quicker if the pockets are still stitched up and, if they weren't, would you like to be the member of staff putting your hand into hundreds of pockets knowing there might be a mouse trap, or worse, in there?
I suspect that items in a charity shop with pockets still stitched up may be something like an unwanted gift and possibly never worn.
It's also possible that a few leading high street stores may donate unsold stock at the end of a clothing line to charity shops too, with the pockets still stitched up.
Thanks Paul - I did vaguely wonder why the manufacturers did it and that makes perfect sense. The real mystery for me is why people wear them for years without undoing them. I've found it with some that clearly have been worn.
ReplyDeleteHang on... I'm not so sure I am convinced by that explanation after all. Why only jackets, in that case? Why not trousers and dresses too? I've never bought a dress which had its pockets stitched up, and have never come across it in trousers either. I'd always vaguely assumed it was something to do with preserving the shape (same as why they sew the flaps together at the back, which also some people don't undo).
DeleteAnd a quick Google suggests that I was right... But theere is also a suggestion that one (men, mostly) might with to keep them sewn up in order to avoid the temptation to put things in them and spoil the line. Certainly the whole first page of hits gave this reason - this is one of the more readable ones:
Deletehttps://kingandallen.co.uk/journal/2018/why-are-the-pockets-on-my-bespoke-suit-sewn-shut/
The pockets on my suit jacket are still sewn up. I wear it so rarely that it just isn't an issue. Invitations etc. slip neatly into the inside pocket; everything else - keys, wallet, coins purse, phone - goes into trouser pockets as they always have done. Well, perhaps except for the phone ...
ReplyDelete+1 for my work suits pockets still sewn up, to keep them looking good and not ‘ baggy’. They all hang in the wardrobe now - good old retirement !
ReplyDeleteI could make pockets look baggy, even if they were sewn up!
ReplyDelete