If there’s one thing that all female teenagers of Brisbane
complain about, it’s that when international chain stores come to Brisbane,
their prices skyrocket.
This was recently witnessed when H&M and Forever 21 and
even Topshop, large international brands finally released in Brisbane. However,
we were less than impressed. I personally haven’t been to H&M, Forever 21
or Topshop outside of Australia, but numerous friends have told me how
ridiculously cheap H&M and Forever 21 are in Asia or Europe. You just look
at the tags in Forever 21, the US price vs. Australian prices, despite the
shipping costs and exchange rate, are still ridiculously marked up.
And honestly, I was not all that impressed by the quality of
materials and designs presented by these stores.
Fashion on a budget is tough, even I have limited clothes
and money to be spending willy nilly (LOL) on exxy price tags even if they aren’t
designer. Honestly, when you think about it, $30 for a blouse? Two sheets of
thin as material that’s probably 100% polyester or viscous? For me I reckon
that is so expensive, you may think I’m stingy or I’m making you feel bad about
that last top you bought, but I personally just have high standards when it
comes to Value for Money of clothes
(wow, see that I just incorporated quantity surveying and economics into this
article. Boom.) However, I will draw the line at this, if there is that one
reallllly nice top that you absolutely adore and its not $80+, go for it. If it’s
a quality, versatile, and classic piece then it’s totally worth the money, but
the chances of finding such an item in mega chain stores is unlikely, but
nonetheless, possible.
I believe that this is the reason that online shopping has
increased in the last few years, prices are just much cheaper, however I am yet
to order a piece of clothing online. For me, nothing will replace being able to
physically assess and inspect clothes.
We will see more international chains springing up soon in
Brisbane though, Broadway on the mall will also be having the flagship H&M store
as well as Uniqlo rumoured to be here too. Furthermore, we will see the birth
of 3 levels worth of Zara on 155 Queen Street Mall (Finally! As some would say,
but is it yet to be another repeat of the abovementioned stores?).
I will leave it as this, whilst Australian stores are over-priced
for some of us, fashion on a budget is still a possibility.
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| Broadway on the mall to be housing H&M. |
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| 155 Queen Street Mall to be housing international retailer, Zara.
- Chelsea
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