Kerri Bridgman…And why expecting fashion to be cheap is costing more than we think
We’ll drop $30 on sushi or $60 on a 2-hour brunch without flinching.
But a thoughtfully made, ethically sourced $120 top? Suddenly it’s “too expensive.”
We scroll past. We wonder if it’s really worth it.
But here’s what most people forget:
That top has been touched by more hands than you can count. And not just machines, people.
Every Piece You Wear Carries a Global Story
From the farm to the fitting room, real people make your clothes:
- Someone grew the cotton.
- Someone spun the yarn and dyed the fabric.
- Someone sketched the pattern.
- Someone then converted that pattern into a pre-sample.
- Someone sewed the samples, and then the final garment.
- Someone checked every seam for quality.
- Someone built the website or shot the lookbook so you’d even know it existed.
- Someone packaged and shipped the final product.
And don’t forget shipping delays, customs, 3rd party trims, fit corrections, studio rent, packaging, marketing… None of it is instant. None of it is “cheap.” And it shouldn’t be.
You’re Not Just Paying for a Shirt. You’re Paying for the Whole System That Made It
So if something costs $150, that’s not a scam.
That’s the real cost of doing things the right way—Ethical labor. Quality materials. A living wage for every hand it passed through.
It’s also the cost of caring—about the planet, about the people, about making something that actually lasts.
Fast Fashion Trained Us to Think Cheap Is Normal. It’s Not.
If your dress costs less than your drink and appetizer,
That’s not a “steal.”
That’s a system cutting corners you don’t see:
- Factory workers being underpaid or overworked
- Toxic dyes dumped into waterways
- Mountains of unsold clothing tossed into landfills
When fashion is too cheap, someone else is picking up the tab. And it’s rarely the brand.
Clothing Is a Craft. And It Deserves to Be Treated Like One.
We wouldn’t question why a handmade dining table costs more than IKEA.
We wouldn’t tell a local photographer to charge less because we have phones.
So why do we do that with fashion?
Slow fashion isn’t just about aesthetics.
It’s about intention.
It’s about choosing quality over chaos.
People over profit.
Longevity over landfill.
A Few More Notes..
Enjoy the sushi. Book the brunch. But don’t flinch at investing in your closet the same way, because a great outfit doesn’t expire in 2 hours.
It evolves with you. It tells a story. It lasts. Pay what it’s worth.
Because the people behind it? They’re worth it too.