Women have been forced to choose between buying new dresses or paying hefty sums for dresses that are now in poor condition, according to a study released by fashion house Shoppers Drug Mart.
In the study, which has been criticised by women’s rights groups, more than 80 per cent of the dresses sold on the site were in poor shape and worn out.
Shoppers drug mart has been forced into action after complaints about the quality of dresses The study by fashion firm WDRM found that 70 per cent were in a poor state, with some having tears and holes in them and others having been stained or worn out after wearing them for a long time.
The study also found that almost half of women surveyed said they did not want to buy new clothes for their weddings.
“There is a lot of pressure on women to wear the same style every day, but there are also a lot more pressure on people to buy dresses that they want to wear,” said Shania Sareen, the co-founder of Shoppers.
“The most difficult thing for women is that they have to keep buying dresses they don’t like and buying dresses that don’t fit,” she added.
“And they don.
They have to buy clothes that don’s make them feel comfortable and look good.”
The study, carried out by the fashion consultancy firm Gartner, also found a growing number of women were finding it hard to find clothes for themselves and their families.
“It is a challenge to find dresses that fit your body type, your style, your wardrobe and your style of dress,” said Sareesan.
“We are seeing an increasing number of men buying dresses from retailers that do not offer the same quality as their women’s style.”
Shoppers has been trying to tackle the problem by introducing a new programme called Style, which gives people more choice and more control over their shopping experience.
The programme will also provide a fairer marketplace for women and their clothes.
“Women are now being offered a much more nuanced experience when it comes to choosing a dress,” Shania said.
“This is an opportunity for the brands to try and offer more choices for their customers.”
Shoppers DrugMart is a leading brand in the US and globally, with a wide range of fashion lines and the opportunity to offer more variety, and more affordable pricing, to women.
Shoe retailer Zara has also joined the campaign, which launched in August and will be rolling out to all stores nationwide this month.
“Our aim is to change the way that women shop and how women are judged and treated in our society, with more women participating in the fashion industry,” said a statement from Zara.
