The Row - The All-Things The Row Thread

[DougS.]

leyla m., no, it's just the normal silk/modal blend long-sleeved tee... i love it so much but i don't know what to do!!

 

[Meg]

actually rochas I wonder that. I really am curious to know what their numbers are on those jackets. Just because you have money during a recession doesn't mean you aren't smart or spending wise. I would be surprised if they were flying off the rack because their customer is going to see their stuff right beside Rick's stuff and know the difference.

As for the pilling - even if you treat an item with care that will happen. My Rick sweater (which is a modal/cashmere blend I think? Can't remember. Definitely part modal though) has never been washed (obviously) or dry-cleaned and it pills like crazy. It's just the nature of a delicate fabric.

 

[rochasfille]

^I don't think excessive pilling is the nature of the fabric, but some is to be expected, especially in areas of high wear, such as under the arms. I have a cashmere t-shirt dress from Alexander Wang, for example that has some minor pilling, but I think it only adds to the quality of the garment. Nothing is going to look brand new forever, after all.

 

[tricotineacetat]

friends of mine run their own collection, mostly comprising of model/silk jersey pieces that they heavily wash, overdye - you get it, distress properly - and their tees, even with constant wear and washing, won't excessively pill. it's not so amazingly difficult or expensive to work with these sort of qualities (or to find ones that stay in shape well), having done their business for a couple seasons now, the girls should have figured out how to avoid these problems... at least when you do 'high-end clever basics'.

i've actually spoken with a befriended buyer from 'a major independent retailer in new york' and she told me how badly made she finds the row's jerseys - the chain would fall off instantly and the fabric would pill all the way... apparently resulting with unhappy customers returning their pieces.

yes, what they do looks nicely finished when you see it from a far with the overall proportion and details like the easily removable composition tag and the dangling metal chain... but at the end of the day, there's not much to hide beneath when a minimalist, non-seasonal piece - especially at a high price - doesn't provide for enough quality so that you would be able to wear and wash it properly - it's not that we are talking of uber-delicate and sheer cashmere and silk knits from prada that obviously demand for extreme care here. i've ditched alexander wang maybe for a little too long but i find his approach with a very similar look and product to be a lot more sympathic than what the olsens are doing... and i believe his t-shirt line will probably take away customers from the row if it is done well... because initially, the two designers actually end up addressing the same customer, even if not intentionally.

 

[JunyaSchick]

^I had also the same problems with my the row tees, we all know that the fabrics they are working with require a delicate treat but I think the row should pay more attention to these little details or they can lose some customers. their items are atemporal but they get "old" easily...

 

[fashionispoison]

i only have 2 the row pieces. one of them is a dress and the other a leather jacket. i would give the dress a 6/10 and the leather jacket a 10 for their quality...considering the prices.

 

[Amywilliams]

Fashion - I have to agree, in terms of quality, my leather jacket really is amazing, the leather is perfect. As for the tops/dresses, the material is pilling quite a bit, buyt the cut is so perfect that I'll definitely continue to buy them.

 

[Meg]

meh, for me, excessively pilling does not add to the quality. Not when I need to sit on my bed for ten minutes, carefully picking off the little 'balls'. And yes it is in high wear areas, but I think it is the nature of the fabric.

And it is my RO sweater that is pilling, so if he hasn't figured out how to not get that sort of material to pill yet, I wouldn't hold out too much hope for the Row. Surely if your friends stuff is overdyed and heavily worked with, that lessens the chance of pilling because you are already destroying the fibre of the textile somewhat, non?

 

[tricotineacetat]

I think it's annoying no matter where you've bought your pieces from, it just gets more frustrating the more you paid and relied on a piece in your wardrobe (chances are that you'll want to wear a sweater or a t-shirt often). I just checked with the t-shirt I got from my friends' collection and theirs is just evenly brushed on the surface, probably a result of the washing/tie-dying it has undergone. Then again, the base quality itself is very fine gauge, non-sheer jersey, so in itself maybe different from what the Olsens are using for their t-shirts.

That being said - what's your Rick Owens sweater made of - merino wool? The classic quality he uses every season? I personally own a couple knits of his' and i've never had mentionable problems with them that would concern pilling (Then again, mine aren't so long that I'd sit on them).

 

[Velony]

I must say that all of my RO pieces pill easily too and I don't have any heavy knits but two shirts and a dress made of this thin cotton or viscose or what it is and the dress even started to pill after only one wear. I'm a little disappointed because the clothes are not cheap at all and I wouldn't expect the same from The Row for the high price point.

 

[Guessgirl96]

I have one of his basic curved bottom tanks that I've worn a ton and havent had piling problems so I'm surprised you are. Although I'd expect it more on a skirt where you sit on it like tricot said.

 

[psiabeyl]

I love this line. The shirts are so soft. Does anyone know where you can buy the new collection online?

 

[mercer]

^^barneys and matches.

I have several tops and dresses and yep, they pill like crazy. Really disappointing. I like the cut and softness of the fabric, so I'll put up with it.

 

[Leefi]

i just bought my first t-shirt and and am still waiting for it to get shipped...all this talk about pilling has got me really nervous!
even if they do use very delicate, soft materials shouldn't there be some way of stopping the pilling? isn't one of they're selling points that they want to make "high end basic clothing"? pilling doesn't sound very high end, great quality to me...

 

[leyla m.]

i have to say my simple tanks and tees are still in perfect condition after hand and machine washing

 

[songbirdsel]

Im so sorry to ask this again but can you guys tell me where they are stocked in LA? I have a friend going over next month and would love for him to get me a few pieces.. tia

 

[JunyaSchick]

^songbirdsel, u can find the row pieces at barney's and maxfields

 

[Lee Lee]

Hi, does anyone know who the agent/ showroom is for The Row as I would like to buy this for my online boutique I will be launching next year ?

 

[classicalbang]

^ How exciting! You should talk to leyla_m., she stocks the Row at her boutique. Good luck with everything.

 

[Lee Lee]

Thank you for your advice.