River Island vs. Zara vs. Next vs. New Look: Which Brand is the Best? (History, Quality, Design & Price)

• River Island Review

River Island Brand History and Origin

River Island  is a London-headquartered high street fashion brand, which operates in a number of worldwide markets. Set up in 1948, by Bernard Lewis and his brothers in London.  However, it wasn't clothing that he first tried to sell.Back then, he opted for fruit and vegetables which he sold to local people in London. Not long after, he changed his products entirely and used an unused site in the East End to start a fresh business selling wool for knitting. Then Bernard Lewis'three brothers decided to join him and expand the company.Using the name Lewis Separates, the four brothers opened a total of five different stores across London.

The brand bought up Concept Man in 1982, thus expanding into menswear. Concept Man and Chelsea Girl both ran alongside each other, until 1988, when they were both merged into a third brand, River Island. Both men and women were shopping there for stylish clothing and accessories. Until 2010, River Island was not selling any clothing and shoes for children. The introduction of Kidswear into the stores meant that the brand became even more popular. The following year, the name Chelsea Girl came back into River Island stores as a feature brand within the shops.

River Island Price: women's clothes: $15-$278,  women shoes & boots: 34- 278; menswear: $5.99- $279, girlswear: $7.99 - $121, boywear: $5.99 - $121,  bags & purses: $12-$158, accessories: $12-$52

River Island Design & Style

With over 60 years of fashion retailing experience, River Island is one of the most well-known and loved brands on the High Street. They pride on their stylish, affordable fashion. The customers can always rely on them to pick up everything they need from occasion wear, to amazing denim and fabulous bags and shoes. 

Whether you're looking for a new outfits, party dresses, statement shoes, jewellery,  complete with accessories or just want to stay ahead of the fash-pack,  or from muscle-defining knitwear and trend-led outerwear to smart-casj kicks and suits which mean business, you'll find it in just arrived edit - your number one destination for iconic clothing. You can even get children wardrobe off to a flying start with  range of clothing for 0-16 year olds. 

At River Island great design is at the heart of everything they create. They must have well over 70 designers. Almost all of products are designed in-house, and they are proud to deliver new and original fashion for you every single week. Their colourful and vibrant collections have appealed to customers greatly. And you can even shop by fit: Plus, Petite, Maternity.

River Island Quality

The company is actually good with it's good quality clothes at the right price. They are renowned for stylish, affordable fashion. It's perfect store to pick up everything you need for a brand new head-to-toe look. Does river island use real leather? The items' body lining is usually 100% Polyester, Shell: 100% Real leather, Sleeve lining: 100% Polyester. But some low price items are bad quality, and may shrink in the wash.

However, they've made 12 commitments for people and planet, aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, that guide them towards a more ethical future.  For example, they have committed to making at least 50% of their clothing sustainable by 2024.

Where to Buy River Island the Cheapest?

riverisland.com (4-5% cashback)

asos.com (4.5-5% cashback)

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• Zara Review

Zara Brand History and Origin

Zara is one of the world's most successful fashion retail brands. It's the largest company in the Inditex group, the world's largest apparel retailer. With its dramatic introduction of the concept of“fast fashion” retail since it was founded in 1975 in Spain, Zara aspires to create responsible passion for fashion amongst a broad spectrum of consumers, spread across different cultures and age groups.  Products include clothing, accessories, shoes, swimwear, beauty, and perfumes. The sub-brand Zara TRF offers trendier and sometimes edgier items to younger women and teenagers.

Zara Price：women's clothing: $6.90 -$410, women's shoes: $29.90  - $430, women's accessories: $10 - $90, women's perfumes: $6.90 - $170, men's clothing: $19.90 - $250, men's  shoes: $10 - $150, men's bags: $17.90 - $380, men's accessories: $8.90 - $150, men's perfumes: $5.90 - $90, home Kids: $4.90 - $130, kid's shoes: $10 -$120, kid's bags: $10.00-$120, kid's accessories $4.90 - $190.

Zara Designs

Zara's core values are found in four simple terms: beauty, clarity, functionality and sustainability.  Zara's leans the most fashion-forward, usually offering edgier looks, tighter fits, etc. They keep pace with latest fashion trends, but offer clothing collections that are a combination of high quality and yet, are affordable. The brand keeps a close watch on how fashion is changing and evolving every day across the world. Based on latest styles and trends, it creates new designs and puts them into stores in a week or two. In stark comparison, most other fashion brands would take close to six months to get new designs and collections into the market.

Rather than producing more quantities per style, Zara produces more styles, roughly 12,000 a year. Even if a style sells out very quickly, there are new styles waiting to take up the space. This means more choices and higher chance of getting it right with the consumer.

Zara Quality

Zara utilizes mostly synthetic fabrics for their products, many which contain plastic microfibers. Examples include polyester, nylon, and acrylic, but also some natural such as cotton, wool, silk and cashmere. It's important to keep in mind however, that they use the cheapest versions and methods to reduce production costs and increase their earnings. This results in a low-quality garment, that can display damage at as little as ten washes, even when following proper care protocol.

It's important to take into account that while the products themselves are not very high quality, the designs and wide array of product range offered make Zara a great option for shopping affordably. Even though people are aware of the low-quality production methods, the low prices are worth the loss of quality for the products.

Where to Buy Zara the Cheapest?

zara.com

• Next Review

Next Brand History and Origin

Next plc (styled as next) is a British multinational women, men and kids' clothing, footwear,  accessories, beauty and home products retailer, which has its headquarters in Enderby, England. The company's headquarters is located in Leicester, UK and is currently run by Chief Executive Simon Wolfson. 

The company was founded by Joseph Hepworth in Leeds in 1864 as a tailor under the name of Joseph Hepworth & Son. Initially Hepworth was in partnership with James Rhodes, but the partnership was dissolved in 1872. On his own, Hepworth expanded the company rapidly, becoming a pioneer of the development of chain stores in Britain. For much of its history Hepworth was predominantly in the ready-to-wear suit market.

 It has around 700 stores, of which circa 500 are in the United Kingdom, and circa 200 across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Next is the largest clothing retailer by sales in the United Kingdom, having overtaken Marks & Spencer in early 2012 and 2014. NEXT distributes through three main channels: NEXT Retail, NEXT Directory, and NEXT International, including an international website.  

Next Price: Women's clothing: £4  - £1495, Women's Footwear: £8-£479, women's accessories: £4 -£995, Beauty: £2.5 - £368, Men's Clothing £4 - £795, Men's Footwear: £10-£199, Men's Grooming: £2.5 - £343, Boy's Clothing: £2.5 - £240, Girl's Clothing: £2.5- £233, Baby Girls & Unisex Clothing: £3 -£233, Baby boys  & Unisex Clothing: £2.5 - £150, Homeware &  Furniture: £1-£3905

Next Design & Style

Next offers many popular brands' office-appropriate tops and suits, smart-casual outerwear and smart high-heeled shoes. The website is even divided into sections including "tailored & smart looks", "the casual collection" and "going out & occasion". That approach completely contradicts current fashion wisdom that for the modern dresser, the lines between work, weekend and going-out clothes are becoming ever more blurred.

The collection of women's clothing, combines timeless styles with modern elements and trendy designs. Sorting your weekday outfit dilemmas with sophisticated trousers and blouses, layered with jackets, to adding instant flair in your off-duty wardrobe with tops, jeans, sweatshirts and casual dresses, we have everything you need for a seasonal upgrade.

For men's  casual collection explore polos, T-shirts, and find your (perfect) fit with extensive range of denim jeans. They also have sharp suits, tailored trousers, crisp shirts and waistcoats that can also double for your occasionwear.

Refresh your home décor with the newest additions to  homeware collection. From bedroom furniture and living room furniture, to wall art and decorative accessories, discover popular tones and designs for the season.

Next Quality

Next' s vision of what the High Street required was firstly, a strong store identity and, secondly, a high level of quality control over the garments, from raw materials to finished product. Davies believed the tailored jacket was the garment that could establish Next, so long as it represented high quality and fantastic value for the price. 

Textile expert Brenda Azario believed Next's success was because, "Quality is what a customer expects or desires at any price point; this expectation has to be met. Next came in very strongly in this aspect, giving the public a better product. It wasn't a particularly expensive one but it was better - the designing was better and it was certainly better presented to the customer." 

Next offered the "power suit" at an accessible price when it was desired by customers. Next brings together "a fantasy of old-time shopping and 'aspirational buying'- the desire of newly affluent members of the 25 to 35 age group to wear an approximation of designer clothes."

Where to Buy Next the Cheapest?

next.co.uk

• New Look Review

New Look Brand History and Origin

New Look is a British global fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops. Tom Singh founded New Look in 1969 in Taunton, Somerset. Singh was among the first to develop the“Fast Fashion” retail strategy concept, which propelled New Look into one of the country's leading retail chains, with 467 stores across the UK. Then the company has expanded and previously operated across a chain of over 900 stores internationally, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands,  China, Germany, Russia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Poland, etc. But in November 2018, New Look closed over 100 stores in the United Kingdom and withdrew from international markets.

The chain sells womenswear, menswear, and clothing for teens. The online platform served customers in 66 countries. They have more than 2.7 million followers on social media, across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

New Look Price: Womens Clothing: €2 - €160,  Womens Shoes & Boots: €9  - €75,  Accessories: €0.99 - €50; Mens Clothing: €2 - €85 ; Mens Shoes & Boots:  €8 - €45; Mens Accessories: €5 - €23,  Girls' Clothing: €6 - €60, Girls Shoes & Boots: €7 - €47, Girl's Accessories:  €1 - €40, Boys Clothing: €3 - €60

New Look Design & Style

Find your wardrobe favourites at New Look from high neck tops in detailed lace, to cocoon coats in chic longline,  from the latest women's fashion- on-trend dresses, tops, jeans to jackets. The collection of women's shoes and boots has you covered for any occasion. Choose from flats and sandals to platforms and boots, in a range of heel heights, available in staple black to stunning embroidered styles.

With striking men's jackets and coats, staple skinny jeans to rebellious ripped styles, and shirts for work or going out, men can find your new wardrobe favourites. Therange of men's shoes and boots is unrivalled, with statement styles to suit any outfit you could put together. Choose from sports shoes and men's trainers, perfect for running and gym outfits, to loafers for men that like slick and effortless formal footwear.

The range of kids' clothing and accessories are a must-have for teen girls and boys who like to showcase their personality with their style. From party dresses to classic tops and ripped jeans, mix and match clothing and accessories within the range to create a unique look and make a statement. 

New Look is also a fashion brand for every body, you can find items for curves, petite, tall and maternity. And their range of stylish accessories offers the perfect finishing touch to any casual or formal wear. 

New Look Quality

New Look is fast fashion brand. The quality is hit or miss. The items they stock will usually be on trend. It offers loads of choices, continually changing the merchandise so that the customers keep coming back. New Look has a reputation for being on the cheaper end of the high street as they produce low-cost goods that are mass-marketed, redefining fast fashion as they upload over 800 new products every week. New Look has been outsourcing to textile hotspots like Bangladesh to provide super-cheap, trendy clothing while keeping the labor costs low. 

Where to Buy New Look the Cheapest?

newlook.com (2.5-3.5% cashback)

asos.com (4.5-5% cashback)

• Conclusion

River Island vs. Zara vs. Next vs. New Look: which brand is the best?

River Island

With over 60 years of fashion retailing experience, River Island is one of the most well-known and loved brands on the High Street. The brand is relatively good with good quality clothes at the right price. They are renowned for stylish, affordable fashion. It's perfect store to pick up everything you need for a brand new head-to-toe look. But some low price items are bad quality.

Zara 

Zara's leans the most fashion-forward, usually offering edgier looks, tighter fits, etc. They are made for the more streamlined European body. If you're on the slimmer side, this might be your place. Zara products will never be considered high quality within the fashion industry. However, they can be considered relatively 'good quality'  fast fashion products when compared to other similar retailers, such as New Look.

Next 

Next offered the "power suit" of many brands at an accessible price when it was desired by customers. It brings together "a fantasy of old-time shopping and 'aspirational buying' - the desire of newly affluent members of the 25 to 35 age group to wear an approximation of designer clothes. Their items have high quality and fantastic value for the price.

New Look

New Look has a reputation for being on the cheaper end of the high street as they produce low-cost goods that are mass-marketed. New Look is a fast fashion brand. New Look's clothes are cheap, and notably 'short-lived' products. It offers loads of choices, continually changing the merchandise so that the customers keep coming back.

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