Blue label PRL blazer @ Marshall’s - should I be skeptical?
I grabbed this cotton blazer (has some chore coat attributes) from Marshall’s for $99.
I’ve read before that brands specifically make items for discount stores like Marshall’s but I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate or always true. Ie, garments are made deliberately lower quality for (re)sale here.
I couldn’t really find anything from PRL directly other than it being “authenticated” (there was a QR code on the tag) and listed on another third party site.
I’m not even sure if I want to keep the blazer but it made me wonder how I should generally think about clothing from these stores in general.
https://www.ralphlauren.com/authenticated?countryCode=US&thngID=VcPdyeKw6aFqbgYdtx6f9rNt&webstoreAvailable=false
https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/men/polo-ralph-lauren-washed-single-breasted-blazer-item-22349326.aspx
6 Replies
I’ve read before that brands specifically make items for discount stores like Marshall’s but I’m not entirely sure if that’s accurate or always true. Ie, garments are made deliberately lower quality for (re)sale here.Yes this is true, it's called a diffusion line. Ralph Lauren has a bunch, blue label isn't one though. $99 seems fine for this
Yeah I wouldn't say there's anything to be skeptical about
Any label with factory is a diffusion line (JCrew factory, banana Republic factory, etc.)
Places like Marshalls carry a lot of diffusion lines but I believe they also carry legit factory seconds (clothes with minor defects that the brand can't sell for full price) and you can get good deals that way.
The diffusion line (or at least one of them) for Ralph Lauren is Lauren Ralph Lauren
Yours is blue label (polo Ralph Lauren) which is not the diffusion
That's a cool jacket btw, nice find!
Very helpful, thanks all! Figured I would grab it and then research it haha. The sleeves are lined which I don’t care for so may return it but I thought it was a cool jacket otherwise!
Lining in the sleeves makes it easier to take it on and off I believe