I thought upon approaching Primark’s Oxford St store, that the fashion scrum I found myself in* when the Stella McCartney range for Target was released, might just prepare me for the jungle that is Primark.
Wrong.
I chose a Monday morning as I figured the weekend would have been shopping chaos. Teens would be at school, the great unwashed in line for the dole and Harry and Wills out and about stealing helicopters.
Wrong again.
There were people (mainly women) but people none the less, of every age and class distinction, EVERYWHERE. If you ever wondered on a dreary winter’s day in London how people keep warm, clearly they are all in Primark, fighting each other for a bargain.
Not to be deterred, I cautiously stepped over piles of clothing just dropped on the floor- Don’t want it? Doesn’t suit you? IT’S ONLY THREE POUNDS SO LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR- into a kind of bargain wonderland. It is hard not to be taken in by the sheer size, variety and discount price of the apparel on offer at Primark. The Oxford St location looks more like a department store than a bargain basement.
I soon found myself falling into line with the shopping etiquette that is unique to the store:
1. Grab a Primark carry all.
2. If you like it, find your size and deposit into bag.
3. If you like it but are unsure, find your size and deposit into bag.
4. If you don’t like it, but want to make sure that woman standing next to you doesn’t swindle you out of a four pound bargain, find your size and deposit into bag.
5. Take place in line for changing room 30 people deep.
6. Sweat due to extreme heat that is turned up, most likely to deter people from staying too long in the store.
7. Decide you simply don’t have time to wait or sweat any longer. Find a free wall mirror to try on what ever you can by not actually taking off any of your clothes.
8. Discard what you don’t want on the floor in a pile.
So now I’m conflicted, I have never behaved like this in a shop before. I’m standing there, delirious from the heat, heady with the bargains I have found, not entirely sure whether they fit me and missing one of my shoes. I am out I decide. I take with me the four things I could find that I thought suited me and hoped to God they fitted and it wasn’t just my imagination.
Behold:
Shoe/boots, fourteen pounds.
Large pearl necklaces, two pound each.
Bow print, cotton skirt, eight pounds.
Day coat, eighteen pounds.
Primark on Oxford St, London.Now I am in the comfort of a home away from home and can try these clothes on, I like what I have purchased, but at what price I asked myself?
There has been much made of Primark being named the least ethical clothing manufacturer in Britain, whilst continuing to defy the looming retail gloom, and global economic slump.Most of my clothes are second hand or vintage, but I’m not about to get on my moral high horse and tell you I’ve never bought clothes made in a sweat shop. I have no doubt I probably have. I wear leather, I wear fur and I eat meat.
When something is so cheap and within reach, ideas such as child labour, working conditions and the actual price of producing a garment, all go out the window; along with shopping etiquette and self respect. You know who you are, girl in your bra in front of the wall mirror!!
Will I go back to Primark? That remains to be seen. The lure of super cheap, on trend and relatively well produced clothes is like the waft of a martini on a Friday afternoon. Knowing I could have a little piece of luxury, rather than armfuls of bargains, will probably deter me.