Most people waste money on clothes that fall apart after ten washes. The trick isn’t buying expensive brands. It’s knowing what to look for before you hand over your card. Here’s exactly how to check fabric, stitching, and construction so your basics survive a decade of wear. The Fabric Test: What Weaves and Fibers Actually Hold Up Fabric quality determines 80% of a garment’s lifespan. Cheap fabric pills, fades, and loses shape within a year. Good fabric ages gracefully. Natural Fibers That Last Cotton with a long-staple fiber (Egyptian, Pima, Supima) resists pilling and feels softer over time. A 200-thread-count…