Quality VS Cost

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It's been a bit since I've posted a discussion. I've been busy with my first love which is designing and making teddy bears. One of my favorite things to do is to cruise the thrift shops for donated fake fur coats and vests and repurpose them into teddy bears. It's fun for me going on the "hunt" and I'm able to make some unusual bears because the "furs" I find are very different than the ones I find in the fabric stores. There is a HUGE but to the discussion, that is "Quality VS Cost" of the item. In past years I have found that the quality of the construction of the coat or vest has been excellent and the materials have been of higher quality. Taking apart a coat or vest has been a three or four hour job and it is one that I have had to do using a single edged razor blade. In recent years the construction has been of lessor quality and I am able to tear them apart with my bare hands and the thread used is virtually rotten. The lining fabric is flimsy poly fabric at best, when I finished removing the lining I could actually read through it! I used to be able to keep the lining fabric for clothes for the bears and now it goes into the recycling bin with the rest of the plastics. What is sad about this tale is that I was in one of the department stores and happened to see the same jacket that I had just purchased at the thrift shop for $15 with a price tag of $125 on it!!! What happened to looking for quality in our clothing? Or is it that we are so affluent that we can afford to throw our money away and the merchants can make such an enormous profit on items that were made in China? I'm not anti imports or anti Chinese (I am very supportive and respectful of the Chinese people and their way of life) but I look at the mark up that the Americans place on items and wonder where the consumers heads are. I have taken apart 6 jackets and vests and out of the 6 only one was well made and it was a custom order men's tailored jacket that was made in China. It was beautifully constructed and not only was it the most difficult jacket that I ever took apart, but it was a shame to dismantle it too. I am currently working on three more jackets and they too are cheaply made. When are people going to stop buying the cheapest thing in the department store because it's cute and look at the quality? They wear it once after paying over $100 and donate it to the thrift store. Wise up America, our fore fathers couldn't afford to do that, how come we can throw our money away like that?