Clothes in Russia paradoxically fell in price

Analysts share good news: according to their observations, over the past year clothes have become cheaper in Russia – down jackets, raincoats, windbreakers and even banal blouses can now be bought about 15% cheaper than a year ago. However, everything depends on specifics: what kind of down jackets, what manufacturer, what quality? Contrary to popular belief, “made in Russia” is not a synonym for cheapness. The correspondent of “MK” understood the current prices for clothes.

The reason – as if logical – of price reduction is called the growth of import substitution. It is believed that things made in Russia should cost less. According to the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies, published in the summer of 2023, the average cost of a down jacket has fallen to 8400 rubles, which is 15% less compared to the same period in 2022. Raincoats also fell in price by 15%, demi-season jackets – by 17%, and windbreakers – by 6%.

Let’s take a look at the website of a large multi-brand store, which is now starting to rely on working with Russian manufacturers, but does not refuse affordable European ones either.

The cheapest down jacket costs 5,900 rubles, the most expensive one is long, with natural down and feathers, made by a well-known Finnish brand, – more than 70 thousand. Here, however, there is nothing to be surprised at: any thing can cost from “nothing” to “a lot”, and the difference is not always due to real merits (no one has yet canceled the extra charge for the name of a fashion house). The average price of a winter down jacket is in the range of 10 to 20 thousand rubles. The down jackets of the Japanese “Uniqlo”, beloved by Russians, cost about the same two years ago, but whether we are talking about a comparable level of quality can only be understood empirically.

However, with down jackets it’s a little easier: here it’s at least clear what a “down jacket” is, and you can compare like with like. Much more interesting is the thesis that the average cost of a blouse is 1000 rubles.

Attention, the question is: what kind of blouse? Cotton, silk, polyester? Where did you buy this blouse: in an economy class store for students or in an ambitious boutique of a young Russian brand? For example, you cannot buy a linen shirt of a domestic brand for less than 2,500–3,000 rubles, while the same Italian shirt can cost 5–6 thousand. The same can be said about the prices of woolen sweaters: the most affordable brands will cost 2-3 thousand rubles, while the premium ones, albeit Russian ones, will cost up to 20-30 thousand.

As marketing specialist Snezhana Gurova explained in an interview with an MK correspondent, a linear comparison is inappropriate here, because we are talking about an economically unstable time:

– Comparison with the same period last year is absolutely understandable, but not entirely correct in this case. The spring and summer of 2022 were much busier in Russia than today, and prices then showed much sharper jumps (and sharp increases). In 2022, manufacturers and suppliers have only just adapted to new economic realities — sanctions, longer supply chains, import substitution — but today they are already used to them. Therefore, a gradual price reduction of 10–20% looks absolutely natural and easily explained. If we compared today’s prices with the prices of 2021, the surprise would be unpleasant, the expert believes.

The expert also added that even if we talk about domestic brands, the production of many of them is somehow connected with imports: fabrics, threads, accessories and even equipment are bought abroad.

The only clothes in the context of which they talk about a rise in price are fur coats: here prices increased by 30%. Let’s check: a year ago, MK studied the prices of furs, and then we found out that sheepskin coats below the knee will cost about 60 thousand rubles, a mink coat costs 150-170 thousand rubles, and premium options are even more expensive than 300 thousand rubles.

Let’s take a look at the website of the online fur store today and see similar positions. Prices for knee-length sheepskin coats start from 35-40 thousand rubles (like a promotion and provided that your size is available), and for 50-60 thousand there will be just a good choice.

Mink coats show a huge range of prices – from 45,900 rubles (for a shortened, barely covering the lower back fur coat “autolady”) to 520-550 thousand rubles (for a fur coat made of premium fur trimmed with lynx or marten). A classic mink coat with a hood and a length just below the knee costs about 230-250 thousand rubles.

So here we can not talk about a clear reduction or increase in prices – it all depends on the specific model.