Clean was a staple for our family growing up in Maine. Because of their policy to repair or replace their products for free if they were damaged by wear and tear. It was the peak of new england thrift. For my working class family, that was insurance that we would all stay warm and dry in winter. /1

* LLBean. (Autocorrect) I hear they have since done away with that policy and it breaks my heart. We were SO loyal. Not anymore. They started to put profit over people and since then, quality has gone down, so much made overseas. Its a betrayal of their founding values. A betrayal of Mainers.

I went to the "Outlet" store when I moved close to Freeport... There aren't any deals, it's just last season's clothes with 5-10% off, before they go to the incinerator. A very irresponsible practice.

Yes. I just went to the saco "outlet" and SAME. The outlet used to be where us poors would go shop for cheap seconds or irregulars. Back before it was razed to build the parking garage and "mall" in Freeport. Now im not sure its even worth it. Kid wore thru snowpants 1/2 thru winter.

So I just get the cheapish ones from lands end or wherever and they make it thru the season and I didnt blow twice the $$ on them. 🤷‍♀️ Everything is shit these days. Beans used to be one last bastion of quality. Now its just expensive trash. I frequent Sierra these days since one moved in. Or EMS