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Can you guess which one of these items will set you back $4.95?<\/p><\/div>\n

This may prove to be a difficult move for such retailers to make, as the sour economy has already left them struggling with inconsistent sales trends in addition to high unemployment and financial insecurity among consumers.<\/p>\n

“Apparel prices are going to go up. It’s as simple as that,” Perry Ellis Chief Executive George Feldenkreis told the Post<\/a>. “The American consumer will have to accept it.”<\/p>\n

Actually, it turns out American consumers can just turn elsewhere for their fast fashion fix. The Cut <\/a>reports that while prices at many large retail chains are going up, H&M\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s prices are going down. In fact, a black and white striped dress with a mesh top and sweetheart neckline from H&M is now retailing for $4.95 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c an amount Vogue<\/a> points out is less than the cost of a Starbucks frappuccino, a McDonald\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s McNuggets Value Meal or CoverGirl face powder at Duane Reade.<\/p>\n

Big retailers who are struggling with rising production costs should listen up because H&M PR Director Jennifer Uglialoro explained how they are managing to maintain such low price tags.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have over 2,000 stores in 37 countries,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This provides high volume and there is no middleman. We have our own team of over 100 in-house designers and we do all our own production.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She also said H&M is focused now more than ever on reigning in costs due to the struggling economy. {Vogue<\/a>}<\/p>\n

According to H&M\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s code of conduct<\/a>, the retailer does use vendors, but their suppliers own the factories where H&M clothing is produced.<\/p>\n

H&M is to be applauded not only for their ability to keep prices down, but a video<\/a> on their Web site under \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Corporate Responsibility\u00e2\u20ac\u009d provides supply chain transparency, so consumers won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be left wondering how ethical the creation of that $4.95 dress was. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something worth applauding in a time when news of poor factory working conditions <\/a>abounds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"