[jacquesm]

My grandfather was a tailor, and ended up employing a 100 people or so. Tailor made clothing was the norm, rather than the exception for anybody of moderate means and just about everybody that could afford it had a sewing machine or knew how to use one. Sewing machines were common wedding gifts, and were the equivalent in money of a small car today. Fabrics were of far better quality than the ones we have today and repairing stuff rather than throwing it away was normal. Fashion was as much a thing back then as it is now.

[ddalex]

I grew up in a house that still has a sewing machine. My grandmother knew how to use it, and my father does too - he still repairs some old pieces from time to time, but never touches anything made of newer fabrics, he says there is nothing that he can mend there. Funny thing, he's a civil engineer.

[dllthomas]

> Fabrics were of far better quality than the ones we have today

At a low confidence, I'd suggest that fabrics were often of higher quality, but even more often were simply sturdier. Our "better fabrics" often have a focus on being light weight at a cost to durability - which is a fine thing for some use cases and a poor fit for others.