Why We Don't Give Discounts: The Value of Tailoring

Every year, right on time, the sales arrive. The shop windows change their language: large percentages, crossed out prices, urgency. It's a collective ritual that many eagerly await.

Yet, at ddLab, there is one choice that remains stable: we don't give discounts .

Not out of rigidity, not out of "positioning," nor even to create distance. On the contrary: it's a choice born from who we truly are — a small, artisanal atelier, made with time, hands, and care. And today we'll tell you why.

Sales work when there are redundancies. We don't create them.

Sales, in most cases, serve to get rid of unsold merchandise: large quantities produced in advance , often at industrial rates and numbers . If something doesn't work, it's " disposed of " with a discount.

We work differently: we're a small, very small brand —with slow and deliberately limited production . This means one very simple thing: there are no mountains of clothes to clear out at the end of the season.

Each piece is born with a precise idea, is followed and refined, and arrives in the atelier because it has a meaning— not to take up space.

Our prices are already capped : they are not inflated and then "cut"

There's a part of the fashion system that often goes unsaid: many in-store prices include markups designed to support aggressive discounts (and ongoing promotions).

At ddLab, pricing isn't a game of levers. It's constructed in a more direct and transparent way:

• cost of materials
• processing time
• sartorial expertise
• attention to detail
• real sustainability of production

This means that the price is already “right” at the origin , not inflated and then lowered. Having sales, in this case, wouldn't be a gift: it would devalue the work , and it would often mean working without a margin (or without financial dignity). And an atelier can't sustain itself like that.

In the atelier, there are 1–2 sizes per garment : if necessary, if the customer wants it in a different size , we can make it to measure.

Another key point: we produce very small quantities . For many items, in the atelier you'll find only one size, two at most .

Why? Because our job isn't "warehousing," it's tailoring.

If you like an item but it doesn't fit you perfectly, we don't say, "Too bad, wait for the sales" or "Your size isn't available."

We do what a real atelier does:
we adapt it to you.

It's a different way of understanding fashion: it's not you who has to fit into the garment, but the garment that becomes yours.

Consistency : A tailored piece takes time. Putting it on sale means diminishing it.

There is an even deeper aspect, which concerns coherence.

A handcrafted, tailored garment, made by real hands:

• takes longer
• requires attention
• requires responsibility
• it is not born in series
• he is not "one among many"

When a product is built like this, the discount is not neutral : its meaning changes.
It risks transforming a valuable work into an object “to be grabbed on the fly”.

And for me — for ddLab — this is not aligned with our idea of ​​fashion: a kind , conscious fashion that lasts and that respects those who create it and those who wear it.

“So no advantages for the buyer?”

I understand the question, and it's a fair one. Except that, for us, the advantage isn't the percentage. It's the experience (and the result ).

When you choose a ddLab garment, you are choosing:

• real tailoring quality
• small quantities (therefore uniqueness)
• tailor-made adaptation when needed
• materials and workmanship designed to last
• a direct relationship: you know who did it, where, how

In other words: you don't buy "more" because it costs less.
You buy better , and you come back because you feel respected.

The value does not decrease: it is built

Not having sales is a choice that protects:

• the value of the leader
• the economic sustainability of artisanal work
• the coherence of a small brand
• the dignity of time and hands

And above all, it protects something that matters a lot to me:
trust.
The same price for everyone, always, because it's the right price. Not a price that "changes" depending on the calendar.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about sales and opting out of discounts

Why do many brands have sales?
Because they often produce large quantities in advance, and at the end of the season, there's unsold merchandise. Sales serve to "empty" warehouses and recoup costs. In a small atelier, where quantities are minimal and production is slow and controlled, this mechanism usually doesn't exist.

So there are never any discounts at ddLab?
We don't hold seasonal sales or use discounts as a sales lever. We prefer to maintain consistent and fair pricing year-round, as it reflects the true value of materials and tailoring.

But then do your clothes cost more than the others?
It depends on the comparison. Sometimes the price may seem higher than fast fashion, but it's not the same product (or the same labor time). Compared to many "brand-name" garments with significant markups, our prices are often already more affordable because you're paying primarily for quality and tailoring, not a chain of middlemen.

Why do you say that the price is “right” right from the start?
Because we don't start with an inflated price and then lower it on sale. The price is based on real costs: fabrics, labor, expertise, details, finishes, and the sustainability of atelier production.

What if I fall in love with an item but it's not my size?
This is where the atelier makes the difference. In a boutique, you often have to adapt to available sizes; here, whenever possible, we tailor the garment to you : small adjustments, fit, length, and proportions are evaluated together.

Do you have all sizes in the atelier?
No: we work in very small quantities, often with one or two sizes per style. This avoids excess and waste, and allows us to dedicate more time to quality and any customizations.

If you don't have sales, how can I shop more conveniently?
We help you choose wisely, so the item stays in your wardrobe for a long time. You can book an appointment to try on at your leisure, evaluate the fit and combinations, and understand if a style is truly "yours." It's a more relaxed way to shop, without rushing or chasing a percentage.

Do sales really devalue a tailored garment?
It's not a universal rule, but for an atelier it is: because behind every piece lies human time, expertise, and craftsmanship. Putting a piece carefully crafted in small quantities on sale can convey that that time is "worth less," and we prefer to protect the value of the work and the consistency of the brand.

Can I order an item in a specific size or customize it?
Often, yes: it depends on the model and the fabric. In the atelier, we evaluate feasibility, timing, and details together, and we guide you through the process to create a piece that truly represents you.