What brands do you associate with?

Different seasons, different brands. Various items, various labels. If Murakami could pen a nonfiction book about his favourite tees, then so can I. Over the years, I’ve bought and used many branded items. They come from all sorts of stores around Sydney. Some of these shops have downsized, some brands have left, while others are still trading. Whether it’s snapping up bargains online, or trying my best fit in store, there’s no harm in shopping occasionally. Interestingly, only three of these labels are clothing-related. Aside from them, I’ve included brands as diverse as eBay, DoorDash, Coles, Ikea, and Commbank. For this long weekend post, allow me to proffer a rundown of my top brands. Please note that this list is by no means definitive. Every label and every purchase has a story behind it. I still plan on writing that brand book, if it remains relevant.

1. Superdry. (Casual wear)

I only started buying this brand about seven years ago. This Oslo hooded Henley was my first purchase. It was a wool/acrylic blend. The pullover’s sizing looked good when I ordered it online. I got it at about half price. I liked the fact that it had an adjustable hood. It’s made in Turkey and has a branded shoulder patch. Otherwise, it’s a minimalistic black hoodie. The fabric tends to pill but, for a few winters, it kept me warm.

In 2017, DFO Homebush had a long weekend sale. I was able to get these cheap Merrell casual shoes. I also found this olive Superdry cotton cashmere jumper. It was on sale for $29.

Finally, a few months ago, I got this dark green tee. It had an eagle design on its chest. It was a looser fit but I still got medium. It’s soft, cool, and made in Turkey. Some reviewers have labelled it as their fave tee.

In total, I have twelve Superdry items in my wardrobe. Five for summer, three for spring, and four for winter. Recently, Superdry has been in the news for being a dad brand. While it dominated in the 2010s, it has long stopped being an it brand. The losses have piled up and the sales have nosedived. Costumers have since flocked to other labels. What Superdry could give you for sixty dollars, others could provide for thirty five. They’re liked an uncooked potato, not a premium brand but likewise not fast fashion. Their identity crisis has made customers look elsewhere. This is a far cry from years past, when David Beckham and Idris Elba brought the British brand to the forefront of men’s casual wear.

2. Mitch Dowd. (Sleepwear)

A peek inside my wardrobe will reveal a jungle of this brand. I only started buying them three years ago. First, it was this kangaroo sleep pant from David Jones. Then I got this sloth version from Catch. In the last two years, I’ve invested in their quality sleepwear. There’s winter PJs, summer bamboo items, and spring sleep sets. Their winter wear is cozy. Their summer shorts are cool. They always exhibit good quality. They’re also more reasonably priced than Peter Alexander, their main sleepwear competitor.

Their designs are eye catching. In my wardrobe, I have all sorts of animal prints. I also have a Star Wars summer set but it’s on the smaller side. Most of these pjs are pure cotton. The Mitch Dowd brand epitomises my personality. Breathable, reasonable, and tidy.

3. Tommy Hilfiger. (Clothing)

This is a renowned upmarket brand that’s been around longer than the above. However, it is not on the same level as Ralph Lauren. Lacoste is a more comparable retailer. At the moment, I have four Tommy clothing items. The first one I bought was this deep rouge LS polo. It was a bit roomy for small. Second, I grabbed this black slim straight jean from their outlet. It was a good pair with quality materials. Third, I nabbed this green logo tee again from their outlet. I got it at forty percent off. Finally, I purchased this new black jacket from The Iconic. I also have a face washer, sunnies, and a Tommy Jeans backpack.

Tommy is revered as an American icon. Their logo reflects the Yankee flag. It’s lost some lustre by selling at outlets and clearance stores. Tommy still commands respect for their colourful designs and good quality.

4. Coles. (Groceries)

When it comes to our groceries, there’s a clear winner. In our area, there are two Woolies stores. Therefore, our pick for our deliveries is a no-brainer. For years, we were Woolies clients. They’ve forever been number one for a reason. In January, we shifted to having our groceries delivered to us. We tried both giants. We decided to align ourselves with Coles.

Like its rival, Coles offers a monthly subscription. At the moment, we’re paying nineteen bucks. As a subscriber, you could pick any time-slot for free. Choose from morning, afternoon, and evening delivery. Their Coles vans deliver to your door, unless if it’s a rapid delivery. In that case, a third party racer will fulfil your order in an unrefrigerated sports car. You wouldn’t miss said vehicle. It’s a white and red one with a massive Coles sign stuck at the side.

Of course, the online experience isn’t better than heading in store. In the latter’s case, there’s a larger variety. You have access to the bakery, the deli, and salads to name a few. You can’t buy convenience though. The Coles driver usually fulfils a standard order. This is often sourced from their humongous Alexandria fulfilment centre.

You don’t always have to go the branded route. Coles and Woolies have their own brands, which are much cheaper. From juices to pasta, milk to chicken nuggets, free range eggs to ice cream and coconut juice to nuts, be on the lookout.

5. Ikea (homewares).

Back when I was watching movies, I used to frequent Ikea a lot. Me and my pals would go dine at their cafeteria. I usually got the meatballs with mashed potatoes and beans. It came with cranberry sauce. My friend often had the salmon. We rarely looked at the homewares on display. He told me that they had lots of things already. He was the stingy type.

I only started purchasing Ikea products this year. I bought six storage boxes for my bedroom. It was helpful as I organised my room. Subsequently, I grabbed four replacement dining chairs. I assembled them myself. From what I’ve seen, Ikea is simple but with good quality. You will often find that people will be happy to pay more if they get a solid return for their trouble. See also: a montage Ikea scene in Fight Club.

6. Commonwealth Bank. (Finance)

I’ve been a longtime Commbank client. I’ve used both Netbank and the app to manage my finances, pay bills, and transact online. Previously, I also banked with ANZ. Commbank has an Australia-based call centre. Even though they have local support, I still think that there’s room for improvement. It is also the largest of the big four banks. My debit card is accepted everywhere that Mastercard is available. Furthermore, their Pay ID service has been really handy. Their app has been recognised as the country’s number one. Commbank has the country’s largest ATM network. This comes in really handy if you need access to cash or if you have to make a deposit pronto. You’ll feel the difference especially if you’re travelling interstate.

7. eBay (online marketplace).

We’ve been on eBay since four years ago. At the time, Flybuys gave us a free year of eBay Plus. In the past, I used the platform mostly to buy second hand books. During COVID, we purchased face masks, more books, and CDs. EBay is the country’s biggest marketplace.

They offer fast delivery and have the most comprehensive chest of items. They’re like Gumtree on steroids. This year, we’ve got a bit of items from them. We grabbed this nonstick air fryer at half price. I got this heavily reduced Mont Blanc Explorer. I also got some new Peter Alexander sleep tops. I could attest that eBay is a lot more empathetic than their competitors. They’re easy to contact and are experts at dispute resolution. You are also protected by the eBay money guarantee. It’s always better to speak with someone who cares rather than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

They have regular promos, usually of the targeted kind. I was able to use these codes on the air fryer, Mitch Dowd pj’s, and other items. eBay Tuesdays has also become a thing. Meanwhile, as an eBay Plus member, you could filter the search results on the site to only eBay plus sellers. The site isn’t just books, CDs and mattresses. There are religious items, food products, hard to find items, manchester, accessories, boots, workwear…and a partridge in a pear tree. EBay is really a one stop shop for all your online shopping needs.

8. DoorDash. (Food delivery)

On delivery services, we’ve been free agents for a while. Ten years ago, we often went with menulog. Delivery Hero was a game changer, offering $14 off $20 orders almost every day. After they folded, we used both Deliveroo and Eatnow. Menulog bought out the latter. We sometimes ordered on Foodora. Last year, I started using DoorDash. Unlike Menulog, they expanded to delivering groceries. They also have DashPass, which functions much like eBay Plus and Coles Plus. As a member, you have exclusive benefits.

DoorDash offers the option of payment by Afterpay. This means that you could split your order into four instalments over eight weeks. Meanwhile, Menulog does not offer Afterpay. However, the platform allows PayPal Pay in 4, where diners could pay off their orders over six weeks. Like Menulog, DoorDash has a large selection of food options. From Indian to Thai, Japanese to Filo, Italian to Middle Eastern, there’s something for everyone. Bon A petit.

So there you have it, my top eight brands. They may differ: an online marketplace or for buying groceries online. They may specialise in brand new homewares or older books. We may go to them to satisfy our hunger pangs or to top up our pantry. Regardless, each one of them deserve a place on this list.