Were these a well-known brand? If so, they may be fakes-copies made to look like an expensive brand, but made very cheaply.

Unfortunately, this is a big problem, especially in Asia where many of the imitations are made. The North Face is a brand that is often copied because it is so well known.

One way to check is to look at a brand's website and see if what you are looking at is actually one of their products and not just something with the name on it. Look at all the tags to see if they are all there. This is hard to do unless you know for certain what tags a genuine product will have.

One sure thing-if the price is far lower than the manufacturer's retail price, it is likely a copy. If you suspect you have a copy, if you contact the manufacturer, you may be able to help them track down who is making them. That will help everyone, including people who buy the fakes thinking they are the real thing.

If they aren't fakes, then they may just be overpriced and poorly made. In either case, a close inspection may show bad sewing, thin materials or other problems. If you can, try comparing what you have with high quality American or European clothes and gear and try to see the differences.