J.Crew vs. J.Crew Factory Overview

J.Crew Review

What Is J.Crew?

New York City-based J. Crew Group is a retailer of men's and women's apparel, accessories and personal care products. The company sells its products through a chain of retail and factory stores, catalogs and jcrew.com.

Back in 2018, the company owned about 506 retail shops. The J Crew company has several divisions. One of these divisions is the J Crew Factory. The other divisions it includes are J Crew crewcuts, Madewell, The Ludlow Shop, J Crew Mercantile, etc.The company also works through catalogs.

The company sells its products through retail stores, factories, online, Madewell stores, etc.

While it’s true that the Crew does have deep discount sales about once every three months, their clothes from the flagship brand are built well and have a more refined fit. So they’re not super cheap. 

If you’re looking for a few high quality basics like a button down, chinos, and maybe a sweater, J.Crew is a fantastic place to pick up those few key pieces. 

Pros and Cons of J.Crew

Where to Buy J.Crew items?

• jcrew.com: 1.5 - 2% cashback

• walmart.com: 3.5 - 4% cashback

• nordstrom.com

• 6pm.com

Who is J.Crew for?

J.Crew is one of the best entry-points for guys looking to boost their fashion game. They have so many styles and fits available, you can really get lost and see what appeals to you. 

And now that they’ve modernized their fits more, there are plenty of flattering options that will prove to you just how important getting the right size clothes really is. 

Money Saving Tip: If you want to buy any J.Crew item online, Sign up at Extrabux first，(What is Extrabux?), then order through these websites,  so you can enjoy up to 4% cashback from Extrabux! Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get a $20 welcome bonus!

Extrabux.com cooperates with many merchants, such as:  Moosejaw (5% -6% cash back), LOOKFANTASTIC (Up to 10% cash back), Sam's Club (Up to 15% cashback), Norton(Up to 20% cashback), Microsoft (Up to 7% cash back) and so on. You can save on buying daily necessities, fashion, beauty, electronic products, broadband installation, mobile communication, air tickets, hotels and other aspects of life! 

J.Crew Factory Review

What is J Crew Factory?

J.Crew Factory, as you might surmise, is the outlet affiliate of big-brother J.Crew. The styles are remarkably similar – classic, all-American pieces with a slightly preppy vibe.

Same as that of J crew, this outlet keeps men, women, children clothes and accessories. This outlet is a famous outlet of J Crew.The J crew factory stores do business through both retail stores as well as online websites.

There are about 147 J Crew Factory stores (which also counts J Crew Mercantile) present all around Europe, the US, Japan, Hongkong.

The objective of the J Crew Factory is to provide garments and accessories at reasonable prices. One can find similar design clothing in J Crew Factory to that of original J Crew. The plus point is that these pieces are very affordable compared to the actual J Crew ones.

Pros and Cons of J.Crew Factory

Where to Buy  J.Crew Factory items?

• factory.jcrew.com: 1.5 - 2% cashback

• premiumoutlets.com: 3 - 4% cashback

• lyst.com

• thredup.com
  

Who is J.Crew Factory for?

J.Crew Factory’s clothes are so cheap and quickly made—nothing seems to fit well. And even if you get five of the same exact t-shirt (same model, same color), it’s like each of them fit differently. 

J.Crew Factory is decent if you need to stock up your clothes. They are able to clothe your body and hide your nakedness.

J.Crew vs. J.Crew Factory: Side-by-Side Comparison

1.Variety 

• J.Crew

J.Crew carries a greater variety of clothes, especially with seasonal items. So for sweaters, activewear, suits (such as the Ludlow Suit, which I’m a big fan of), and accessories, you’ll have better luck with J.Crew. 

• J.Crew Factory

J.Crew Factory still has an absolutely massive catalog of clothes to choose from. I’ve also noticed that J.Crew Factory often has a broader range of big and tall sizes as well. 

Overall: One can find similar design clothing in J Crew Factory to that of original J Crew. The plus point is that these pieces are very affordable compared to the actual J Crew ones.

2.Style

• J.Crew

J.Crew is known for its bright, preppy style. While they offer the full range of neutral, classic looks, their shirts often feature fun prints that stand apart from the crowd. 

• J.Crew Factory 

J.Crew Factory is the outlet affiliate of big-brother J.Crew. The styles are remarkably similar – classic, all-American pieces with a slightly preppy vibe.

Overall: Both J.Crew and J.Crew Factory go deep on preppy style basics, so if you can’t stop yourself from wearing a rugby shirt three times a week, J.Crew is your happy place. 

3.Fit

• J.Crew

J.Crew still isn’t the best when it comes to keeping all their sizes roughly the same, but it’s a massive leap in quality from J.Crew Factory. 

So you switch to regular J.Crew and get an L, and it fits fine. There’s no consistency of fit between brands, but J.Crew Factory doesn’t even have consistency of fit within their own individual products. 

• J.Crew Factory

The biggest issue with J.Crew Factory is this: you can buy five t-shirts from them and they’d all fit differently.It gets especially confusing when you get an L from Factory, find it fits too big, so you get an M, and it’s skin tight. 

So sometimes the arm gets sewn on at a slightly off angle. Sometimes threads aren’t tightened up, so you just have a hanging thread and loose seam. 

Overall: J.Crew offers much better fits than J.Crew Factory. 

4.Quality

• J.Crew

J.Crew's quality is much higher. While the price is roughly double that of J. Crew Factory, you get much more value for your money with J. Crew because the clothes last many years longer.

If you’re looking for a few high quality basics like a button down, chinos, and maybe a sweater, J.Crew is a fantastic place to pick up those few key pieces. 

•  J.Crew Factory
  

However, many reviews say that the J Crew Factory clothes aren’t of the same quality as that of the J Crew original. This is self-explanatory as the prices of clothes go down, so do their quality.

However, if the quality is not a big issue or not a preference, then the clothes from J Crew Factory are not a bad choice.

Pro Tip: Always see which similar styles are carried at both stores. Then, review the fabric content, product reviews, and fit before deciding on the best option. Sometimes, you can squeeze by with the cheaper option. Other times, paying the higher price is worthwhile!

5.Price

• J.Crew 

J.Crew is a high-end fashion brand that offers a range of clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children. The brand is known for its preppy, classic styles, and quality materials. 

While it’s true that the Crew does have deep discount sales about once every three months, their clothes from the flagship brand are built well and have a more refined fit. So they’re not super cheap. 

• J.Crew Factory 

J.Crew Factory is a more affordable clothing brand that offers similar styles to J.Crew at lower prices.

When J.Crew Factory goes on clearance, the deals get pretty insane. And J.Crew Factory clothes cost around half as much as J.Crew.J.Crew Factory is decent if you need to stock up your clothes. They are able to clothe your body and hide your nakedness.

J. Crew vs J. Crew FactoryFull Comparison Chart

Here’s a quick chart comparing J.Crew vs. J.Crew Factory :

Main Differences Between J Crew and J Crew Factory

• J Crew was formed before the J Crew factory ever existed.

• J Crew is a company, whereas J Crew Factory is a division (outlet) of the company.

• J Craren’t high-quality products, whereas J Crew Factory’s products are of cheaper quality.

• J Crew has expensive clothing items, whereas J Crew Factory has affordable clothing items.

• Clothes for J Crew are originally designed, whereas that of J Crew factory‘s is copies of the original J Crew ones.
  

• J.Crew Factory items are specifically designed for the outlet store, while J.Crew items are often from the main line.

J.Crew vs. J.Crew Factory: Which is Right for You?

• J.Crew

J.Crew offers higher-quality, trendier clothing at a higher price point.

Unless you’re a college kid on a tight budget, you’d get J.Crew over J.Crew Factory for pretty much everything except basic t-shirts. If you’re getting button downs, chinos, or sweaters, J.Crew’s quality is much higher. While the price is roughly double that of J.Crew Factory, you get much more value for your money with J.Crew because the clothes last many years longer.

The J.Crew company sells its products through retail stores, factories, online, Madewell stores, etc.

•  J.Crew Factory

 J.Crew Factory provides more affordable, discounted items focusing on casual and basic wear.

If you need clothes and don’t have much of a budget, then J.Crew Factory will get you through. But the sooner you can ditch J.Crew Factory and spend a little more on nicer clothes, including those from J.Crew, you’ll actually save more in the long-run because your clothes will fit better and last longer. When your clothes fit well, you find you wear them more often, so you need fewer overall.

This outlet often has clearance sales both in physical stores as well as online stores. It also provides an exchange and returns facility within 30 days of purchase if one has a receipt.

FAQs

1.Is J.Crew Factory the same as J.Crew?

No, J.Crew Factory and J.Crew are different. J.Crew Factory is at a lower-tier than J.Crew. The construction and fabrics aren’t as premium, though the prices are often much lower, too.

2.Is J.Crew a good brand?

Yes, J.Crew makes great quality clothing and their prices are reasonable. If you’re just starting to look for clothes that fit well and flatter your body type, J.Crew is a terrific place to start. They have a massive variety and you’re bound to find something you like.

3.How to tell the difference between J.Crew Factory and regular J.Crew?

J.Crew Factory items have a double diamond on the tag under the J.Crew brand name.

4.Can you return items from J.Crew Factory to J.Crew?

No, J.Crew Factory and J.Crew are different brands, so you’re unable to return Factory items to J.Crew. The names are confusing, but J.Crew Factory and J.Crew are different brands.

5.How do I know if my J crew is factory?

Simply, J. Crew/Ann Taylor/Banana Republic and a host of other Factory items have two small white dots (diamonds/squared) under the label.

6.Is J.Crew Factory the same quality as J. Crew?

J. Crew Factory for pretty much everything except basic t-shirts. If you're getting button downs, chinos, or sweaters, J. Crew's quality is much higher. While the price is roughly double that of Is J.Crew Factory.

Read More:

Nike Factory vs. Nike Outlet vs. Nike Retail Store: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Coach Bag Fake vs. Original vs. Outlet 2025: How to Spot a Fake or Factory Coach Bag？

Ann Taylor vs. LOFT vs. LOFT Outlet vs. Factory: Differences, Sizing, Quality & Price 2025

Prada Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Gucci Outlet vs. Gucci Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Michael Kors Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

(Polo) Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Burberry Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Lululemon Outlet vs. Retail Store: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Saint Laurent (YSL) Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Tory Burch Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Vera Bradley Factory Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Old Navy Outlet vs. Retail: Differences, Quality & Price 2025

Extrabux is an international cashback shopping site, offering up to 30% cashback from 10,000+ Stores!

LOOKFANTASTIC, SkinStore, SkinCareRx, Feelunique, Cult Beauty, Sephora, Belk, Estee Lauder, Lancome, La Mer, Kiehl's, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Adore Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, Hourglass, Lancer, Shiseido, FOREO, Macy's, etc.

Join to get $20 welcome bonus now! (How does Welcome Bonus work?)