second,)Increased wealth - people have more money than they did in the past, and because of #1 lower prices, they have more things. A hundred years or so ago, most people had 1 or two sets of clothes, and they made up a significant part of their budget. Now, you can get a decent sweater for a couple dollars, and it makes up a tiny part of your budget. So when that sweater snags, you'll toss it and buy a new one instead of sewing it - because you can afford to.