I agree that Zara quality is lacking. I have had more than once embarrassing moment with a Zara item ripping, or falling apart in the wash etc. This is my policy on Zara... you are still spending from $75-$200 usually on these items, so only buy something A. if the materials are decent - look for silk B. if the item looks X times more expensive than it is (What I mean by this is that I have seen $1000
Gucci, Dior, Balenciaga etc. outfits knocked off pretty well, to the point where people at Neiman Marcus look at me baffled thinking, "I know that dress...but...? Where did that come from?? Huh."
One thing I have learned is that you can spend $200 on something from Zara or Banana Republic that is made at a zero quality level, or wait till the sales happen and buy something at Neimans or Bloomingdales for $200 or $300 more. Recently I purchased a Gucci jacket for $335, an Armani Collectioni Jacket for $450, Dolce Jeans for $300, a Akris Punto Dress for $200 and a Cavalli Dress for about $500. These items are worth X times more, made that much more skillfully, etc etc.
I still shop at Zara however because the team of designers is great and some of my favorite things in my closet now (gasp!) are from Zara. These things however are usually silk and usually inspected by myself for flaws before purchase. Sometimes I even find something at Zara that I like better than the big designer version, or that I find a totally refreshing and new take on a current trend!
Do not buy knitwear at Zara, do not buy anything you are not sure you will wear because they have a 30 day return policy and you cannot ship back returns, and call before you go to ask what time of the week the shipments arrive, as the sizes XS and S sell first, and if you are smaller, like me, you do not want to be stuck shuffling through the size M and XL. They do not ship anything from another store. Also, if you can, buy in Europe, as the prices are usually lower, and everything is Tax Free, and it is all the same stuff. However I find that European Zara is usually a little too picked over. Also, I think that Zara is a little bit of a novelty in the States still, so shop there while you can before they become as common as Starbucks as they are in Europe where I do not enjoy wearing Zara as much because everyone will know it is from Zara and never guess it is Gucci or Balenciaga.
Usually then they will know exactly what I paid, and also, have one too. Not so special. But, now in the states, it is still fresh. When shopping there I encourage you to bring with you a black waist cinching belt from a higher end store like Neimans. The quality of a belt can usually give away the price of the item. Rip off the cheap plastic belts they attach and try everything on with your real leather black patent belt (they have a great one at Neimans for about $200 and you can wear it with everything), and the outfit will go from Zara to YSL in a second.
PS
Let me add that Armani Collectioni... which charges $1000 + for its jackets often does not use a lining in their jackets and often uses materials like Polyester... I sometimes buy them on sale anyway because I am lured in by the name and because Georgio Armani (the brand one step up from Armani Collectioni) Jackets are $3000, however that goes to show that price does not always mean quality. Take a lesson from Zara, Mr. Armani, even they put a lining in.
ush:
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. And I think the quality is very good. None of my Zara clothing have ripped or broken.
I think Zara has much better designs than MNG and one of the reasons I prefer Zara over MNG is probably because everyone in Malaysia wears MNG so much so that you go out and you would most probably spot 10 ppl wearing the same top but maybe in a different color. 
