I bought a pair of jeans for $230, and I've had to return them twice due to holes in them after a washing.

I'm not sure if this is true about your specific pair of jeans or not, James, but those holes and wear spots are often meant to be there. They add "character," and luckily for the manufacturer just happen to make them wear out quicker so you have to buy more. I'm sure the denim execs are sitting back, laughing at consumers about how they can sell us a product with a short life span that 10 or 20 years ago would have been deemed defective. On top of it the price has gone up 1000%!
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I do have one note to add in their defense. With the increase in designer denim lines popping up over the last few years there has been a massive increase in demand for manufacturing. Not just any factory can produce a quality denim product. Thus high demand has created limited supply. We all know what happens then. Manufacturers have been able to become choosy about who they work with, for how much money and the minimum orders they will take. So for those established, huge companies like Levi's things have stayed about the same. For anyone wanting to enter the game you better be willing to pay the price. One line I know of has recently had sales take off in the last year. Unfortunately they are still a ways out before they will reach profitability.

-Jeff Collins, Professional Haberdasher

Aaron, I have two college aged kids. I think you can imagine what expression I would have on my face if they asked me for that kind of money for a pair of jeans.

Fortunately, I raised my kids with a lot of practicality. I think they rely on Old Navy, Kohls and the Gap. Don't see a lot of Abercrombie, Buckle or Hollisters.