Evaluation of consumer perceptions and acceptance of sustainable fashion products made of bacterial cellulose

Due to tremendous contributions of the fashion industry to environmental degradation, novel sustainable materials and practices are becoming increasingly important. The purpose of this research was to investigate consumer perceptions of fashion products made from bacterial cellulose (BC), a novel sustainable material. Research objectives were to: (a) understand how consumers perceive and characterize BC material based on the senses of touch, sight, smell, and hearing; (b) identify areas for material improvement and potential barriers and motivations for consumer acceptance of products made of BC; and (c) evaluate the acceptability of BC, from a consumer perspective, as a novel material for use in fashion products. For the study, BC material was developed through Kombucha fermentation, then used to design a women’s bag. A new comprehensive framework for Fashion Product Evaluation (FPE) was developed, tested and validated. Embedded mixed methods research design was utilized to conduct the study. Focus group discussion was the primary method, and sensory evaluation of the BC material was the embedded method. A three-part holistic sensory evaluation method was developed to examine consumer perceptions of BC material. Six focus group sessions were held to collect data, with 33 female participants in total. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the sensory evaluation data. Priori and open coding methods were used to analyze the focus group data. BC material was found to be acceptable for fashion accessories (e.g., shoes, bags, belts), but not for clothing. Material texture and novelty were found to be favorable characteristics. Thinness, translucency, unpleasant odor, and skin-like and worn appearance were unfavorable characteristics. Name of the material and lack of consumer knowledge were the barriers for BC adoption, whereas uniqueness, vintage-looking appearance, sustainability, and environmentally- and animal-friendly nature were the motivators. The results present valuable insight for future research directions and further BC improvement. Bio-based materials, such as BC, might help the fashion industry to become less dependent on non-renewable fiber sources and other natural resources and reduce its environmental impact. An important methodological contribution of this study is the new, holistic sensory evaluation method for fashion products, which is the first in the field to consider the all human senses but taste. As new unconventional and often non-textile materials (e.g., BC, smart textiles, sensors, solar cells) are increasingly being incorporated into fashion products, holistic sensory evaluation becomes essential for capturing and evaluating the total range of sensory characteristics of products and fully assessing consumer perceptions, acceptance, and satisfaction. Important theoretical contribution of this study lies in the development of the new FPE framework. FPE is the first framework to integrate apparel evaluative criteria into a unified comprehensive classification system with four mutually exclusive and clearly defined dimensions. It can be useful to researchers and businesses for understanding consumer perceptions and evaluation of products and purchase decision processes as well as identifying and addressing gaps between consumer needs and product attributes

Made from Scratch. A Sustainable Handbag Made of Bacterial Cellulose Grown in Fermenting Tea

The purpose of this work was to explore bacterial cellulose as a novel sustainable leather-like material for handbag design. This exploration was carried out in two parts. In the first part, bacterial cellulose material was developed through fermentation process of Kombucha tea, using common household ingredients such as tea, sugar and vinegar, and bacterial cultures. In the second part, a saddle bag style handbag was constructed using the cellulose mats. Regular construction and sewing techniques as well as laser cutting technology were successfully utilized to create an intricate handbag design using bacterial cellulose

Proposed Typologies for the Dress Needs of Nursing Mothers and Babies and Available Nursing Dress: An Evaluation of the Relationship between Concepts in These Typologies

In the U.S., the majority of babies are weaned from the breast by the time they are three months old (CDC, 2007) in contrast to the recommendation of “exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months. . ., with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer” (Eidelman & Schanler, 2012). Women who feel comfortable feeding in public breastfeed longer than women who are not comfortable (Allen & Pelto, 1985). Practical advice on carrying out life roles while breastfeeding is important and requires consideration of clothing (Mulford 2008). The purposes of this study were to (1) identify and organize (a) dress needs of nursing mothers and babies and (b) available types of nursing dress, and (2) provide practical advice by considering the relationship between currently available dress and needs of nursing mothers and babies. Part I: Concept analysis of the dress needs of nursing mothers and babies. Sixteen scholarly and consumer publications related to breastfeeding or pregnancy were analyzed for dress needs. The unit of coding was any passage on nursing. Using constant comparison, we identified and organized the following needs around the Functional (F) Expressive (E) Aesthetic (A) Model (Lamb & Kallal, 1992): (a) milk production & transfer (F), (b) fit, comfort, and support (F), (c) easy access (F), (d) normal appearance (F, A), (e) non-communication of breastfeeding (E), (f) style and fashion (E, A), (g) aesthetically pleasing (A), and (h) tactile experience for the baby (A, F). We described each need in-depth with representative quotes. For example, “You’ll want to be sure you can easily unfasten and refasten the bra with one hand, since you’ll need to do so regularly for feedings” (Kutzin & Marchant, 2001, p. 54). The created typology of the needs of nursing mothers and babies will help mothers recognize, prioritize, and meet the needs they face and designers create useful items for this target market

RETHINK: Wearing Kombucha in Santa Fe

Inspired by the concept “sustainability,” we challenged ourselves to rethink what constitutes sustainable consumer products in a world of increasingly stressed natural resources. We explored the innovative way to develop renewable biocomposite materials, leather-like nonwoven fabrics, which can be used for wearable products such as vest, jacket, bag, and shoes

One Look Is Worth a Thousand Words: Effectiveness of Video for Learning about Textile and Apparel Social Responsibility

The complexity of the social responsibility (SR) concept makes learning about SR crucial for future academic and industry professionals. The purpose of this study was to examine effectiveness of a single learning assignment (watching a video) on student understanding of SR in the textile and apparel industry. Three research questions guided the study: (1) What issues students perceive as SR problems in the industry, (2) How students\u27 definitions of SR differ before and after watching the video, and (3) How students\u27 SR related attitudes changed after watching the video. The results of this study indicated that completing the learning activity substantially enhanced students\u27 knowledge of a wide range of issues related to SR. Furthermore, students\u27 attitudes toward SR have shifted significantly after watching the video: In addition to responsibilities on the part of companies and industry overall, students realized the role of individual consumers and society as a whole

Made from Scratch. A Sustainable Handbag Made of Bacterial Cellulose Grown in Fermenting Tea

The purpose of this work was to explore bacterial cellulose as a novel sustainable leather-like material for handbag design. This exploration was carried out in two parts. In the first part, bacterial cellulose material was developed through fermentation process of Kombucha tea, using common household ingredients such as tea, sugar and vinegar, and bacterial cultures. In the second part, a saddle bag style handbag was constructed using the cellulose mats. Regular construction and sewing techniques as well as laser cutting technology were successfully utilized to create an intricate handbag design using bacterial cellulose.</p

Evaluation of consumer perceptions and acceptance of sustainable fashion products made of bacterial cellulose

Due to tremendous contributions of the fashion industry to environmental degradation, novel sustainable materials and practices are becoming increasingly important. The purpose of this research was to investigate consumer perceptions of fashion products made from bacterial cellulose (BC), a novel sustainable material. Research objectives were to: (a) understand how consumers perceive and characterize BC material based on the senses of touch, sight, smell, and hearing; (b) identify areas for material improvement and potential barriers and motivations for consumer acceptance of products made of BC; and (c) evaluate the acceptability of BC, from a consumer perspective, as a novel material for use in fashion products. For the study, BC material was developed through Kombucha fermentation, then used to design a women’s bag. A new comprehensive framework for Fashion Product Evaluation (FPE) was developed, tested and validated. Embedded mixed methods research design was utilized to conduct the study. Focus group discussion was the primary method, and sensory evaluation of the BC material was the embedded method. A three-part holistic sensory evaluation method was developed to examine consumer perceptions of BC material. Six focus group sessions were held to collect data, with 33 female participants in total. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the sensory evaluation data. Priori and open coding methods were used to analyze the focus group data. BC material was found to be acceptable for fashion accessories (e.g., shoes, bags, belts), but not for clothing. Material texture and novelty were found to be favorable characteristics. Thinness, translucency, unpleasant odor, and skin-like and worn appearance were unfavorable characteristics. Name of the material and lack of consumer knowledge were the barriers for BC adoption, whereas uniqueness, vintage-looking appearance, sustainability, and environmentally- and animal-friendly nature were the motivators. The results present valuable insight for future research directions and further BC improvement. Bio-based materials, such as BC, might help the fashion industry to become less dependent on non-renewable fiber sources and other natural resources and reduce its environmental impact. An important methodological contribution of this study is the new, holistic sensory evaluation method for fashion products, which is the first in the field to consider the all human senses but taste. As new unconventional and often non-textile materials (e.g., BC, smart textiles, sensors, solar cells) are increasingly being incorporated into fashion products, holistic sensory evaluation becomes essential for capturing and evaluating the total range of sensory characteristics of products and fully assessing consumer perceptions, acceptance, and satisfaction. Important theoretical contribution of this study lies in the development of the new FPE framework. FPE is the first framework to integrate apparel evaluative criteria into a unified comprehensive classification system with four mutually exclusive and clearly defined dimensions. It can be useful to researchers and businesses for understanding consumer perceptions and evaluation of products and purchase decision processes as well as identifying and addressing gaps between consumer needs and product attributes.</p

Crowdsourcing homemade facemasks: 772 U.S. health facilities' responses to personal protective equipment shortages in the first half of 2020

PURPOSEWe examined 772 U.S. health facilities' responses to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages in the first half of 2020, as they crowdsourced face coverings from volunteer makers to be used as respiratory protection during crisis surge capacity. The purpose was to examine facemask specification requests from health facilities and develop a framework for crowdsourcing last resort PPE. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACHHomemade facemask donation requests from health facilities in 47 states systematically recorded in a public database maintained by public health graduate students at a major U.S. university were analysed. Open coding was used to content analyse facemask types and specifications, intended uses, delivery logistics and donation management strategies. FINDINGSOur analysis revealed information gaps: Science-based information was scarce in 2020, leading to improvised specifications for facemask materials and designs. It also revealed the emergence of a crowdsourcing structure: Task specifications for volunteer facemasks makers, delivery logistics, and practical management of donations within the pandemic context. In anticipation of future pandemics and localised PPE shortages, we build on this empirical evidence to propose a framework for crowdsourcing science-informed facemasks from volunteers. Categorised within (a) logistics and workflow management, (b) task specifications and management, and (c) practical management of contributions functional areas, the framework outlines the required tasks and specifications for crowdsourcing. ORIGINALITYA novel empirically derived framework for crowdsourcing homemade facemasks is proposed, based on empirical analysis and crowdsourcing system design strategies. Our findings and the framework may be used for refining crisis capacity guidelines, as part of strategic planning and preparation for future pandemics that disrupt supply chains and cause shortages in protective equipment