Consumer versus corporate moral responsibilities for creating a circular fashion : virtue or accountability?

202208 bcfcAccepted ManuscriptSelf-fundedPublishe

Consumers’ moral beliefs on corporate and individual responsibilities for circular fashion co-creation

International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, Virtual Conference, November 18-20, 2020202310 bckwVersion of RecordSelf-fundedPublishe

A Study on Consumer Awareness Towards Green Fashion in India

The fashion industry, which is one of the largest polluters of the world, increases the environmental concerns by leaving harmful impressions. Green fashion is a new approach to “fashion with a conscience” and it refers to a growing number of ethical fashion companies that attempt to attract young mainstream fashion consumers by offering fashionable products. While some researchers clearly identify the efforts of responsible consumers towards green fashion, some argue that fashion-orientated consumers who are sensitive towards environment do not actively participate towards supporting green fashion. This study aims to analyze the current awareness of green fashion among these young Indian consumers. An exploratory study with a limited sample of audience between age of 18 and 30 years is conducted where consumers’ awareness of green fashion is examined through online survey followed by an analysis of translation of this perception into purchase decision making. The study may motivate fashion brands to voluntarily adopt green activities and provide strategic guidelines for marketers and retailers about their sustainable retail practices

Do sustainability labels make us more negligent? Rebound and Moral Licensing Effects in the Clothing Industry

Companies and consumers are more concerned about sustainability nowadays. The clothing industry is receiving more attention due to mass production and its significant impact on the planet. Fashion brands are introducing sustainable lines and circular economies in their business model to reduce their energy consumption, advocating for environmental protection and other activities. Yet, sustainable efforts suffer from indulgent and towering consumption. Do sustainability labels really promote moral behavior or are they leading to outrageous outcomes? Rebound and moral licensing effects can be classified as unwanted negative consequences of moral behavior. This research shows to what extent these two effects can be a potential source of an ineffective sustainable policy in the clothing industry. This study uses a conjoint study to measure consumers’ willingness to pay and quantity purchase for three attributes: brand, style and sustainable label. Sustainable label attribute levels were identified as “emphasizing recycled materials”, “emphasizing efficiency in production and distribution” and “none”. We segmented consumers based on their clothing shopping habit. Sustainable label emphasizing efficiency in production and distribution increased the number of clothes consumers would consider buying and willingness to pay more than the one emphasizing the presence of recycled fibers in the product. Individuals seem to purchase larger quantities of sustainable-efficient produced garments because of their good purpose and pro sustainable fashion consumers show consistent behavior on their sustainable preferences. Thus, rebound effect occur in clothing industry but we did not find any proof of moral licensing effect