Perceived Risks and Enjoyment: Identifying Barriers and Motivations to Clothing Renting

The purpose of this study is to identify how perceived risks impact attitude and perceived enjoyment and further behavioral intention toward clothing rental. A convenience sampling strategy was utilized with an online survey. A consumer panel of the target population was purchased from an online research company. Data cleaning generated 452 usable samples out of 607 returned responses. Scales were developed to measure the variables. All items were measured utilizing a 5-point Likert scale 1= strongly disagree to 5= strongly agree. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the direct and indirect relationships between perceived risks and clothing renting intentions. Evidence from the study indicates that consumer intentions to rent clothing is encouraged by their attitudes and perceived enjoyment; but impeded by the perceived financial, performance, and psychological risks. Further, the results highlight the mediating role perceived enjoyment has on the negative relationship between perceived risks and clothing renting intentions

Evaluating Sustainable Practices of Bangladeshi Apparel and Textile Industry: Triple Bottom Line Approach

This study was executed to evaluate the current state of social and environment practices among Bangladeshi apparel and textile manufactures. A mixed methods study was conducted with industry professionals using Triple Bottom Line (TBL) theory as an underpinning. A total of 58 usable survey responded by professionals currently working in the apparel and textile manufacturing industry in Bangladesh were analyzed. Results indicated Bangladeshi manufacturers are addressing economic, environmental and social sustainability, while economic concerns were found to be a first priority for each sector of the industry, environmental and social priority varied based on the nature of the industry. Frequently mentioned impediments to implement social and environmental sustainability found to financial burden, political unrest, resource scarcity, lack of knowledge, lower prices of the products due to buyers\u27 negotiations and competitive market

Clothing Rental at Tourist Designations: Investigating Individuals\u27 Attitude towards a Novel Business Model

This study investigated consumer\u27s acceptance of a novel approach to minimizing the environmental footprint of tourism and business travel, the rental of clothing the destination location. In this proposed business model tourist would be offered the service of renting all or some of their clothing onsite rather than bringing the items with them. This proposed business model was framed around the triple bottom line approach to sustainable development, and the Rational Choice Theory. Data was collected via an online survey that included Likert scale and open ended questions with essay length response capability. Seventy-two men and women over the age of 18 who travel domestically and internationally for business and/or pleasure participated in this research. Results indicated, 74% of participants would be willing to rent clothing rather than buying new item for a single trip, if the service were offered. The most frequently mentioned reason participants gave for their willingness to rent clothing was to reduce luggage weight. Additional reasons included: convenience during travel due to reduced luggage; not needing to buy new items; the enjoyment of wearing new items; and being able to try expensive designer clothing they would normally not purchase

Investigating Ethical Fashion Consumerism Practices: Multi-theory Approach

This study was conducted to obtain an in-depth understanding regarding the motivations and adoption of ethical fashion consumerism by taste leaders, specifically green celebrities. A total 20 interviews of movie stars, bloggers, and musicians published between 2014 and 2016 in a sustainable fashion magazine were analyzed. Three different theories were employed to interpret three different stages involved into ethical consumerism process. Social Cognitive theory explain the learning stage, Theory of Planned Behavior explain the intention/motivation stage and Social Practice Theory described the implementation stage of ethical fashion consumerism process

Viewing Sustainable Strategy of Fast and Slow Fashion Businesses Model through the Lens of Triple Bottom Line Theory

This study was designed to gain better understanding how both slow and fast fashion businesses are addressing sustainability related issues. Secondary data was collected through comprehensive literature search. Data include, corporate sustainability report from USA and Europe based fast fashion companies, slow fashion business website information and journal articles. We examined sustainable strategies and implementation scheme of both business models along the design, production, distribution, and consumption value chain using the lens of Triple Bottom Line theory that address economic, social and environmental dimension of sustainability. Results show that social and environmental sustainability strategy is mostly identical across both slow fashion and fast fashion business models. However, to be economically sustainable, they follow different strategies

EFFECT OF YARN COUNT & STITCH LENGTH ON SHRINKAGE, GSM AND SPIRALITY OF SINGLE JERSY COTTON KNIT FABRIC

Single jersey cotton weft knitted fabrics tend to undergo a certain dimensional changes due to different yarn parameters and knitting parameters. The investigation was carried out to compare the effect of different yarn counts & stitch lengths on the spirality, GSM and shrinkage of knitted fabric. In this study the experimental results show that when yarn count is fixed, the increment of stitch length results decrement of spirality, increment of shrinkage and decrement of GSM. On the contrary, when stitch length is fixed, the increment of yarn count results increment of spirality, decrement of shrinkage and decrement of GSM. Some exceptions were also experienced

Antecedents of Apparel Subscription Box Choice: Understanding Predictors to Use Apparel Subscription Service

With the rise of online shopping apparel merchandising and retailing has experienced tremendous reformation. In this regard, the online apparel subscription services have become an important trend in a global retailing context. In the U.S. apparel subscription service retailers reported that the market grew by more than 100 percent from 2013 to 2018 and it continues to grow steadily. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antecedents of online apparel subscription services, and to better understand consumers’ attitudes towards online subscription service items in the context of the extended Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Usage (UTAUT2). This study was designed to uncover: Factors that predict why a consumer will use online apparel subscription services, the relationship between age, gender, and shopping orientation and a consumer’s interest in subscribing to a fashion service. An online survey was administered to 678 users of apparel subscription services in the United States. Data was analyzed to test formulated hypotheses and conceptual framework. Validity and reliability of research scales were assessed. Hypothesized relationships and moderating effects were tested using the SmartPLS software package. Findings showed that individuals will use an apparel subscription service if they find it useful, it offers a quality curated service, is easy to use, offers good value for money and has hedonic value. Online shopping habits and social influences were not found to be influencing factors for the behavioral intention and use of such services. The moderating effect testing results indicated age and gender did not have any influence among the predictor and outcome variables. The results add to existing literature related to online apparel consumer behavior and posits that retailers should develop and maintain high quality curated service-based subscription service that are useful, ease to use, offer good value for money and hedonic value. Theoretical and practical implications were provided based on research findings

Temperature phased anaerobic sludge digestion with high pressure homogenization pretreatment

Management of municipal waste sludge has been a concern as it represents more than half of the total operation and disposal cost of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Among different sludge disposal alternatives, anaerobic digestion has become an attractive option for its ability to generate methane-rich biogas, nutrient-rich fertilizer from organic waste as well as to reduce the sludge volume for final disposal. Recently, endeavors have been made to increase biogas and reduce digester volume requirement by emerging waste pretreatment (disintegration) techniques. This study investigated advance anaerobic digestion involving temperature phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) coupled with high pressure homogenization (HPH) pretreatment as a new disposal option for the municipal sludge generated by WWTP in Kelowna (BC, Canada). The study began with preliminary examination of thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) solubilization due to HPH pretreatment at different pressure (6,000 and 12,000 psi) and chemical dose (0.009 to 0.036 g NaOH/g total solids). Homogenizing pressure was found as a statistically significant factor (p-value < 0.05) for enhancing solubilization of particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biopolymers in TWAS and particle size reduction of TWAS. A pretreatment with chemical dose of 0.009 g NaOH/g total solids and pressure of 12,000 psi was selected for digester studies. Upon acclimation of anaerobic inocula, a total number of twelve lab-scale digesters were operated under scenarios including single-stage (control), TPAD, and HPH coupled with TPAD (HPH+TPAD) at sludge retention times (SRTs) of 20, 14 and 7 days. Overall, mesophilic digestion was found to be benefited significantly from pretreatments. Relative (to control) improvements in methane yield and COD removals increased noticeably as SRT was shortened from 20 to 14 and 7 days. HPH+TPAD system was found to achieve maximum methane production and COD removals. Both TPAD and HPH+TPAD systems produced nearly Class A biosolids according to organic matter recycling regulation (OMRR) of British Columbia (BC), at 20 d SRT while digestates from all systems were qualified as Class B. Energy analysis indicated that all the digestion scenarios attained positive energy balance with HPH+TPAD system operated at 20 d SRT producing maximum net energy of 72.4 to 79.2 GJ/d.Applied Science, Faculty ofEngineering, School of (Okanagan)Graduat

Investigating Ethical Fashion Consumerism Practices: Multi-theory Approach

This study was conducted to obtain an in-depth understanding regarding the motivations and adoption of ethical fashion consumerism by taste leaders, specifically green celebrities. A total 20 interviews of movie stars, bloggers, and musicians published between 2014 and 2016 in a sustainable fashion magazine were analyzed. Three different theories were employed to interpret three different stages involved into ethical consumerism process. Social Cognitive theory explain the learning stage, Theory of Planned Behavior explain the intention/motivation stage and Social Practice Theory described the implementation stage of ethical fashion consumerism process.</p

Clothing Rental at Tourist Designations: Investigating Individuals' Attitude towards a Novel Business Model

This study investigated consumer's acceptance of a novel approach to minimizing the environmental footprint of tourism and business travel, the rental of clothing the destination location. In this proposed business model tourist would be offered the service of renting all or some of their clothing onsite rather than bringing the items with them. This proposed business model was framed around the triple bottom line approach to sustainable development, and the Rational Choice Theory. Data was collected via an online survey that included Likert scale and open ended questions with essay length response capability. Seventy-two men and women over the age of 18 who travel domestically and internationally for business and/or pleasure participated in this research. Results indicated, 74% of participants would be willing to rent clothing rather than buying new item for a single trip, if the service were offered. The most frequently mentioned reason participants gave for their willingness to rent clothing was to reduce luggage weight. Additional reasons included: convenience during travel due to reduced luggage; not needing to buy new items; the enjoyment of wearing new items; and being able to try expensive designer clothing they would normally not purchase.</p