Factors affecting consumer acquisition of secondhand clothing in the USA

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore factors affecting secondhand clothing acquisition among a sample of US female consumers based on an economic perspective. Design/methodology/approach This research is descriptive in nature, utilizing a survey of 500 US female consumers to explore relationships between five modes of secondhand clothing acquisition and selected consumer characteristics. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Findings The significant variables were income, age, number of toddlers and children ages 6-17 present in households, and sewing and repair skills. Income was found to be negatively related to purchasing secondhand clothing, suggesting that consumers view used clothing as an inferior good. Consumers in Gen Y were more likely to be involved in various means of secondhand clothing acquisition, holding income constant, than Baby Boomers. Practical implications Overcoming the stigma of inferiority associated with secondhand clothing, encouraging repair skills, and the repair of clothing, reaching out to consumers to build on their interest in DIY projects, and utilizing new technology (e.g. apps for sharing clothes) are practical implications. Originality/value The paper examined multiple modes of clothing acquisition rather than a single mode, and contributes insight regarding the economic concept of secondhand clothing as an inferior good.

Factors explaining shared clothes consumption in China: Individual benefit or planet concern?

“…As stated previously, one of the biggest competitors for clothes sharing is fast-fashion (Liu, Wang, Chen, & Lu, 2012) who deliver cheap clothing and convenience (Norum & Norton, 2017). Given that many clothing items purchased are only worn once shared clothing offers a far more sustainable business model when compared with fast fashion which is contributing to landfill.…”

Modeling the hierarchical structure of secondhand clothing buying behavior antecedents of millennials

“…Budget allocation is the anticipation of finding cheaper deals and bargains in buying clothing (Gregson and Crewe, 1997;Isla, 2013;Ferraro et al, 2016). Secondhand shops are usually the central shopping hub for economically challenged consumers (Todd and Lawson, 2003;Williams and Paddock, 2003;Norum and Norton, 2017). Secondhand shops satisfy the consumers' basic needs, along with their wants, with a minimal budget JM2 15,4 (Guiot and Roux, 2010).…”

“…Buying decisions of millennial and generation X generations are usually planned to maximize spending (Hamilton, 2009), which often lead to price appraisals and priority management (Ferraro et al, 2016). For instance, consumers of these two generations allocate more income on infant and clothing and lesser on children's apparel than the baby boomers (Norum and Norton, 2017).…”

Systematic Literature Review Of Sustainable Fashion Consumption From 2015 To 2019

“…There are various alternatives to the classic form of collaboration including swapping, renting and purchasing second-hand fashion. In regards to this systematic review, several scholars had specifically touched on collaboration in terms of clothing and discovered the level of acceptance in China, United States, Iran, and German (Iran et al, 2019;Liang & Xu, 2018;Norum & Norton, 2017). Based on the research by Iran et al (2019), Germany students were more engaged in collaborative fashion compared to the students in Iran.…”

“…This is due to the cultural differences between German and Iran, whereby German students are found to be shaping more on their feminine culture with power distance and lower uncertainty avoidance rates compared to the Iranian students. Meanwhile, the research conducted in the United States by Norum and Norton (2017) showed that consumers from Generation Y are labelled as a group who fully practise sustainability in fashion. This is due to the fact that this generation is willing to be entirely involved in second-hand, renting and swapping alternatives compared to Generation X, who are only attracted in consuming second-hand clothing which proves that collaborative is more prevalent and is becoming a new huge business opportunity there (Liang & Xu, 2018…”