Sustainability motives, values and communication of slow fashion business owners

Abstract

Research on sustainable consumption is increasing however, it mostly focuses on commercial products. Fashion industry in general remains understudied especially small size business in sustainable fashion. Even this segment continues to be neglected in research, it creates a significant impact on sustainability. The study is carried in Lithuania. While sustainability is regarded as the business standard in neighboring countries, especially Scandinavia, Lithuania is still learning how to become more conscious and sustainable. Although the country has the capacity to lead sustainability in the region, there is inadequate education on this matter. Regardless, several local businesses and governments agree that incorporating sustainability is a single clear route to economic growth. The paper aims to understand motives and values of Lithuanian sustainable clothing business owners and explore how they communicate these motives and values. The study employs a qualitative approach of in-depth semi-structured interviews. The analysis is guided by the framework of grounded theory, which leads to the conception of four themes: (1) Initiating a Change; (2) Respectful and Responsible Approach; (3) Slowness; (4) Personal and Purposeful Communication. A possible limitation of this study is the language barrier. Participants could choose whether they wished to speak in English or Lithuanian. Three out of seven chose to speak their native language, while four agreed to speak in English. Although English-speaking participants did not show any difficulty expressing themselves, their interviews turned out to be shorter than those conducted in Lithuanian. Findings indicate that the motives, values, and communication procedures of the owners are reflected in bringing about a change in consumers' minds and actions, taking responsibility to show respect to stakeholders and the environment, slowing down in every step from design to shipping, and building a conscious and educated community. The paper has defined relevant terms and put forward the ground values of the sustainable fashion industry by giving a voice to sustainable clothing business owners, their experiences, and insights.