2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

How Green Are We? Socioeconomic Drivers of Sustainable Spending

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-15-2025

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kelly Chen

Abstract

Sustainable fashion has gained traction as society has become more aware about environmental and ethical concerns in the apparel industry. My personal interest in sustainable clothing behaviors was sparked after reading The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. Her memoir details the impacts of consumer habits on personal well-being and the environment while taking readers through her one year spent buying absolutely nothing deemed unnecessary. This book made me question the motivations behind clothing purchases and the factors influencing sustainable fashion choices. One of the biggest concerns in the fashion industry is its significant impact which accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and contributes substantially to water pollution. The industry’s excessive use of resources, paired with consumer habits of overconsumption is a recipe for disaster. Sustainable clothing practices such as second-hand shopping, repairing garments and purchasing ethical brands can mitigate environmental harm. However, these brands are influenced by socioeconomic factors including income, education, and geographic location. This study explores how income level correlates with sustainable clothing choices while focusing on ethical brand purchases, second-hand shopping and clothing repairs. The primary research question guiding this study is: “How do socioeconomic factors correlate with sustainable clothing behaviors?”. The hypothesis points that higher-income groups are more likely to purchase ethical brands, whereas lower-income groups engage more in second-hand shopping and clothing repairs. Identifying these determinants can help bridge the gap between sustainable fashion accessibility and affordability.

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