2021 article

The impact of communication on consumer knowledge of environmentally sustainable apparel

Li, J., & Leonas, K. K. (2021, August 20). JOURNAL OF FASHION MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT.

By: J. Li n & K. Leonas n

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: Environmentally sustainable apparel; Consumer knowledge; Communication; Generation Z and millennials; Hangtags; Product webpages
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 30, 2021

Purpose This study aims to investigate consumer knowledge of environmentally sustainable apparel (ESA) and examine the impact of communication on consumer knowledge of ESA. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a quantitative survey focused on Millennial and Generation Z consumers. Two communication methods, hangtags and product webpages, were involved. First, two instruments were established to measure consumers’ objective and subjective knowledge of ESA. Second, two questionnaires were developed to collect participants’ knowledge before and after reading hangtags or product webpages. Findings There were 385 useable responses. It was found that participants’ knowledge about waste and cotton production’s water issues was less than their knowledge of other subjects and did not increase after reading the related information on hangtags or webpages. Participants’ subjective knowledge was significantly higher than their objective knowledge after communication. The positive effects of communicating with consumers via hangtags and webpages on consumers’ subjective knowledge were confirmed. Additionally, the ESA information provided via hangtags was more effective than webpages in improving consumers’ objective knowledge. Originality/value This study makes up for the deficiency in the literature. It provides in-depth insights on consumers’ knowledge of ESA by investigating consumer knowledge before and after communication based on consumer knowledge structure. The textile and apparel industry can use this study’s findings to improve communication with consumers and aid in sustainable product distribution.