Table 4 Sustainable clothing design strategies.
From: How perceived sustainability influences consumers’ clothing preferences
Topic | Indexes | Index | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
Perceived quality | Quality and fit | Durability | Incorporate assessment of environmentally friendly materials and technologies, such as using recyclable or biodegradable materials, and improve durability to reduce clothing waste. |
Shape retention | Consider using resilient environmentally friendly materials, reduce chemical processing to minimize negative environmental impact. | ||
Adaptability and sizing | Promote adjustable designs to accommodate different body types and reduce waste due to improper sizing. | ||
Materials and manufacturing processes | Emphasize the use of organic, recycled, or reused materials, as well as low-carbon and energy-saving production techniques. | ||
Production consistency | Reduce resource waste and defective output through strict quality control and optimized production processes. | ||
Comfort issues | Material selection | Ensure clothing materials are skin-friendly to reduce allergic reactions. | |
Fabric treatment | Apply environmentally friendly fabric treatment techniques, such as using minimal or no chemicals for dyeing and printing methods. | ||
Perceived value | Design style and value for money | Aesthetic design | Promote classic styles over rapidly changing fashion trends. |
Multifunctionality | Design multifunctional clothing adaptable for various occasions and functions to extend product lifespan and reduce demand. | ||
Detail craftsmanship | Emphasize craftsmanship and the use of sustainable materials, advocate for repairs and maintenance to prolong clothing lifespan. | ||
Elegance and refinement | Convey sustainable living ideals through high-quality design and manufacturing. | ||
Value for money | Consider long-term value of use, encourage consumers to invest in more durable, eco-friendly clothing options. | ||
Sensory comfort | Sensation and comfort | Softness and texture | Use sustainably sourced natural materials with soft, comfortable properties that are skin-friendly. |
Breathability | Choose fabrics with good breathability, such as natural fibers and breathable coatings, to promote skin and environmental exchange, reduce overheating, and sweat buildup. | ||
Temperature regulation | Employ innovative fiber technologies and designs to enhance clothing’s adaptability to different environmental temperatures. | ||
Applicability | Adapt to various body types and needs, promote multifunctional clothing to reduce production of single-purpose products and minimize resource waste. | ||
Sustainability | Environmental protection | Ecological footprint | Assess the environmental impact of clothing production processes, including water and energy consumption, emissions, etc., to improve industry transparency and promote more environmentally friendly production practices. |
Material sourcing | Consider the sustainability of raw materials used in clothing, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, wool, etc., to reduce reliance on natural resources and decrease environmental burden. | ||
Recyclability | Evaluate the recyclability of clothing at the end of its lifespan or its biodegradability, encourage the design and manufacture of recyclable products to reduce waste generation and resource waste. | ||
Social responsibility | Examine whether the clothing production process meets environmental protection and labor rights standards, ensuring production processes do not have negative impacts on the environment and society, and promote sustainable development. | ||
Usage and maintenance | Lifespan | Ensure long-term performance retention of clothing to reduce the need for replacement. | |
Cleaning and care | Design clothing that is easy to clean and does not require the use of environmentally burdensome detergents, reducing environmental impact by selecting easy-to-clean fabrics and providing cleaning guidelines. | ||
User guidelines | Provide clear guidelines on how to use and maintain products sustainably, helping consumers better protect and prolong the use of clothing. | ||
Disposal and recycling | Recyclability | Design products with good recyclability to reduce environmental impact and enhance brand sustainability image, encouraging consumers to recycle discarded clothing, reducing the demand for natural resources. | |
Biodegradability | Consider the biodegradability of clothing materials to reduce the long-term environmental impact of waste, choose materials that can decompose in natural environments to reduce land and water pollution. | ||
Recycling programs | Encourage consumer participation in sustainable consumption and enhance brand image by establishing recycling and reuse programs, promoting consumer support and participation in sustainable development. |
