Document Type
Thesis
First Faculty Advisor
Emily Copeland
Second Faculty Advisor
Nicole Freiner
Keywords
analysis; fast-fashion; environment
Publisher
Bryant University
Rights Management
CC-BY-SA
Abstract
The goal of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between an increase in knowledge about the environmental effects of fast fashion and the potential impact on the future purchasing behavior of Bryant students. To this end, I conducted a survey analysis of students' purchasing behavior, including the frequency of purchasing clothes, the major brands from which they purchase clothes, and their awareness of the environmental impact of purchasing clothes. I analyzed the overall findings for both male and female students, as well as the relationship between the most frequently shopped-at brands and the frequency of purchasing clothes, the brands and willingness to change purchasing behavior, and the brands purchased by those who consider price an important factor when buying clothes. My data shows that many people, unless directly educated on the issue—meaning 68% of women and 62% of men—are not aware of the detrimental effects that major brands have on the environment. The results of the study indicate that for both men and women, there is a negative correlation between the amount of education Bryant students have on these issues and the negative environmental impact of their consumption of clothes from popular brands such as H&M, Shein, Zara, and Lululemon.
