Students’ perceptions of adopting minimal transformable wardrobes

ABSTRACT

This exploratory research incorporates the publicly pressed ideas regarding minimal wardrobe adoption with academic research on transformable clothing to evaluate the understanding of sustainability awareness in college students’ life. After their unknown exposure to the instructor’s adoption of minimal transformable wardrobe, the students were surveyed regarding the perceptions of their instructor’s appearance, transformable clothing, gender role in adoption, and reasons for their adoption. Qualitative analysis revealed the perceived benefits of the instructor’s wardrobe adoption, including the themes of simplification, professional appearance, and saving time and money. Students expressed interest in transformable clothing, which could reduce clothing consumption for themselves and other consumers. Gender differences were identified when adopting minimal wardrobe; environmental sustainability and increased work productivity were the main reasons to adopt minimal wardrobe for males and females, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into emerging fashion professionals’ perceptions on minimal wardrobe adoption and transformable clothing, as well as, directions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Minimal wardrobe
• student perception
• sustainability
• transformable clothing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Addie Martindale http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6366-0290

Young-A Lee http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8900-4387