Sustainable clothing from the older female user’s perspective

This research explores clothing sustainability from the perspective of female users over age 50 and their report of their experiences with long-used clothing. Participants included 50 US and 50 South Korean consumers who were asked to respond to a survey of eight open-ended questions concerning sustainable clothing in their wardrobes and probing for attributes and sustainable strategies related to selected clothing they still wore. Interviews with selected survey participants were conducted to probe further for attributes of the long-used and favoured garments. Data were analysed and summarized. Participant’s relationship to clothing and cultural background was considered by comparing responses of participants originating from the two cultures. The research provides insightful perspectives for the apparel industry, specifically for designers and users seeking to achieve sustainability by encouraging selection of clothing for potential extended use and hence implications for sustainable design of the future.