LOST IN TRANSLATION: FINDING THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION TO COPE WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSTACLES IN DESIGNER’S AND CONSUMERS’ ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

The study examines the psychological factors that influence ethical awareness among fashion designers and consumers, with a particular focus on the selection of sustainable textiles. By addressing challenges such as confusion, paralysis and distrust, the research seeks to identify strategies that promote ethical decision-making in material and product selection. A mixed-methods approach including surveys and interviews before and after a short educational film will be used to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and emotions of designers (professional and emerging) and consumers while evaluating existing sustainable fashion certifications. The primary goal of the study is to provide a solution for getting designers more involved and evoking a willingness to use sustainable materials, thereby enabling informed and ethical consumer behavior. It is hypothesized that emotionally charged sustainability communication and education can evoke moral-responsibility and will; a more accurate and reliable ethical fashion education through the development of a sustainable lexicon could alleviate eco-anxiety, paralysis, and guilt. Affective design education is expected to produce confident, aware, and morally responsible designers capable of creating superior products that facilitate sustainable consumer choices, resulting in a more responsible industry practice. The research results have the potential to influence the ethical fashion discourse and by addressing the emotional and psychological barriers faced by stakeholders, ease the transition to responsible fashion practices. Moreover, offer a reliable visual and written framework particularly in the areas of sustainable materials, design, consumption, and both designer and consumer psychology. Combining the two can lead to a more sustainable fashion industry.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A., Fiber Science and Apparel Design

Level thesis:degree_level

Master of Arts

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fiber Science and Apparel Design

Grantor

Cornell University

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Gyenge, Anna

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Pizarro, David

• certifications
• climate change
• designers
• eco-anxiety
• greenwashing
• supply chain

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7298/28r3-gg65

Dc Identifier Other

ProQuest Submission ID: 12057
ProQuest Publication ID: 31240105

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ecommons.cornell.edu:1813/115815