Defining sustainable clothing use: A taxonomy for future research

Abstract

The experiences, habits, and practices that occur post-purchase within the clothing use phase have an impact on clothing's longevity, a linchpin in sustainable clothing consumption. Though it represents one of the most carbon-intensive and polluting phases of consumption, a clear definition of sustainable clothing use practice and how it functionally contributes to sustainable consumption is currently underdeveloped. Consumer behavior researchers have most significantly illuminated sustainable clothing purchase and disposal behaviors, leaving an understanding of post-purchase habits that emerge in everyday clothing use incomplete and fragmented. Through a systematic literature review of 77 articles published from 1991 to January 2022, this study provides a holistic view of this domain of sustainable clothing use that highlights three dimensions (wear, care, repair) alongside the associated habits of mind and domestic management that constitute a system of use practice. The themes that emerged within the review are utilized to develop a framework and an agenda for future research in this important domain of consumer behavior.