Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Is the Fashion Industry Ready for a Change Toward a Circular Economy (FashionReady4CE)? Development of IRT-Based FashionReady4CE Scales

Authors: Chung-Wha (Chloe) KI (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) , Baolu Wang , Sze Man Chong (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) , Jung E. Ha-Brookshire (University of Missouri-Columbia)

Abstract

Governments and business leaders alike are calling for a marked need to embrace a fundamental change to move away from a linear economy in favor of a circular economy (CE). A CE operates on a “take-make-use-reuse” system that is less dependent on raw materials and aims at resilience and a sustainable growth. However, are fashion organizations ready for a change toward a CE? Using the Organizational Readiness for Change as a theoretical framework and the Item Response Theory (IRT) as a methodological framework, this study develops an IRT-based “FashionReady4CE” scales that can measure fashion organizations’ state of change commitment and change efficacy (i.e., change readiness) toward a CE. 

Keywords: Circular Fashion, Ready to Change, Change Readiness, IRT, Scale Development

How to Cite: KI, C. , Wang, B. , Chong, S. & Ha-Brookshire, J. E. (2022) “Is the Fashion Industry Ready for a Change Toward a Circular Economy (FashionReady4CE)? Development of IRT-Based FashionReady4CE Scales”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15842