Consumer Behavior

Exploring Consumers' Intentions to Patronize Local Retailers Selling Fibershed-Affiliated Products: A Conceptual Framework

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Abstract

The textile and apparel industry faces significant environmental and social challenges, prompting the rise of movements like slow fashion. Fibershed, an offshoot of the slow fashion movemnt, advocates for a localized, sustainable "Soil-to-Soil" framework engaging diverse stakeholders to produce eco-friendly apparel. This study explores consumer intentions to patronize local retailers selling Fibershed-affiliated products, drawing on Social Practice Theory (SPT) to analyze the roles of materials (retailers, products), competences (consumer awareness), and meanings (values, perceptions). Key factors include community attachment, the need for uniqueness, and environmental awareness, which influence consumer perceptions of retailers’ sustainability, local engagement, and authenticity. The proposed conceptual model highlights the interplay between sustainable production and consumption practices, revealing pathways for transitioning to a responsible apparel industry. By aligning consumer behaviors with Fibershed’s sustainability goals, this framework offers valuable insights for fostering community-driven sustainable retailing. Further empirical validation of the model is recommended to deepen understanding.

Keywords: Sustainable textile and fashion, Social Practice Theory, Consumer Behavior, Local Retailer, Fibershed

How to Cite:

Swamy, U., Su, J. & Hodges, N. J., (2025) “Exploring Consumers' Intentions to Patronize Local Retailers Selling Fibershed-Affiliated Products: A Conceptual Framework”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18759