Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Sharing a Closet: Exploring Gen Z Feelings and Attitudes Towards Voluntary Simplicity and Collaborative Consumption

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Abstract

The fashion industry’s growing environmental impact demands systemic change, particularly slowing production and consumption. While prior research has emphasized industry practices, consumer behavior—especially wasteful purchasing—remains under-addressed. Voluntary simplicity initiatives like Project 333 and the Fashion Detox experiment encourage reduced clothing consumption, revealing both supportive outcomes and challenges such as unmet desires for novelty. These movements may also promote collaborative consumption, where consumers access “new-to-them” clothing through swapping, gifting, sharing, or renting rather than buying new items. Such practices extend garment lifespans and reduce environmental harm but face barriers related to garment quality, hygiene, and availability. Given the gap between attitudes and actual behavior, this study investigates Gen Z’s experiences with combined voluntary simplicity and clothing-swapping. Using a 10-week qualitative design, participants will limit wardrobes, abstain from purchases, swap selected items, and reflect weekly. Findings aim to illuminate how these practices influence Gen Z’s attitudes and long-term consumption habits.

 

Keywords: Voluntary simplicity, collaborative consumption, clothing swapping, Gen z

How to Cite:

Moscoso-Gonzales, D. & Kim, J., (2025) “Sharing a Closet: Exploring Gen Z Feelings and Attitudes Towards Voluntary Simplicity and Collaborative Consumption”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21762