Pedagogy and Professional Development

Culture, Society, and Fashion Consumption: Teaching Consumer Behavior Using Qualitative and Interdisciplinary Approaches

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Abstract

This paper proposes a basis for a pedagogical research methods course to address a gap in students’ knowledge of humanities and social sciences within fashion studies. Current research reveals a gap in the application of social, cultural, historical, and symbolic theories and frameworks to investigate the reasons behind clothing consumption. Focusing on meaning-making processes across fashion production and consumption cycles, the course determines how humans encode and decode fashionable items. With a critical understanding of how broader societal and cultural contexts influence fashion consumption, new educational opportunities exist to teach students about the innate motivations behind consumers' clothing choices. Outcomes of this course development serve as an example to teach research methods and encourage critical thinking about fashion and consumption. The proposed course, designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, focuses on expanding students’ understanding of the complex interrelationships between identity formation and clothing consumption across diverse contexts.

Keywords: Fashion Consumption, Identity, Culture, Society, Qualitative Research Methods, Interdisciplinary Pedagogy, Material Culture, Meaning-Making Systems, Course Development, Consumer Behavior, Interdisciplinary Studies, Meaning-Making Approaches

How to Cite:

Adams, M., (2025) “Culture, Society, and Fashion Consumption: Teaching Consumer Behavior Using Qualitative and Interdisciplinary Approaches”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21824