Barth, Svenja (2025) Mending the Gap: How fashion organizations foster consumer participation in garment repair initiatives. Master thesis, Sustainable Entrepreneurship (SE).
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Abstract
This study explores how fashion organizations foster consumer participation in circular initiatives, with a specific focus on garment repair. While garment repair is recognized as a valuable strategy within the circular economy, it is still underrepresented in both academic research and business practice—especially compared to recycling and upcycling. This thesis draws on circular economy theory and uses the R-imperatives framework to position repair as an impactful but often overlooked approach to extend the life cycle of garments. A qualitative research design was employed, with semi-structured interviews conducted with eight fashion organizations in the Netherlands and Germany. Thematic analysis revealed that organizations adopt different strategies shaped by size, mission, and resources. Community-led initiatives emphasize accessibility, education, and emotional value, while larger companies prioritize structured, scalable garment repair services. Findings show that consumer engagement is influenced by both practical and emotional motivations, but hindered by barriers such as cost perceptions, lack of awareness, and skill deficits. Hybrid approaches—combining operational scalability with personalized, value-driven engagement—emerged as the most promising path forward. The study concludes with practical recommendations and calls for future research incorporating direct consumer perspectives and broader geographic contexts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Name supervisor: | Cardoso Chrispim, M. |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2025 07:06 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2025 07:06 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/732 |
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