Exploring the Threads of Clothing Repair Practice: A Social Practice Approach to Clothing Repairs
(2024) SMMM40 20241Department of Service Studies
- Abstract
- This thesis explores the phenomenon of clothing repair. The fashion industry stands out as one of the most environmentally unsustainable sectors globally, largely due to its adoption of the linear production and consumption model of take, make, and waste. In response to this, the European Union has prioritized textiles in its Circular Economy Action Plan, and within it repair emerges as the most desirable strategy to keep products in circulation. This study, with the aim to contribute to the field of sociological studies of circular consumption, departs from individual’s repairing practice and explores how competences, material and meaning intersect within the practice. To fulfill this aim, open-ended interviews with 19 individuals located... (More)
- This thesis explores the phenomenon of clothing repair. The fashion industry stands out as one of the most environmentally unsustainable sectors globally, largely due to its adoption of the linear production and consumption model of take, make, and waste. In response to this, the European Union has prioritized textiles in its Circular Economy Action Plan, and within it repair emerges as the most desirable strategy to keep products in circulation. This study, with the aim to contribute to the field of sociological studies of circular consumption, departs from individual’s repairing practice and explores how competences, material and meaning intersect within the practice. To fulfill this aim, open-ended interviews with 19 individuals located in Sweden were conducted. Based on our empirical material, we were able to approach clothing repair as practice with interconnected, dynamic elements that adapt to sustain an embodied experience. From these results we can draw the conclusion that, firstly, clothing repair can be utilized as a means to achieve more sustainable consumption, given that consumers are equipped not only with the necessary tools and skills, but also when broader socio-cultural meanings are associated with the practice of repair. Secondly, we conclude that fostering community repair networks can further empower individuals to embrace repair as a sustainable and meaningful practice and, thirdly, that technological changes in infrastructure are welcomed by consumers, given that they provide a balance between virtual and tangible experiences. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9170134
- author
- Wijerathne, Harini LU and Logotheti, Dimitra LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SMMM40 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Repairs, Clothing, Social practice theory, Circular economy
- language
- English
- id
- 9170134
- date added to LUP
- 2024-08-05 14:22:14
- date last changed
- 2024-08-05 14:22:14
@misc{9170134,
abstract = {{This thesis explores the phenomenon of clothing repair. The fashion industry stands out as one of the most environmentally unsustainable sectors globally, largely due to its adoption of the linear production and consumption model of take, make, and waste. In response to this, the European Union has prioritized textiles in its Circular Economy Action Plan, and within it repair emerges as the most desirable strategy to keep products in circulation. This study, with the aim to contribute to the field of sociological studies of circular consumption, departs from individual’s repairing practice and explores how competences, material and meaning intersect within the practice. To fulfill this aim, open-ended interviews with 19 individuals located in Sweden were conducted. Based on our empirical material, we were able to approach clothing repair as practice with interconnected, dynamic elements that adapt to sustain an embodied experience. From these results we can draw the conclusion that, firstly, clothing repair can be utilized as a means to achieve more sustainable consumption, given that consumers are equipped not only with the necessary tools and skills, but also when broader socio-cultural meanings are associated with the practice of repair. Secondly, we conclude that fostering community repair networks can further empower individuals to embrace repair as a sustainable and meaningful practice and, thirdly, that technological changes in infrastructure are welcomed by consumers, given that they provide a balance between virtual and tangible experiences.}},
author = {{Wijerathne, Harini and Logotheti, Dimitra}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Exploring the Threads of Clothing Repair Practice: A Social Practice Approach to Clothing Repairs}},
year = {{2024}},
}