Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Apparel Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis

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Abstract

Even though the small or large changes regarding sustainability are practiced in the apparel markets by the companies, there is a big gap presence from the consumers’ side. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand apparel consumers’ knowledge of the sustainability connected to the triple bottom line by applying the transformative learning theory. A qualitative research design of focus group discussion was used for this study. Four focus groups were executed and five themes are emerged for the findings. This includes: 1) Normalizing Customer Activism, 2) Short-Sighted Actions, 3) Story Sharing with Others, 4) Filling the Information Gap, and 5) Challenging but Not Impossible. Our findings suggest that turning the sustainable product-based business from non-sustainable is not an overnight process. However, providing knowledge of sustainable practices in different stages of education based on transformative learning can speed up the process of producing and purchasing sustainable goods as well.

Keywords: qualitative, education, apparel business, sustainbility, triple bottom line, transformative learning

How to Cite:

Rakib, M., Chang, H. J. & Jai, T. C., (2020) “Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Apparel Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12149