Modeindustrin har en av de främsta och mest skadliga rollerna i den rådande vanvården av planeten, som gör sig ständigt påmind i olika samhälleliga forum. Uppkomsten av så kallad fast fashion har sedan millennieskiftet exempelvis bidragit till den ökande mängden utsläpp och avfall samt den alltmer akuta uttömningen av naturresurser. På grund av detta förespråkas övergången till en cirkulär klädmarknad.I denna uppsats utforskas fem konsumenters inställningar till fast fashion och hållbara alternativ, främst second hand-kläder. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genererar diskussioner om bland annat ansvar, påverkan, status och hygien. Dessa besvarar frågeställningarna om hur konsumenter förhåller sig till modeindustrin, samt vilka faktorer som de upplever styr deras konsumtion. Syftet med detta är att uppmärksamma hur samhällets hållbarhetsdiskurs kan påverka individers syn på sig själva och andra, samt deras möjligheter att konsumera hållbart.Resultaten påvisar en hög konsumentmedvetenhet om förhållandet mellan mode och hållbarhet, samt att respondenterna har ambitioner att konsumera med minimal miljöpåverkan. Strukturella motgångar påverkar dock hur väl de kan uppfylla sina aspirationer, och de upplever sig vilseledda av den greenwashing som genomsyrar klädmarknaden. Konsumenterna ser mode som identitetsbyggande och statusingivande, och den sociala kontexten verkar påverka hur kläder och konsumtionssätt uppfattas. Jämförelser mellan nyproducerade och begagnade kläder utmynnar i resonemang om hygienens symbolik, där betraktelsen av de sistnämnda som smutsiga tolkas som socialt konstruerad. Den huvudsakliga slutsatsen är att hållbar konsumtion möjliggörs av både strukturers och aktörers inverkan. De oskrivna kraven som ställs på konsumenter att handla hållbart kan dock upplevas som omöjliga att uppnå, och därför är omfattande institutionella förändringar nödvändiga för verkställelsen av en cirkulär modeindustri.

Fast fashion is an industry that is closely linked to the cause of climate change, and it is the second largest industry to contribute to pollution. In Sweden, one of the largest groups to consume fast fashion is young consumers, i.e., Generation Z. The same generation is also the information generation, meaning that they are the ones to solve the climate crisis. Social practice theory (SPT) is used to understand the reason behind different practices in society. But is lacking in research on fast fashion. This study, therefore, aims to understand the reasons, values, and practices through the lenses of SPT for why young consumers (Generation Z) in Sweden consume fast fashion despite knowing its effects on the environment. To understand the phenomenon, data has been collected on young consumers in Sweden (age 17-21) in two different cities. The analysis and data show that price is a big factor, the availability of secondhand stores also affects the possibility to choose another option. Climate change is something that was less important for most of the respondents and can be understood as a dying trend. It can be understood that Generation Z is not a homogenous group in Sweden. The findings also suggest that the SPT model should ideally be implemented with a study on external factors to describe possible reasons for understanding a practice as well to enable other practices which can be more sustainable

MENDING ON DISPLAY is an exploration of how to involve people in mending and have it be incorporated into everyday life. This was done through mending workshops, investigative conversations and a window display exhibiting visibly mended clothes. With all the devastating news reporting on how the planet is rapidly changing for the worse, it’s important to show that there can be joy in striving towards sustainable solutions, and moving away from current fashion culture does not have to mean compromising on your personal expression. The two main collaborations in the project are with the people interacting with it, and the secondhand store Busfrö. For this type of workshop to engage people in mending it needs to regularly occur, a routine space where one can join in for example once a month in the same place. These places exist already but few know about them, we need more of these initiatives in different contexts in order to spread the engagement in the craft. In my work I invited others to join through workshops, but I also felt welcomed into a bigger context and community network where mending is the binding force.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore how environmentally sustainable efforts, in terms of circular economy (CE) initiatives, are affecting the customer-based brand equity (CBBE) of fast fashion brands. By considering the attitudes of Generation Z, fashion companies can build brands that respond to the environmental requirements of future decision-makers. Therefore, the following research questions are derived: What are Generation Z’s self-disclosed perceptions of fast fashion brands conducting circular economy initiatives? and How do the perceptions of Generation Z regarding circular economy initiatives impact the CBBE of fast fashion brands?  Method – This master thesis is an exploratory study with an inductive approach. In total, 12 qualitative interviews are conducted, consisting of consumers of fast fashion within Generation Z and currently living in Sweden. The interviews follow a semi-structured approach and in order to analyze the empirical findings, a thematic analysis was executed.  Findings – The main findings of this study consist of three overarching themes in terms of Generation Z’s perceptions towards fast fashion brands conducting CE initiatives and its impact on CBBE. The emerging perceptions describe different segments within Generation Z, which have been defined as Positive: Creates Value, Negative: Hypocritical, and Indifferent: Not relevant. Moreover, the results show that a positive perception towards CE initiatives can strengthen the CBBE of fast fashion brands. In contrast, a negative perception causes a small impact on CBBE and may even weaken the brand, whereas an indifferent perception towards CE initiatives has no noticeable impact on the CBBE.  Theoretical and practical contributions – The study provides insights into Generation Z's different perceptions regarding CE initiatives and how macro-environmental factors can impact the brand equity of fast fashion brands and consumer perception of these brands. The main findings can assist brand managers to address the different consumer segments and their needs by successfully implementing sustainability activities into the business operations of fast fashion brands.

This thesis analyzes how young female students aged 20–25 perceive influencer marketing communication on social media and its correlation with their impulsive purchases within the fast fashion industry. The study involves eight interviews to gain an understanding of these consumers' behavior during impulse purchases. Furthermore, it explores the marketing communication of influencers and the environmental awareness of the respondents. Previous research reveals a paradox between heightened environmental consciousness and increased consumption of fast fashion. Influencers, as influential actors in marketing communication, impact consumer behavior through authentic interactions and reviews, fostering an environment conducive to impulse buying, especially with time-limited offers and discounts. Despite the digital era's promotion of impulse buying, previous studies reveal a lack of detailed research on impulse purchases driven by influencers' marketing communication within the fast fashion realm.  The results suggest that influencers play a central role in creating emotional connections that drive impulsive purchases. Despite respondents' general awareness of the industry's adverse environmental impact, sustainability aspects are seldom prioritized in impulse purchases based on influencers' communication. The conclusion is that influencers' marketing communication significantly impacts impulsive purchases among young female students, but sustainability is not emphasized enough to raise environmental awareness. There's potential for influencers to promote sustainability within fast fashion by integrating these aspects into their communication, fostering positive changes in consumers' impulse buying behavior.

In recent years, omnichannel strategies have increased, which has changed consumer purchasing decisions process. With this, the purchase decision has changed the way consumers approach to make purchase decisions, which leads to the purchase process being reshaped. The approach has become more complex with other aspects to consider in current consumer purchasing decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis has been to investigate how omnichannel strategies, which integrate online and offline shopping platforms, shape consumers' purchase decisions in Sweden's fast fashion industry for generation Z. The empirical results were obtained using a qualitative case study of 25 participants from Sweden through semi-structured interviews. The findings were then analysed and discussed with the presented literature to identify how consumers' purchase decisions in Sweden's fast fashion industry for generation Z have been shaped by omnichannel strategies, integrating online and offline shopping platforms. The conclusion of this thesis shows that it is complex to assume how omnichannel strategies, integrated by online and offline shopping platforms, shape generation Z purchase decisions in Sweden's fast fashion industry because the impact of these strategies is unique to each individual's shopping journey. This means that every purchase decision is personally individual and varies depending on the consumer's unique approach to purchasing in the complex and interconnected world of integrated omnichannel strategies, where the online and offline channels are seamlessly connected to provide a unified shopping experience.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the relationships between social media, fashion interest and fast fashion involvement and whether these psychographic variables affect propensity for compulsive clothing buying and (2) to determine whether a relationship exists between compulsive buying and propensity toward hoarding. Data was collected through consumer panel from Qualtrix. Screener questions ensured that all respondents were adult females with an interest in fashion. Responses yielded 232 usable surveys, which were analyzed using SPSS software. Social media was found to be positively related to fashion interest, fast fashion involvement, and compulsive clothing buying. Compulsive clothing buying was found to be positively related to all three compulsive clothes hoarding symptoms: clothing clutter disorganization, clothing acquisition, and difficulty discarding clothing.

In recent years, sustainability has become more important for fast fashion companies to embrace. Partly because of climate change and partly because consumers’ demands are higher. To make a real difference, fast fashion companies need to communicate sustainability clearly, and consumers need to be receptive to this type of communication. Thereby, both fast fashion companies and consumers have responsibilities towards the environment. However, previous research shows that consumers lack comprehension of sustainability communication within the fast fashion industry. This leads to consumption of non-sustainable clothing items over sustainable clothing items. Based on the aforementioned, three main concepts were identified as pertinent to build upon, encompassing subconcepts. The main concepts are sustainability communication, consumer comprehension and purchasing decisions. The subconcepts are says what, to whom, motivation and engagement, word recognition, language comprehension, knowledge, intentions and action.  As previous research is scattered, this research is conducted to give a gathered understanding. The purpose of this research was to examine consumer comprehension of sustainability communication within the Swedish fast fashion industry. Additionally, considerable emphasis lay on purchasing decisions. To successfully do this, the primary data was collected through a pilot study and focus groups. More specifically, there were four focus groups with six participants in each.  The empirical findings, together with the literature review, concluded that consumers recognise environmental labels and designations but do not know what they stand for. Further, sustainability communication is placed in a positive category, despite lack of comprehension. The level of motivation and engagement is low, due to suspicions of greenwashing, among other things. Language comprehension was found to have no major impact on consumer comprehension of sustainability communication. Some felt that the communication should be concise and others felt that it should provide a broader perspective. Moreover, consumers notice the sustainability communication, however, they do not seek nor respond to it. These conclusions intend to create value for fast fashion companies.

The Fast Fashion industry, which operates on a take-make-waste model, has a significant environmental impact due to its high-water consumption, use of chemical substances, and waste production. Consequently, textiles and clothing waste have become a major global concern. In response, the Circular Economy model has garnered considerable attention worldwide, with theEuropean Union showing notable progress in transitioning towards this sustainable approach. New regulations are creating an enabling framework for the circular economy to thrive and for better waste management. This transition necessitates substantial changes in both legal and business practices. The present study aims to analyse EU measures that influence the development of sustainable practices and the shift to a circular economy in the Fast Fashion industry. It employs a legal analysis and a business case study to identify and evaluate the laws implemented by the EU and the strategies used by Fast Fashion companies to adapt their waste management practices to the circular economy.

This thesis examines how Boohoo, Shein, and Zara communicate their sustainability efforts on Instagram and how users react. Despite increased global awareness of sustainability, the fast fashion industry's rapid trend turnover, driven by social media and influencers, fuels consumption and environmental harm. Guided by theories of strategic communication, organizational legitimation, CSR communication, and transparency, the research used critical visual methods, including semiotic and qualitative text analysis. The analysis found that these companies use visual content to appear transparent, shift environmental responsibility onto individuals and the industry, make vague sustainability claims, and partner with influencers for legitimacy. User comments reveal concerns about worker treatment, skepticism towards sustainability efforts as greenwashing, and criticism of influencer partnerships. However, some users legitimize these practices, believing all businesses are equally culpable. The study concludes that while fashion companies recognize the risks they pose and attempt to address them, users are unimpressed by superficial efforts. The gap between companies' staged transparency and users' demand for real change highlights the need for genuine commitment to sustainability. Companies must be transparent and accountable to avoid greenwashing accusations and maintain consumer trust. This growing consumer awareness and empowerment suggest that critical examination by users and authentic sustainability efforts by companies are essential for future legitimacy.