As the global population continues to increase at an alarming rate, the world, as a whole, now faces the issue of overpopulation. If the world’s natural resource consumption and environmental pollution/destruction continue at their current pace, then the earth will eventually no longer be able to sustain all of its inhabitants. Social change is the only way to prevent this. The world’s religious traditions possess particular motivational qualities with respect to people’s worldviews and behaviors. All of the world’s religious traditions are responding, in some way, to overpopulation. Traditions in isolation, however, do not address the complexities of the current ecological crisis. Overpopulation requires a broader approach that unites the respective responses. This thesis examines the value of responses to overpopulation from certain Buddhist intellectuals in the contemporary religion and ecology discourse concerning overpopulation while also underscoring instances of resonance between those responses and ones from modern Christian thinkers.

This investigation is centred on suggesting a new wardrobe concept of convertible hybrid garments; 2-in-1 designs. The proposed work is in other words, build on the transformative merging of one garment type to another. Through this intertwining, these become two parts of a whole, distorted to fit together in an upside-down position on the body. This alternative approach to garment creation, not only challenges the fundamental relationship between clothing, pattern making, and the body, but also aims to suggest the potential of implementing ‘reverse engineering’ methods, as a backdrop for the contemporary and versatile deconstruction. This work is foremost motivated by a sense of social and sustainable contribution to the field of fashion. Evoked by the prospect of encouraging interaction and providing the wearer more options on how to wear clothing, by proposing designs not fixed to one outcome. Hence, given the versatility of these hybrids, this project also advocates having fewer items of clothing, to bring about a more sustainable alternative to mass consumption.

Definitions: Throughout this study, sustainability refers to environmental sustainability which is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations, n.d.). Although this study focuses on environmental sustainability, it is important to note that social and economic sustainability are key factors for companies to consider. Introduction: The fashion industry is growing and fast fashion contributes to the growth where many companies and consumers choose fast fashion despite its negative environmental impact. However, sustainability is an emerging trend for both companies and consumers. There are many factors influencing companies’ innovation and supply chain as well as consumer consumption patterns. There exists an imbalance on the market concerning consumer awareness and companies’ sustainability work. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the sustainability work that companies are involved in and the current consumer consumption patterns as well as identifying which factors slow down the conversion to a greener fashion industry. Method: The nature of this study is a qualitative method using interviews with an abductive approach. 103 semi-structured interviews were conducted for the collection of empirical data. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that fashion trends reflect social context and impulse buying is a factor that drives unsustainable consumption. To decrease impulse buying companies can limit product choices, work to increase consumer awareness, and convert back to traditional fashion. It is ultimately the companies that have the power to drive the sustainability trend forward.

This study aims at examining BNPL's influence on millennials buying behavior on fashion products and how it affects their consumption of apparel. As BNPL increasingly gains ground in e-commerce as a payment method, that is highly used because of the kind of functionality it provides to both brands and consumers in particular. Consumers, especially millennials are seen attracted to this payment method as it provides benefits that the traditional payment method lacks. Further, this study examines how these consumptions influenced by BNPL align with environmental sustainability. In order to fulfill the aim of this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten female millennials from Sweden. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. While the study followed an interpretive approach in order to acquire a deeper understanding of the millennial’s buying behavior and consumption. The findings show some main aspects that influence millennials to buy apparel products with the BNPL scheme. The aspects are familiarity and trustworthiness, transparency, and innovativeness which have influenced variety-seeking, impulse buying, brand loyalty, and dissonance-reducing behaviors. Meanwhile, ease of use, price sensitivity, and enticing dimension influence consumption through shopping practices and consumption patterns. However, there is a misalignment of these consumptions with environmental sustainability due to the knowledge of sustainability and the gap that existed in their attitude and behavior.

This thesis examines the effects of overconsumption of clothing in the Global North on African textile industries through increased donations to secondhand stores. I begin by explaining how the growth of the fast fashion industry has increased the purchase and production of clothing over the recent decades. As an industry built on trends that quickly go in and out of style, fast fashion has resulted in massive amounts of unworn clothing. Consumers either throw away or donate their clothing, each of which result in either environmental or economic challenges. I explore post-consumer clothing’s donation route. Most donated clothing goes to secondhand stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army. However, with increasing amounts of donations going to these stores, they’ve reached a point in which they can no longer sell as quickly as they receive. Leftovers are sent overseas as a philanthropic action, but are met with concern from economists. Foreign aid to developing countries has been a topic of debate, critiqued as a lazy way of providing a short-term benefit with possibly detrimental long-term results. Introducing post-consumer clothing into African clothing markets raises the concern that they will replace local textile industries. I look at existing literature and fieldwork on this issue in order to examine the effects on textile industries in several countries. While the effects vary in differing countries and there are several other variables involved, such as market and political conditions, collective research shows that used-clothing donations account for 40% of the decline in apparel and textile production in an average African country.

Purpose: The purpose of our thesis is to make an analysis and create an understanding for how the development for special collections, within the fashion retail segment, will look in the future and to see if/how special collections are connected to overconsumption.Methodology: In this thesis, we have relied on a qualitative research strategy for collecting and analyzing data. The research design applied resembles of case studies but is correctly defined as cross-sectional design. We have done semi-structured interviews with three practitioners and one expert. We have also done content analysis of the campaigns for the three current special collections we have investigated.Conclusions: We have come up with the conclusion that there is a future for special collections, but it needs to be a development from how they are worked out today. Some factors are more relevant than others for a possible success for the special collections. These factors are that the collection offers a high rate of trend awareness, that it enables to offer the consumer something extraordinary and that the collection is anchored within environmental issues. / Program: Magisterutbildning i Fashion Management

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between online communication in marketing and customers’ purchase pressure. We further examine if the customer’s perception of the brand’s authenticity and genuineness affects the perceived purchase pressure. This will be examined within sustainable brands that have a focus on changing customers’ consumption patterns, with the assumption that they do not wish to create purchase pressure from a sustainability standpoint. By examining what causes purchase pressure we intend to contribute to developing the academic definition of the term. This is done by using an exploratory, inductive research design in which a qualitative research method has been applied. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to give insight in how sustainable brands marketing communicated contributes to the phenomenon of purchase pressure. Purchase pressure in the context of sustainable fashion is inherently negative as it indirectly is connected to overconsumption. Different cues have been revealed in this study to contribute to customers' purchase pressure, as well as that the authenticity and genuineness of a brand plays a role in the perceived pressure.

This paper examines the issue of our over-consuming society and its consequences using the example of the fashion industry. As the fashion industry alone is one of the biggest culprits in the global environmental deterioration and overexploitation of resources, the paper mainly focuses on the environmental impact. As a solution, the paper presents the application “Lessly”, which can help individual consumers to change their shopping behaviour and become more sustainable in their choices. In particular, the paper outlines the development of the app and the design decisions. The main token of the app is a mascot which also shares the name of the app, “Lessly”. The name originates from the saying “less is more” – the slogan of the app, which intends to describe the counter-movement of the ever-accelerating fashion consumption. Thus, the Lessly app represents a convenient tool for positive consumer change and the potential for a better environment and future.

“There is an overconsumption in the Swedish society that affects all living and contributes with consequences for all. How does this affect us humans? How does it affect society and what consequences become visible? Today the main focus is on the environment and climate changes where the government and the media are responsible for what is being published. The focus is the entire population but is the government and the media doing a good job to reach out to everyone of its inhabitants? To get a first point of view of the situation we have chosen a subculture to investigate - a social movement, Extinction Rebellion. They are making headlines all over the world with their radical actions which both informs and scares the population. Our study will have its starting point in the theories of Zygmunt Bauman - The consumer society, Bert Klandermans & Jacqueline van Stekelenburg - Social movements and Richard Jenkins - Social identity. By collecting empirical research by qualitative interviews, we would like to find an understanding that can explain why some people choose to deviate from the norm to act against society for the environment. The result indicate that people would like to change the society and that there is a genuine fear that is connected to the consumer society and its consequences. These consequences are the motivation for people to join a social movement, such as Extinction Rebellion.” / Det finns en överkonsumtion inom det svenska samhället som påverkar allt levande och bidrar med konsekvenser för alla. Hur påverkas människan? Hur påverkas samhället och vilka konsekvenser blir synliga? Det är idag stort fokus på miljön och klimatförändringar där staten och media väljer vad som publiceras. Deras inriktning blir mot hela befolkningen, men lyckas staten och media nå ut till alla invånare? För att få en inblick i hur situationen ser ut har vi valt att granska en subkultur - en social rörelse, Extinction Rebellion, som försöker skapa rubriker runt om i världen genom radikala aktioner som både informerar och skrämmer upp befolkningen. Studien har sin utgångspunkt i Zygmunt Baumans - konsumtionssamhället, Bert Klandermans & Jacqueline van Stekelenburg - sociala rörelser samt Richard Jenkins - social identitet. Metoden som används är kvalitativa intervjuer som söker en förståelse för att förklarar varför vissa människor aktivt väljer att avvika från normer för att ta ställning mot samhället för miljöns skull. Resultatet pekar på att individer har en vilja att förändra samhället samt en genuin rädsla för det senmoderna konsumtionssamhällets konsekvenser. Dessa konsekvenser blir en faktor som motiverar människor till att gå med i en social rörelse som Extinction Rebellion.

Background: The payment methods available to consumers for online purchases have evolved over time, with options ranging from debit and credit cards to e-wallets like PayPal and Apple Pay. Among these methods, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) has emerged as a significant payment method alternative. At the same time the global debt had a record jump between 2021 and 2022, with low-income households being the ones that suffer the most. The convenience offered by BNPL payment method, coupled with the accelerated uptake of this method in recent years, has created regulatory scrutiny concerning its contribution to the financial health of the society.   Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the relation between BNPL and financial wellbeing. The Generation Z cohort in the USA was specifically chosen as the target demographic due to their pronounced online purchasing behaviors and the notable tripling of their overall debt within the 2021-2022 period. Methodology: A quantitative approach for collecting data and data analysis was conducted using an online survey. The survey’s questions are influenced by previous research on financial wellbeing and debt levels. The survey’s populations are consisting of 150 individuals from different demographic backgrounds. The survey’s results have been analyzed by writing Python scripts and use relevant statistic libraries. Results and analysis: A significant portion of the study's respondents, irrespective of various demographic factors such as gender, education, and income level, answered that their use of BNPL had little to no impact on their financial wellbeing. Of particular significance is the answers of those familiar with BNPL who did not attribute any deterioration in their financial health by using BNPL. A subset of respondents acknowledged the potential for BNPL to cause overspending or regrettable purchases, but these sentiments were not predominant. Such findings challenge the common belief that BNPL inherently distributes to financial imprudence. However, nuances emerge when examining specific demographics. For instance, male respondents and those with lower educational attainment displayed a slightly heightened propensity to link BNPL with overspending. Conclusions: The overarching narrative suggests that while BNPL might influence purchasing behaviors to some extent, its direct impact on the broader financial wellbeing of individuals is not conclusively negative. Recommendations for future research: Future research can examine deeper behavioral insights on the effects of BNLP, investigate its effects on specific industries (e.g. luxury fashion) or examine global trends (given the present study is focused on USA).