Elaine Ritch

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• Ph.D; PG CAP; BA Hons (First class)
• Reader in Fashion, Marketing and Sustainability at Glasgow Caledonian University

With the threat of the climate emergency intensifying and limited time left to reduce irreversible consequences, the need to consider how natural resources are excavated and managed from cradle to grave intensifies. This positions the circular economy (CE) as being highly relevant, particularly for the fashion industry, which is criticised for enco...

The chapter explores young consumers’ perceptions of fast-fashion sustainability marketing. Emerging from the premise that Generation-Z are educated in climate-awareness from a young age and are proficient in navigating the internet for information, recent research has started to fill the gaps of how they process concern for the climate-crisis or h...

Akin to other industries, fashion has been subjected to innovation, particularly globalisation and technological. The fashion industry could be characterised as two, distinctly diverse, modes of business: as a creative endeavour and as a commercial activity. While, of course, this could be considered as overtly simplified, to clarify, creative fash...

This chapter focuses on a knitting group community that has been established within an independent local shop in Glasgow Southside. Emerging from the rising popularity of crafting in the UK, this research explores what underpins the convergence of this knitting community. To do this, the chapter draws upon crafting literature, where craft has offer...

This research reveals children’s stories of sustainability learning utilising a scalar framework to understand the influence of information flows. Eleven Scottish primary school pupils captured images illustrating their sustainability understanding which informed subsequent interviews. This research contributes to theory by examining the Eco-school...

Purpose The purpose of this research is to examine how consumers interpret and understand sustainable fashion production and how this informs their fashion consumption practice. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts an interpretivist approach with in-depth interviews with 28 participants. Sampling criterion sought consumers already engag...

This research examines the tensions experienced by millennials between their desire to purchase fast‐fashion and their growing concern for sustainability. The ethical and sustainable consumption literature has long recognised this misalignment of value, often referred to as an attitude‐behaviour gap. While previous research has explored the reasons...

The title of the abstract should be no longer than 12 words, and the abstract itself should have circa 1,000 words (including references). The abstract is structured and therefore should include: 1. Statement of the issue/problem focused, and the relevant background in terms of theory and/or practice (reference to previous research is mandatory). 2...

Understanding consumers' motives to engage with and purchase ethical and sustainable fashion benefits both academics and practitioners, by enabling more considered approaches to the provision of fashion. Extant research highlights the moderating role of socio-demographic and psychographic characteristics within fashion decision-making, yet there is...

The dominant global fashion system is shaped by an underpinning goal of infinite economic growth leading to environmental and social sacrifices. Research has shown that systems change could advance a sustainability transformation for the industry and that coordinated community action can support this process. The development of systems theory appli...

The title of the abstract should be no longer than 12 words, and the abstract itself should have circa 1,000 words (including references). The abstract is structured and therefore should include: 1. Statement of the issue/problem focused, and the relevant background in terms of theory and/or practice (reference to previous research is mandatory). 2...

Our submission is a statement of interest to explore the motivations and barriers of participation in alternative CE consumption models (ACECM). We focus on fast-fashion, as this model dominates fashion consumption, particularly for younger consumers, yet also contributes greatly to environmental degradation (Niinimäki et al., 2020) by encouraging...

This exploratory research examines online fashion retail brand marketing on social media platforms. Focusing on online retailer ‘In the Style’, based in Manchester UK, the research considers theoretical underpinnings of social identity theory that capture the zeitgeist – lifestyles constructed and communicated in such a way that creates superficial...

Retail brand competition is increasing, global competition coupled with the economic crisis of 2008 has impacted on the UK high street; many well-known retailers went into administration and others are streamlining with store closures and redundancies. The expansion of discount retailers may appeal to price sensitive consumers, but this has incurre...

In response to public concerns over issues such as global warming, slavery and human trafficking, mental health and gender inequality, the last decade has seen an increased focus on both company and consumer ethics. The concept of corporate social responsibility has permeated the values of global and national organisations and subsequently, for man...

The democratisation of fashion has led to the homogenisation of high street styles as fashion retailers compete on speed to market and low pricing (Ritch, 2015). It could be argued that most young people conform to a uniformed appearance, which does not reflect their personality or personal interests. While the limitations of machines replacing cot...

Purpose to examine consumers' perceptions of retail brand representations of gender-oriented and/or sexuality-oriented identities. The authors explore the value of developing more progressive, inclusive brand values to support more effective retail brand communications and imagery. Design/methodology/approach Photo elicitation, utilising LGBTQIA+/...

We are currently experiencing a time of unprecedented crisis in both the economy and the environment: global turmoil in the financial markets, rising unemployment, climate change, food insecurity, water bankruptcy and the end of the era for cheap oil. Yet, the opportunity exists for us to make use of these crises for positive effect; to utilise the...

Purpose: To examine consumers' perceptions of retail brand representations of gender-oriented and/or sexuality-oriented identities. The authors explore the value of developing more progressive, inclusive brand values to support more effective retail brand communications and imagery. Design: Photoelicitation, utilising LGBTQIA+/sexuo-gendered imager...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore consumers perceptions of sustainability, including how information is accessed, evaluated and practiced and how sustainability concepts transfer to fashion consumption. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a phenomenological approach of unstructured interviews with 28 professionally workin...

Currently, the fashion industry focuses on the fast fashion production business model, which focuses on low pricing and a rapid turnaround of evolving trends. Cheap, easily accessible and underpinned by marketing that encourages frequent consumption to 'look good' dominates the approach taken by high street retailers. This approach has not differed...

Retail brand competition is increasing, global competition coupled with the economic crisis of 2008 has impacted on the UK high street; many well-known retailers went into administration and others are streamlining with store closures and redundancies. The expansion of discount retailers may appeal to price sensitive consumers, but this has incurre...

This paper explores how consumers deliberate and incorporate concerns for sustainability in their consumption behaviours, through the lens of children’s clothing provisioning. Frustrated by the limited acknowledgement for sustainable issues within the UK mass market fashion retail sector, the participants reveal engaging with social innovation exch...

Online fashion shopping has expanded more rapidly than in-store (Bowsher, 2018). The global fashion high street generated £5.9 billion for UK e-retailers in 2016 (Ibisworld, 2017), a considerable sum that underpins the scope of the market and the potential for expanding online offerings. Research has identified that consumers are seeking increased...

Scents have the potential to transport individuals to the far reaches of their memories, rekindling thoughts and feelings of previous experience (Milotic, 2003). As part of an extended atmospheric mix, retailers possess seemingly unlimited potential to manage consumers’ emotional and physical states through the manipulation of sensory environments...

Amid concern for climate change and the detrimental impact on the environment, consumers are encouraged to adopt sustainable behaviours. Previous research has examined sustainable consumption through a number of contexts, including disposal behaviours. However, this has focused mainly on adults who are more likely to dictate household consumption a...

Sustainability is dominant theme in society, with concerns for climate-change reported in the media and recognised by businesses as offering a competitive advantage. Previous research has explored how sustainability has impacted on a number of consumption contexts and how this is incorporated into household decision-making. Yet, there has been litt...

Organisations are increasingly keen to communicate their efforts to address sustainability and encourage consumers to adopt sustainable behaviours. Fashion retailers have begun to acknowledge and address growing consumer concerns about the negative impact of fibre, fabric and garment production on the environment and workers. This chapter considers...

Purpose: The paper explores social dynamics around clothing provisioning for families with young children and how involvement in environmental concerns shapes those dynamics and presents challenges and opportunities in terms of evolving consumption tastes. Through collecting and analysing narratives of mothering and provisioning, we explore the inf...

The paper will situate the ‘essence of sustainability’ amidst the cut and thrust of everyday relations of domesticity and creative practices of mothering circulating around clothing provisioning for children. It will do so in the context of a study of the ‘greening’ of mothering, specifically exploring the ‘refractive’ quality of the identity work...

This research examines the social marketplace from the perspective that consumers are proactively evaluating the value of children's clothing to inform their disposal options. These creative post-consumption distribution methods emerge from two perspectives: firstly, children wear clothing for a limited time due to their continued growth and often...

The paper seeks to recuperate autonomy within debates around identity as the discursive construction of self through exploring the ‘greening’ of intensive mothering discourse and the emergence of new subject positions and practices of accountability. It argues that facets of ideologies of ethical and sustainable consumption are inscribed within thi...

The proposed paper interrogates discourse around the ‘sustainable’ child. It takes the interplay of familial consumption as its context and the greening of mothering as its subject, reflecting upon the part played by consumption practices in constructing the ideal of the ‘sustainable child’. It discusses the findings of a study of clothing provisio...

This chapter considers the potential of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to address concerns that garment-worker exploitation was involved in fashion production. It looks back to the success of philanthropy from the Victorian era in alleviating poverty and empowering employees. The chapter also considers evidence from the Hawthorne Studies to...

Purpose: The paper explores social dynamics around clothing provisioning for families with young children and how involvement in environmental concerns shapes those dynamics and presents challenges and opportunities in terms of evolving consumption tastes. Through collecting and analysing narratives of mothering and provisioning, we explore the inf...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore consumer perceptions and understanding of sustainable concepts within the context of fashion consumption. Design/methodology/approach – Phenomenological interviews provided a platform to explore fashion sustainability and garment labels from current UK high street fashion retailers were used to sti...

The paper seeks to recuperate autonomy within debates around identity as the discursive construction of self through exploring impacts claimed for the ‘greening’ of intensive mothering discourse. It argues that facets of ideologies of ethical and sustainable consumption are inscribed within this discourse, authorising identity work and furnishing e...

Facets of discourse around ‘sustainability’ are widely inscribed within contemporary brand identities as communications platforms seek to assert ‘green’ credentials (Weise et al., 2013). This is particularly noticeable within the UK grocery sector where the four dominant retailers compete to be perceived, not merely as the cheapest and best value,...

Facets of discourse around ‘sustainability’ are widely inscribed within contemporary brand identities as communications platforms seek to assert ‘green’ credentials (Weise et al., 2013). This is particularly noticeable within the UK grocery sector where the four dominant retailers compete to be perceived, not merely as the cheapest and best value,...

The purpose of this research was to understand whether consumers transfer sustainable principles to fashion consumption behaviours. In recognising that the food industry has widened access for consumers concerned with fair transactions between the producer and retailer, environmental degradation and animal welfare through mainstream availability of...

Conference track: fashion – marketing, management, retail, buying and merchandising The purpose of this research was to understand whether consumers transfer sustainable principles to fashion consumption behaviours. Through recognition that the food industry has widened access for consumers concerned with fair transactions between the producer an...

The restructuring of business models within the fashion industry has brought contradictory advantages and disadvantages. For example, outsourcing fashion production to developing countries has reduced the price of fashion for consumers (Jones, 2006), ensuring that the rapidly evolving fashion styles are affordable for all (Budnarowska, 2009). This...

Despite the ever increasing levels of fashion consumption, neither retailers nor consumers have as yet implemented sustainability principles to a significant degree. This is despite the fact that sustainability principles are increasingly understood and will be applied by consumers, as long as affordable alternatives in mainstream fashions are avai...

With ever increasing consumer concern regarding the ethics of production, retailers are addressing these issues and providing alternative solutions to standard products, resulting in enhanced profitability (The Co-operative Bank 2008). This is most prominent in the supermarket sector, where not only are they competing to be the ‘greenest’, but they...

This paper examines a novel strategy to get older people talking about their financial needs and equity release. A questionnaire was used to identify issues which were then written into a drama on equity release products and bank accounts. This dramatic representation of the issues preceded discussion among older people at a World Café event – a fo...

The purpose of this pilot study was to focus on the suitability of selected financial products for older people. Bank accounts and equity release products were selected for this study by an expert advisory panel. New marketing initiatives are being used to promote bank accounts, including forms of insurance, for the ‘50+’ market. Also, older people...

The adverse environmental impacts of plastic bags, including production energy costs, limited lifespan, increasing landfill content and inability to biodegrade, provide symbolic and practical evidence of a ‘throwaway’ consumer culture which acts as a significant barrier to sustainable consumption in particular and sustainable development in general...

Executive Summary Context For older people, financial awareness is increasingly relevant in a complex market where the implications of making ill-informed decisions can be costly both financially and emotionally (National Statistics 2007). This pilot research study provided an opportunity to focus on the suitability of selected financial products f...

This research aims to understand consumer perception regarding the ethics which surround the fashion industry. The impact upon the environment from the fashion industry is growing due to consumer demand for an increased cycle of new fashion, decrease in garment price and the use of developing economies to reduce production costs. Although the fashi...